Racine Dominican Eco-Justice Center Holds Fifth Annual Festival

Environmentally friendly activities and crafts will be on tap during the Racine Dominican Eco-Justice Center's Fall Festival this weekend.

The event, to be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, will feature live music, food and demonstrations intended to promote the center's mission of sustainable living.

Two of the demonstrations to be held during the fifth annual event involve weaving and spinning.

"We use the fiber from the alpacas to spin and then out of the yarn, one of the sisters knits and takes orders for socks, mittens and scarves," said Sister Janet Weyker, the director of the center.

Wood-turning, apple pressing and butter making demonstrations will also be held during the event at the center, located at 7133 Michna Road.

"The festival is an opportunity for people to come learn about the Eco-Justice Center and to get in touch with this beautiful place here and to see nature and all of its glory," Weyker said.

A silent auction will also be held, featuring about 35 to 40 items from the center. A basket of goodies made from honey bees, which are raised at the center, will be one of the featured items. 

"The beekeeper's wife makes this absolutely delicious little honey hives they are made out of chocolate and honey," Weyker said. "There is a good variety of things."

Children will be able to pet the tame chickens and bunnies at the center. The center will set up a vegetable stand during the festival. 

"Ordinarily, we don't sell our vegetables. We usually give our excess vegetables to the Siena Center or the North Side Food Pantry and we do a lot of canning and freezing," Weyker said. "We try to model sustainability here and growing our own food is a part of that."

Admission will be $3 for adults and $2 for children. The event is free for children younger than 2 years old. Funds raised during the event will go to lights for the center's parking lot.   

"We thought won't it be cool if we could afford a solar powered parking lot light," Weyker said. "It would be in keeping with what we are about here."

Roasted corn on the cob will be served along with nachos, hot dogs and refreshments. Live music will entertain the crowd throughout the day.