Tenders of the Garden

Serve

There are many ways that we can learn more about environmental issues and make a difference for creation. Try one of the activities below or post your own to start serving our God, the Creator- and learning about the earth and our responsibility to it!

Plant some trees.

Partner with an environmental organization to plant trees. Planting trees make spaces more beautiful and reduce carbon dioxide which leads to global warming. Many youth groups around the country are participating in this activity.

Electronics recycling.

Work with your local recycling center and city government to designate a day where you could work with them to be a drop-off point for people to bring their old electronics for free recycling. Read about the e-recycling done by Wild Rose Congregational Church of Evergreen, CO

Stream Clean-Up.

Work in your local creeks, streams, and rivers to collect the trash that the rainwater brought. Click here to read about First Presbyterian Church of Kirkwood, MO in their annual stream clean-ups.

Roadside Clean-Up.

Pick a few blocks that you are willing to pick up and go out with trash bags, gloves, and have fun! Sometimes these activities are organized by a neighborhood association. If your group is large enough and you can make a commitment for longer-term, consider the “Adopt-a-Highway” program.

Plant a garden in a small section of the church grounds.

It could be a flower garden, a vegetable garden, or a native plants (plants especially adapted to your area) garden. Produce from a vegetable garden could be used for church potluck meals or taken to a food bank. Flowers could be used to decorate the church or for special occasions like Mother’s Day. Native plants could be used to talk about how God fits us with particular gifts useful for particular places.

Click here to read about Crescent Hill Presbyterian Church of Louisville, KY and their Gardening Day Camp.

Give Your Church a Test!

Find out from your local gas and electric company the things they recommend for energy efficiency in buildings and grounds. Make a list of these recommendations and tour the church buildings and grounds to check which suggestions are already followed and what things are missing. Write a review of your findings and submit it to the church's governing board with a nice note congratulating them on their current efficiency and encouraging them to take more steps (be specific). Give your reasons for wanting them to take more steps!

Through spiritual ecology, we strive for social, ecological and economic well-being for all God's Creation: eco-justice. Why?