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Adopt an alpaca this holiday season
Alpacas for Good
Every holiday season, the White Violet Center for Eco-Justice (WVC) in Saint Mary-of-the-Woods offers a unique gift idea that gives back to an Indiana community: the Adopt an Alpaca program. For a $100 one-year adoption fee, donors receive a certificate and a photo of an alpaca supported by their donation, which makes an exciting gift for any animal lover. So how did alpacas with names like Georgiana, Esperanza and Benny end up in Indiana?
The Sisters of Providence
Located in Saint Mary-of-the-Woods just northwest of Terre Haute, WVC aims to raise awareness about eco-justice and environmental sustainability. A community of Roman Catholic sisters called The Sisters of Providence run all of the Center’s programs. The sisters raise alpacas, chickens and bees while they tend orchards and organic gardens, creating a bounty of local products and produce for their community.
According to their website, “WVC exists to teach, care and inspire for all creation. We do this through a number of programs including earth spirituality, environmental education and sustainable agriculture.”
The Sisters of Providence founded WVC in 1996 as a commitment to its mission statement. The Center started raising alpacas in 1998. Now, the alpacas serve as an integral part of many of the operations at WVC.
“Another important part of our sustainable agriculture program is our alpaca herd. We have 40 alpacas. We mix their manure with leaves and kitchen scraps and use it to enrich the soil in the garden. Their fiber is harvested annually to create handmade yarns, scarves, hats and other garments. These items are created by volunteers and sold at Linden Leaf Gifts at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods to generate funds for the alpacas’ daily care,” according to WVC’s website.
White Violet Center for Eco-Justice |1 Sisters of Providence Road | Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana
Alpacas for Good
The Adopt an Alpaca adoption fee helps cover the cost of medical care and boarding the alpacas at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods. The donation helps support the alpacas with food and shelter as the sisters collect alpaca fibers to create handmade crafts.
“Even though we’re only 40 alpacas in the world, this is part of the global supply chain of yarn. It connects you to all the past fiber animals and all the future fiber animals,” says Alena Ruman, former WVC intern.
Handcrafted goods created from the alpaca fibers include yarn, scarves, hats, gloves and other clothes as well as decorations and ornaments. Gifts can be purchased on-site from the Farm Store or online at Linden Leaf Gifts.
Visit the White Violet Center for Eco-Justice
Best of all, families can take a trip to the White Violet Center for Eco-Justice to visit the adopted alpaca and explore the rest of the grounds. It makes a special memory to visit the exact alpaca supported by each donation.
After admiring the alpacas, visitors can walk nature trails, explore orchards, see a five-acre USDA certified organic garden, visit the Farm Store and participate in educational worships or cooking classes. Approximately 90 minutes southwest of Indianapolis, a visit to the Center makes for a bountiful and doable day trip. WVC always offers volunteer opportunities for those seeking greater involvement. And yes, volunteers can work with the alpacas.
Photo 1: Female alpaca Brittney was the first alpaca born at WVC in 1998.
Photo 2: Volunteers spin alpaca fiber into handmade yarns, scarves, hats, garments and gifts
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