A REAL PEACE OF EARTH

On Monday our class went to Peace of Earth Lodge/Bed and Breakfast in Rushville, IL. Peach of Earth had different environmental aspects for people to come out and enjoy a peaceful place to relax and “get away” for a few days.

Pat Sullivan and her husband Tim own the 30-acre sustainable property. The house that they live in is made up of recycled wood. Sullivan said that the wood of her stairs are made up of wood from a tornado in 1981 that a man didn’t know what to do with.

“We were green when it was dorky,” said Sullivan about reusing items.

The main house is a passive solar house, meaning it has no moving parts. The house used solar heat and different installations so they can stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Sullivan said she has only run the air conditioning for five hours in over a month and a half to control the humidity.

One of the most interesting parts of the house is the bathroom on the main floor. The toilet is not electric nor does it use water. After someone uses the restroom, the Sullivans add pete moss to the waste so it can decompose and turn into soil. They let it sit for about a year and use it on the trees and plants. Sullivan said she has not used it in the garden because she doesn’t know how it will affect the foods.

Another interesting part of their land is the tree house. It’s not your normal wooden house in a tree with a latter attached. This unique house has a bed, couch, shades for privacy and a door. It was originally was supposed to be used for entertainment but Sullivan said that most young couples like being in there because it is peaceful.

After Sullivan’s 23 years of teaching outdoor education to girl scouts, she decided that the two options she had to continue working was either commute or work from home. She chose the latter.

Her husband built the cabins and the trails on the property. Looking out of each window of the cabins and the tree house, there is nothing but big green trees and plants in sight. There are porches with a sitting area attached to each cabin as well.

They have been running the bed and breakfast since the spring of 2008. They are going into their fourth season of running it.

“No one will leave here hungry,” said Sullivan referring to the hot breakfast that is cooked for guest the morning after the stay.

Peach of Earth has held teaching retreats, church planning retreats and family reunions. People go there and find that it is a peaceful place to hold different events.
Sullivan said that people come to work in the gardens, hike the three miles of trail, and canoe in the creek.

Some of the other events they hold include cooking classes, concerts and hold events in their Environmental Learning Center.

Peach of Earth provides a sustainable relaxing environment for their guest and for themselves. Staying at the lodge for even one night will show people how to live sustainable and be able to use some of the Sullivan’s ideas in their own lives.