Full Circle EcoHouse of Prayer - Port Huron, Michigan
http://www.fullcircleretreat.org

Contact
Veronica Blake, S.M.R., 2532 South Boulevard, Port Huron, MI 48060-6648; fullcircle@advnet.net

Energy efficiency is an emphasis at Full Circle where all light bulbs are compact fluorescents and all appliances are Energy Star rated. Energy efficient windows have been installed and the houses are all insulated. A south-facing sun porch gives some passive solar energy to the house. An energy audit was done by Michigan Interfaith Power and Light to help guide decision making. To additionally enhance environmental quality and reduce fossil-fuel use, a push reel and an electric lawnmower are used to maintain the grounds.

Water efficient xeroscaping and native plantings is the norm at Full Circle. A rain barrel is a source for some irrigation water.

The community always tries to make "earth-friendly" choices regarding the content of materials used when accessible and affordable. Linoleum (linseed oil-based) has been installed in the kitchen; bamboo on the living room floor, and heat-absorbing tiles in the sunroom and kitchen. An ash tree from the grounds, killed by the ash borer, was milled and then used for flooring in a bedroom, counter trim and steps on a metal circular stair. The hermitage was a former tool shed for a train or trolley which a friend removed from the original site and reconstructed at Full Circle using found materials for insulation (Styrofoam); windows, floors and old telephone poles for the shingle roof.

The community faithfully uses recycled products and recycles what it can find a market for locally. Additionally, broken highway concrete, reclaimed Styrofoam, old fishing rods and used decking have been recycled into garden structures

The community buys local and seasonal foods during the summer and fall from a farmer’s market when possible and looks for foods in the supermarket that are produced as close to home as possible. Vegetarian foods are served.

The sisters have reduced their transportation-related emissions by replacing their single vehicle with hybrid.

The community utilizes the land, facilities and lifestyle to experientially teach the connection between living sustainably and faith. Full Circle reaches out to retreatants, local parishes and the civic community through regular and special programming, workshops, and through collaboration with other members of a local eco-education group. In addition to composted and mulched organic gardens, the land, comprised of three city lots, includes two ponds, one of which is in natural succession from pond to bog. Our dream would be to have a solar installation to run the motor for one of these two ponds. A water saving irrigation system would be ideal but remains only a dream at this time.