7/22/05

We stopped at a Hudderite Community in Valerie, Montana where there are some 111 people living in community because of their Christian beliefs. While they don’t do television and shun many “wordly notions,” they have adopted modern farming technology in … Continue reading

7/16/05

We’ve driven west on I-94 to Richardton, North Dakota where I interviewed the Prioress of the Sacred Heart Monestary and Retreat Center, Sr. Ruth Fox. The nuns here installed the first commercial wind turbines in North Dakota back in 1994. … Continue reading

7/1/05

We traveled to Anathon Farm in Luck, Wisconsin (pop. 1,200). The sign coming in says: “You Are Now In Luck.” And we were. We researched an ultra-earth friendly farm (two-acre organic garden, solar shower, solar panels, straw-bale insulation, compost toilets…) … Continue reading

6/3/05

We have launched on our next tour, first stop: Mt. Hope, Ohio (pop. 2,000). Author Gene Logsdon has called Mt. Hope the best town in Ohio. Why? Mt. Hope is Amish, and for the most part: sustainable. That is, the … Continue reading

5/10/05

I’m working on a column about a program we researched recently at the University of Dayton. The Chaminade Program at UD is designed to get students thinking about career more in terms of “vocation,” than merely just another secular job. … Continue reading

5/2/05

Talked with archtect Paul Kapczuk Jr. about “affordable housing” initiatives in Cleveland. Mr. Kapczuk said the Cuyahoga Count Community Land Trust buys properties throughout the city, helps rehab them, then offers them at affordable prices to relatively low income people … Continue reading

4/23/05

Met with Jim Stevenson who is the assistant to the Director of Cleveland’s “Department on Aging.” He said the Department has recently developed a “Senior Strides Program” for people over 55 who are looking for work. And that’s a good … Continue reading

4/18/05

Our family toured the Catholic Worker House on the near west side of Cleveland today. Four volunteers live in community with 15 people who would otherwise be: homeless. They live in a converted convent on St. Patrick Church property here … Continue reading

4/15/05

Met this week with Bob McCauliff who is the volunteer coordinator for a project to turn an old, vacant convent on Cleveland’s near west side into a long-term living facility for those recovering from alcohol and drug addiction. If it … Continue reading