|
BLACKLICK, OH – Shepherd's Corner, an organic farm and environmental center supported by the Dominican Sisters of St. Mary of the Springs, has received the "2007 Barn of the Year Award" from the Friends of Ohio Barns. The award recognizes outstanding commitment to conserving Ohio's agricultural icons, preserving barns.
Shepherd's Corner moved a 100-year-old barn to their property, rebuilt it, and adapted it to serve the office- and program-space needs of the ministry. Most of the barn's original materials were reused, honoring the integrity of the structure while integrating some modern alterations. Ecologically sensitive updates, like passive solar heating and natural lighting, were incorporated in the rebuild, following the guidelines of the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Program, a voluntary consensus-based national standard for developing high-performance sustainable buildings.
Today, a large program/assembly space graces the majority of the barn interior, where children and adults engage in environmental, agricultural, and spiritual learning at Shepherd's Corner. Art rooms dedicated to clay, fiber, painting, and other creative endeavors are used for programs that emphasize the spiritual side of artistic expression. Another highlight of the reconstructed barn is the large farm-style kitchen, where much of the food grown at Shepherd's Corner is washed and packaged before delivery to local food kitchens and pantries. The kitchen also provides ample space for canning and preserving the harvest for program use. In addition to programming space, the barn houses new offices for the staff of Shepherd's Corner and includes an attached shed that provides storage for implements and hand-tools used in farming the organic fields.
The Pizzutti Company donated the barn to Shepherd's Corner, and Design Group Columbus contributed its architecture skills in redesigning it. The Durable Slate Company rebuilt the structure, while John Forgos and Associates served as the general contractor. The project would not have been possible without the generous financial support of the Harold C. Schott (HCS) Foundation and the Charles Frederick Goss Foundation. Shepherd's Corner is also grateful for the many other organizations and individuals who contributed financial and in-kind donations and volunteer hours to support the project.
Shepherd's Corner is a ecology-spirituality ministry of the Dominican Sisters of St. Mary of the Springs, which seeks to give witness to Catholic Social Teaching on the importance of caring for the Earth as responsible stewards of God's creation.
#######
|
