It is with great sorrow that we inform you that Lou DeWein, the Founder of Niches Retreat Center and Co-Founder of Earthtouch and our dear friend has passed away.

We will be holding a memorial service to celebrate his life in the fall.  We will contact you by email if you are on our mailing lest and also post the specifics on this site as the date is identified.

I

Peace of Wild Things by Wendell Berry

When despair for the world grows in me

and I wake in the middle of the night at the least sound

in fear of what my life and my children's lives may be,

I go and lie down where the wood drake

rises in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.

I come into the peace of wild things

who do not tax their lives with forethought

of grief.  I come into the presence of still water,

and feel above me the day-blind stars

waiting for their light.  For a time

I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.

We are grateful to have known Lou as a friend.  His presence and dedication to creating Niches changed our lives and he leaves us as better people.  We at Earthtouch are dedicated to carrying forward the gifts he gave us in the work the organization does in the future.