I started interning with Open Spirit in October, and it’s been my pleasure to help support and share the stewardship of the grounds―as well as to create more gardens that welcome the community, human and non-human alike!
In winter Ted and I got to know and learn from local plant experts. We also discovered the hard work that many church members put in.
In May, volunteers jumpstarted overall maintenance and prepared some areas for planting. Since then, we’ve focused on creating two new gardens.
Down by the farm, we dug in a layer of compost, spread mulch from downed trees, and created a Pollinator Garden. Pollinator plants are native to this region, and support insects and birds that evolved alongside them. So far, everything we’ve planted in this area was donated from the home garden of Neela, a botanist at Garden in the Woods.
Outside the sanctuary, Ted, Joe, and others valiantly removed the decades-old evergreen bushes leaving the root sections as part of the landscape! In the following weeks, Janet, Joe, Debbie, Ted, and I planted junipers and more of Neela’s donations.
Going forward, the old playground will serve in part as a staging area for transplants, and we are working to establish a system for coordinating volunteers to best invite participation from members of this community.
We hold these efforts as expressions of faith and stewardship, and are inspired by the gradual, remarkable process of growing new things! Please join us!:
Fridays, 2:30-4:00pm: Drop in volunteer hour with the Farm
July 1 and 8 from 9:00-10:00am: Gardening hour before Sunday Service
Sofia Wolman & Ted Quintal for ECOS