White Violet Center for Eco-Justice
Teaching, caring, inspiring for all creation. A ministry of the Sisters of Providence, White Violet Center for Eco-Justice at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana was established in 1996. Here you’ll find a herd of alpacas, a flock of laying chickens, a 5-acre USDA certified organic garden, orchards, bee hives, a Farm Store, nature trail and internship opportunities.
Celebrating the Feast of Saint Francis
I can’t help but believe that if our hearts were so totally converted, as Francis allowed his to be, Earth might be an entirely different world
Daughters of the Forest: Sisters of Providence commitment to the land
The Sisters of Providence share their story and their commitment to the Land Ethic and proper care and use of the land at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana.
Putting a face on the Foley Legacy Fund
The Foley Legacy Fund has enriched and supported much good this year. The Foley Legacy Fund supports all Sisters of Providence ministries. The following stories are just a few examples of how the Foley Legacy Fund has helped the sisters further their mission.
Meditation on Creation
The life of humans is interconnected with the healthy life of the environment and all creation
The First Day: Two Presenters Share
Our hearts are full of gratitude and awe, for today, the result of so much prayer, planning, and plain hard work, has exceeded our expectations
The Providence Climate Agreement
Our latest Providence Climate Agreement pledge total has reached 3,150,713 pounds! Our original goal was to reduce our Carbon Dioxide (CO2) emissions by 2 million pounds in one year. We came close, but by September, we exceeded our goal! Through…
Sisters and interns: becoming a little bit of each other
“There’s no way either one of us could go without being touched by the other after we’ve come in contact,” Sister Ruth explained. “We become a little bit them and they become a little bit us."
What is White Violet Center all about?
“We understand Providence as God’s care for all of creation. And, so, this loving, Provident God set forth into motion this web of life. And we’re called to be co-creators with that God to sustain and nourish that life."
Growing passion for sustainable agriculture
When I first moved to White Violet Center for my internship, I was so nervous. I’ve never been away from home, and never lived with anyone other than my family. I’ve never lived or worked on a farm, never handled chickens or alpacas, and never met a nun. There were a lot of unknowns, but something drew me to the Woods.
Learn more about White Violet Center for Eco-Justice
Teaching, caring, inspiring for all creation. At White Violet Center for Eco-Justice at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana, a ministry of the Sisters of Providence, you’ll find a USDA certified organic garden, orchards, berries, alpacas and fiber program, chickens, farm store, nature…
Breathing time on this organic farm
The small organic farm at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods packs a big punch in the way of educational and service opportunities. In fact, that’s how Ann Testa came to White Violet Center for Eco-Justice. She was an intern and AmeriCorps volunteer before becoming a full-time staff member.
Now she’s training and working alongside interns and volunteers in the USDA certified organic gardens, alpaca pastures, fiber rooms, and kitchen.
A more colorful existence as a fiber arts intern
Earlier last year, I decided to make a change in my life. As I told some people that I was quitting my job so I could go work on an alpaca farm for three months I got a lot of confused looks and many, many questions.
