Several members of the Nativity Community attended the presentation and panel discussion featuring Jim Wallis on January 12 at Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church.  Mr Wallis is an author, an activist, preacher, a teacher, a pastor and a convener of Faith-inspired movements for justice and peace.  His keynote speech along with panel member’s presentations addressed how our faith-based communities can respond to the devastating impact of racism on our community and our nation.

His latest book is entitled America’s Original Sin.  Jerry Hoffman will have more information about  plans this fall for the Tuesday morning group to dig deeper into the content of this book.

On September 9, members of our Nativity Community participated in God’s Work Our Hands projects.  15 volunteers painted and cleaned at Rezek House (2-year transitional living program for homeless youth ages 16-21).  Volunteers reported that it was a great way to experience God’s work as they prepared a new apartment for a mother and child to move into the following week.

The second project included donating approximately $1700 in household goods and filling 16 laundry baskets that go to families in the FISH (Families in Safe Hands) program as they transition from homelessness to apartments.

Thank you for your generosity and commitment of time and energy to make this day a success!

Nativity Lutheran Church is in the process of redesigning our green space. We want to expand our vegetable gardens to grow more produce for Little Kitchen Food Shelf and transition our hillsides to pollinator gardens.

Our hillsides pose several challenges:

• We have a problem with invasive species and we have steep hills that are difficult to work on.
• Buckthorn is growing in our west hillside between the church and neighboring homes. Buckthorn out-competes native plants for nutrients, light and moisture. It serves as host to pests and it threatens the future of forests, wetlands, prairies and natural habitats.
• Canadian thistle is growing on our north and east hillsides. It is classified as a noxious weed, spreading quickly and displacing native species.
• Our steep hills are particularly challenging. They are hard to work on, prone to erosion if we disturb the soil with weeding and if we were to use chemicals there is a chance the chemicals will flow downhill to our neighbors and into the watershed.

In researching our landscaping challenges, we have found an innovative solution to our problem that will allow us to demonstrate responsible stewardship, expand our outreach and provide a learning opportunity for the youth and adults within our community. Experts in land management are turning to goat grazing to help manage sensitive landscape. Over the past few years, there have been an increasing number of park and watershed managers who are turning to goats to help control buckthorn and other invasive species.

We are bringing in goats to graze our hillsides and serve as a model of responsible stewardship.

• They will draw attention to natural spaces,
• Raise awareness of invasive species,
• Allow us to control our problem without chemicals,
• Begin transition of our hillsides to low-maintenance, native plants which will also serve as pollinator gardens.

We plan to host learning events to provide an opportunity for local preschools and scouting groups. We feel this will be an ideal opportunity to help teach our children about:

1. caring for creation,
2. caring for animals, and
3. invasive species and the importance of biodiversity.

We will hire Goat Dispatch, a family-owned business that provides goats for temporary grazing. The goats will be coming in August and will be with use for 10-14 days.

Stay tuned for updates and an event schedule.

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UPCOMING SUSTAINABILITY/ENVIRONMENT EVENTS

Nativity Garden Vision

Our vision for Nativity front entry: We see a front entry experience that is welcoming, safe, and easily accessible to everyone; where nature spills into the street creating a lovely backdrop for people to celebrate, gather, linger, play, laugh and sit while enjoying nature in each season; with inspiring and interactive lighting and artistic features in a space that reflects a noticeable and dynamic presence that stewards God’s creation and embodies our commitment to love courageously.

You Can Help – Sign up to…

• Weed
• Build another raised vegetable garden bed
• Plant for pollinators
• Participate in a gardening discussion/answer your questions

Phase 1: concept and garden design – engaged landscape architect, moved many perennials

Phase 2: transition garden space surrounding the front entrance, including Peace Pole

Phase 3: transition hillside extending to north parking lot and boulevard

There are many ways you can help…

Sponsor an item:

• Bicycle Rack ($1,000)
• Bench ($5,000)
• Lighting ($2,000)
• Pots ($250 each)
• Plants ($5-$60 each)
• Decorative Screen ($2,000)
• Seasonal Plants ($50-$100)

Volunteer to help:

• Gardeners
• General Labor
• Painters
• Architect
• Cement work / footers
• Electricians

The new garden will feature:

• 16 foot bench
• ADA compliant path
• Focal point plantings
• Easy maintenance plantings
• Peace pole
• Relocated Dragonfly Bench
• Photography opportunities

Nativity supports the Little Kitchen and NEED food. People from the Hunger Outreach Team are looking for fresh produce to give out to food pantry clients. People that visit food shelves love fresh produce as they often find it hard to buy on their limited budget. We are thankful to the Nativity community garden for the fresh produce donated to Little Kitchen. To expand donations please consider donating fresh produce from your home garden, CSA fresh produce, or any produce you might pick up at a grocery store.

A basket will be set out by the welcome desk marked as fresh produce for food shelves and will be picked up regularly and taken to food shelf by Nativity volunteers. Thank you for your donations.

If questions please contact Grace Gee at gracegee50@gmail.com or 218-348-3381.