The John XXIII Retreat Center in Hartford City,Indiana is a green oasis open to all for re-connecting the inner work of heart and outer service to the world. Creativity is present in each peaceful room. Thoughtful space planning has included handicap accessibility and the future use of an elevator.
Director,Sister Joetta Huelsmann,PHJC,welcomes guests to the center. Her guided tour is filled with stories of reuse,renew and recycle for sustainable planet living. During remodeling;old brick,solid wood cabinets and plumbing fixtures have all been reused. Low flow bathroom fixtures are gradually being installed. Glass serving ware is used instead of paper or plastic. Energy efficient lighting and a beautiful skylight create warmth and grace to the space as well.
Verdant outdoor landscaping,seen from almost every room,provides serene and warm surroundings. Just a few steps away there is a vegetable garden sprouting new growth.
Make an appointment to visit the John XXIII Retreat Center where you will enjoy seeing how an older home has been re-purposed with sustainable space planning and replicable planet saving practices.
407 W. McDonald Street,Hartford City,IN 47348,www.john23rdretreatcenter.com. 1-888-882-1391
Jim DeCamp has been gardening his whole life and drew inspiration from watching his grandparents’ garden. Pam began 32 years ago in 1980,feeling compelled to be self-sustaining and in harmony with the land. Starting up was a trial and error process,learning along the way,especially since they do not use pesticides or fertilizers. It takes time to learn what works and what does not for your plot of land. Each year the DeCamp Gardens experiments with new techniques such as companion gardening. Additionally every year they try out new and unique varieties,such as purple green beans,white cucumbers,purple potatoes,or black tomatoes.