Sisters of Providence ministry gets grant for organic farming project

Published: 2004-05-21

ST. MARY-OF-THE-WOODS, Ind. (CNS) -- The White Violet Center for Eco-Justice, a ministry of the Sisters of Providence of St. Mary-of-the-Woods, wants to contribute something to the world of organic farming. Their current project has even received a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The goal is to help farmers who want to switch to organic farming, but who have soil that is left barren of nutrients after years of using chemicals to retard the growth of weeds in their crops. Using any synthetic chemicals like pesticides "kills the fertility of the soil," said Michele Conyer, the center's sustainable agricultural and policy specialist. "What you're left with is dead soil, incapable of supporting crops without continuing on the chemical treadmill." The soil becomes more dependent on chemicals to help the food grow, she said. If a farmer decides to quit using the chemicals, he often must leave the field fallow or grow another crop, like hay, for many years to restore the soil's natural fertility. So the center, along with three other farms, is using its USDA grant to fund a microbial research project that deals with what is called "compost tea."

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