As a reminder, Shepherd’s Corner Ecology Center will be closed to visitors on July 17th.

Our next Friday open to the public will be the following Friday, July 24th.

This Friday, July 3rd, Shepherd’s Corner Ecology Center’s office will be closed.

Our meditation trail will be open again on July 10th.

Shepherd’s Corner will not be open today Friday, June 26th for visitors. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and hope you’ll visit us on another Friday.

Shepherd’s Corner is participating in The Columbus Foundation‘s The Big Give. This 25 hour giving marathon runs from June 10th at 10:00 am to June 11th at 11:00 am. Your donation, of $20 or more, will be amplified by a bonus pool of donation funds during this time frame.

We invited you to support our efforts to share our naturally grown vegetables with those in need in the Columbus area.

Here is the donation link for tomorrow’s Big Give!
https://columbusfoundation.org/…/ShepherdsCornerEcolog…/9696

Due to the pandemic, program platform, date, or location may change. Out of respect for each other’s health, we are wearing masks and practicing social distancing. We ask that you join us in this healthy practice when participating in on site programs.

Gardening 101: Focus on tomatoes (originally April 24th)
Friday, June 5th 7:00 – 8:30 pm: Will be held on Zoom.
Suggested Donation: $5

Registration closes 1 business day prior to this program.

Are you relatively new at gardening? Would you like to learn a bit more that might help you in your home garden? We will focus on care and maintenance of tomatoes, from transplanting methods, to trellising and harvesting. This workshop will include an overview of the basic needs of plants for at home gardening, including when to plant which crops, watering needs at different stages of development, and an overview of different common crop health problems and solutions.

——————–

Join us on Zoom!

Join us Friday June 5th for Gardening 101: Online Event!

—————————

About the facilitator:
Facilitated by Lainie Rini, Shepherd’s Corner’s Gardener/Farm Manager. Lainie is returning for their 2nd season at Shepherd’s Corner as the farm manager, and their 4th season farming. They’ve managed a small scale urban garden in Columbus for the past seven years with other community members, where all the food is exchanged for free. She learned how to farm on a large scale at an apprenticeship in Pescadero, CA. In addition to farming, they work with a coalition committed to ending state-sanctioned violence against communities.

———————————

Dance as Prayer: Rescheduled for August 26th, to be held at same time.

———————————

Eco Printing on Watercolor Paper
Saturday, May 30th 1:30 – 3:30 pm
$15 program fee

*program is at capacity: contact to be added to wait-list*

Using leaves, water, vinegar, and rusty nails, learn how to transfer the images of leaves directly onto watercolor paper. First we will arrange leaves between a sandwich of watercolor paper, and then we will steam the sandwich in the roaster for about one hour. The finished project will be a colorful, detailed print of the leaves.

*It is out of respect for each other’s health, that we are wearing masks and practicing social distancing. We ask that you join us in these healthy practices when participating in on site our programming.*

———————————

Solstice Eve: June Labyrinth Walk
10 PARTICIPANT MAXIMUM- Registration required for walk. Please contact to be added to wait list.

Saturday, June 20th 7:00 – 8:30 pm
Suggested Donation: $5

Celebrate the longest day of the year, Summer Solstice, with the community. Gather strength in the Labyrinth before the days start to shorten in the cycle of unending flow.

*Out of respect for each other’s health, we are wearing masks and practicing social distancing. We ask that you join us in this healthy practice when participating in our programs.*

Our labyrinth is located on Wengert Road, at the second drive to the right. Please wear comfortable shoes. No previous meditation experience or experience walking labyrinths is required.

About the facilitator:
Facilitated by Joy Lawrence. Joy is a LMT & a yoga instructor.

Please register by calling (614) 866-4302 or through our website calendar. Shepherd’s Corner Ecology Center is an outreach of The Dominican Sisters of Peace.

Pope Francis has invited all of us to participate in Laudato Si’ week. This year is the five year anniversary of the pivotal encyclical. Laudato Si’ centers on the intersection of social, economic, and environmental justice. Calling for each to be address so that change can be made.

This inspirational work calls us to transform our social values and take action for global solidarity.

The Catholic Climate Covenant Laudato Si’ summary and action pages have ideas you can take to help make change.

Our plants are selling fast! Orders can be placed until May 1st. Plant pick up will be Saturday May 9th.

April 22nd 2020 will be an Earth Day like none other! This year’s Earth Day is focused on individual action, change, and projects rather than the large gathering projects that Earth Days of the year’s past have been.

Our Earth Day Idea List:

• Create a compost pile if you are able to. Composting can help reduce your landfill waste and provide nutrients to your garden & soil. https://www.naturespath.com/…/blog/the-basics-of-composting/

• Plant something! Maybe a tree, vegetable or herb garden, or even some flowers. If you can’t plant where you are, consider donating to an organization that will plant such as Arbor Day or Canopy Project.
https://action.earthday.org/donate_canopyproject

• Consider recycling more. Find more information (including where you can take things that are actually recyclable) at this link: https://earth911.com/recycling-center-search-guides/

•You can also find free recycling programs through TerraCycle for things you may be throwing away.
https://www.terracycle.com/en-US/brigades

• Reuse and re-purpose things! If you can’t and do not need something any more, consider donating the items.
https://www.recyclart.org/

• Have extra time on your hands? Perhaps try to fix that leaky faucet.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DX-OLwqFdHI

• Create bird feeders using milk or juice cartons or even pine cones.
https://boulderlocavore.com/diy-milk-carton-bird-feeders/
https://www.thespruce.com/pine-cone-bird-feeder-385750

• Make and display window signs for Earth Day.
https://www.earthday.org/act…/make-an-earth-day-window-sign/

• Buy from local farmers. For example the Worthington Farmers’ Market is open for prepaid order pick up on Saturdays.
There also may be farms local to you offering delivery of their products.
https://rb.gy/lqimmi

• Get outside if you can. Take a walk around your neighborhood. While you’re walking pick up litter and recycle what you can. You can even create a scoring system for items collected.
https://www.physicaleducationupdate.com/…/Ideas_Trash_Walk.…

• Learn about animals & plants that are native to your area. Ohio has many field guides online such as the one below.
https://wildlife.ohiodnr.gov/…/publi…/id%20guides/pub344.pdf

• Clear the storm drain in front of your house. Any debris will stop water from draining as it should and will contribute to flooding. Any trash you may find at the storm drain is in danger of going directly into waterways.

Shepherd’s Corner’s Farm Fresh 5K is the main source of revenue for our food pantry gardens. For thirteen years this race has been a fun community driven event for all ages of runners and walkers. This year the onslaught of COVID-19 has impacted so many and caused life changes for all of us. The health of all of our friends & supporters is very important to us. For this reason, Shepherd’s Corner Ecology Center has decided to cancel our June 13th Farm Fresh 5K. We will miss the excitement and laughter the racers and walkers bring to Shepherd’s Corner.