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Contact
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Contact Information
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State
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Description
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| Elise Schlaikjer and Julie Keefer, |
MorningStar Adventures, Inc.,
20564 Morningstar Trail, LeRoy,
MI 49655;
231-768-4368;
morningstar@netonecom.net;
www.morningstarretreatcenter.net
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MI
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MorningStar Adventures is a retreat center and a living model of an integrated, organic lifestyle. It is 180 acres of mostly wooded land with multiple owners who share the center’s vision. It includes a 40-acre stand of red pine and hardwoods moving into the beech, maple, oak stage. A creek runs through the land with adjacent native vegetated bogs. There are 6 retreat cabins/shelters, a 50 ft. by 50 ft. organic vegetable garden, trails, wailing wall, medicine wheel, 2 labyrinths, and a spiral walk that helps people to understand the Universe Story. Some areas are being incrementally restored to meadow.
MorningStar’s land policy is evolving from a desire to keep the land as natural as possible while using some "as gently as possible" to meet the needs of the community. The forest is not being managed although fallen wood is used for fuel in each cabin. The idea of placing the land into a conservancy is being considered. "We have learned to compromise in situations that have been really painful for us. If we choose to work with forces beyond our understanding, amazing things happen. We are learning to trust the process toward the vision of a larger community living sustainably together and guiding others toward the same through our experience."
Gardening at MorningStar, both vegetable and flower, is co-creative, intuitive, and as harmonious as possible. There is no tillage and amendments are limited to organic fertilizer, cover crops, and compost from worm bins. Another future source of compost may be a new "In House" sawdust-based, composting toilet. Winter gardening springing from Eliot Coleman’s "Four Season Harvest" is meeting with some success. They hope to use a grey-water system for the flower gardens in the future.
The emphases of seasonal workshops, festivals, and retreat experiences are (1) to draw people into silence so they may hear the Spirit within and through all of creation, (2) to reconnect people with land-based values within the bioregion, (3) to provide resources for the integration of body, mind, soul and spirit for more wholesome living. [2004]
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| Sr. Ginny Jones, SSJ (Sisters of St. Joseph of Nazareth) |
Sisters of St. Joseph,
Nazareth Farm and Nazareth
Center for Eco-Spirituality,
3629 Gull Rd., #3,
Kalamazoo, MI 49001;
616-344-9124
ginnyssj@earthtones.com
www.manitouarbor.org
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MI
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* Nazareth Farm- 270+ acres of woodland, wetland and crop land. 140 acres enrolled in USDA Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) for 11 years. Forestry management plan developed through USDA Stewardship Incentive Program (SIP). Environmental resources audit conducted in early 1990's. A wildlife management plan developed with government assistance has encouraged a diverse community including white-tail deer, wild turkey, coyote, fox, pheasant, and many species of song birds and wildflowers. Biological controls have been used to address gypsy moth and West Nile virus concerns. Pheasants Forever assisted in prairie restoration. Discussions have been held with the local land conservancy regarding conservation easements on natural land. Currently working toward the establishment of an ecovillage ( Manitou Arbor Ecovillage) on site (see web page). Nazareth Center for Eco-Spirituality consists of 55 acres of woods. wetland , fields and nature trails and includes a Resource Center for public use, including a special relationship with a local public school adjacent to the property. Celebrations include Equinox and Solstice events, Earth Day celebrations and a wide range of educational offerings on creation mystics, on reconnecting with nature in various seasons and other eco-spiritual offerings through Transformations:SSJ Spirituality Center. The charism of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Nazareth emphasizes oneness , unity and reconciliation. They seek to help the human community recognize and experience a greater sense of oneness (relationship) with all that is and to help the human community become reconciled with the Earth community by fostering sustainable living. [2004] |
Sr. Janet Ryan, IHM (Sister Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary)
Sharon McNeil, St. Mary Farm |
Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate
Heart of Mary, 610 West Elm Ave.,
Monroe, MI 48162-7909;
734-240-9700/
734-240-9784
jryan@ihmsisters.org;
mcneilsh@aol.com
www.ihmsisters.org
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MI
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This 280-campus in the heart of Monroe, Michigan is in the process of adopting sustainability practices as modes of operation out of IHM’s concern for right relationships among its members and as partners with the earth. Eco-justice and eco-spirituality are important principles of the campus reconfiguration, which includes geothermal heating/cooling system, a greywater system, a contemplative landscape and a two-acre organic garden known as St. Mary Farm. About 20% of the produce is consumed at the Motherhouse, 70% to the community support agriculture (CSA) program, and the remainder to health food stores and homeless shelters. Educational activities include herbal salve-making workhsops, salsa-making parties, drumming rituals, rain dancing, garden meditations, a sustainability series, and web-of-life workshops. Workshops and design charettes involving sisters, local residents, and experts are guiding the redevelopment and are leading to the development of new technologies. Visit their website for progress reports. [2003] |
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