The EKM Team meets the first Tuesday of every month at 7:30 PM at CLC. Monthly workdays are scheduled on the fourth Saturday of each month from 9:00 to 12:00 to perform maintenance on the Trail, Garden, and our other environmental initiatives. The work varies month to month, depending on the season. Click here for information about how you can help.

For information, please email us at EKM@communitylutheran.org

The Hedgerow Habitat Trail is a wildlife restoration and environmental education project. Its purpose is to be a demonstration of environmental stewardship of God's creation, and to provide recreational and spiritual reflection opportunities on the land of CLC. We are dependent on the work of volunteers and others to maintain the trail. The trail is open to community organizations for educational purposes and has been the site for numerous Girl Scout and Boy Scout service projects including seven Boy Scout Eagle Projects to date. There is a lot about nature and our responsibility to protect nature that can be learned working on the trail.

The Giving Garden project grows nutritious, organic produce for distribution to local low-income families. The Giving Garden is planted each spring with the help of the Sunday school classes, and harvested and watered throughout the growing season by volunteers. Harvested produce is taken to LINK for distribution to local families or used by LINK volunteers to prepare meals for those unable to do so themselves.

The Memorial Garden project is just getting started and will be an enclosed garden area to serve as a place for remembering our loved ones, and for reflection and meditation. The garden also will have a scattering area for the burial of ashes. The garden will consist of six primary garden areas, each consisting of a different mix of plants and supporting structural features. The garden and its six areas will be developed in phases, as funds are available through memorial donations. While some of the garden construction will require professional involvement, the garden was designed and organized to allow its construction to be accomplished as service projects by church and area youth groups. In keeping with the spirit and mission of our Earthkeeping Ministry, all plants for the garden will be either native plants or non-invasive plants. In addition, every attempt will be made to use renewable or recycled materials for the structural features in the garden. For an up-to-date list of available gifts and for any change in the cost of a gift, contact a member of the Earthkeeping Ministry or email EKM.

Our environmental stewardship education and outreach programs are designed to create and raise awareness about environmental stewardship of God's Creations. Part of the educational program includes the development of inserts for the Sunday bulletin, which focus on environmental stewardship responsibilities, and way individuals and families can improve their environments by lessening their impact on the environment and creating wildlife friendly habitats. Also watch the EKM bulletin boards outside Fellowship Hall for environmental stewardship information, educational and volunteer opportunities, and legislative contact information.

CLC conducts a Pet Blessing each year as a thanksgiving for God’s creatures who touch our lives in special ways. This event is held on the Sunday closest to October 4 which is the day commemorating St. Francis of Assisi, special friend to animals.

EKM is a self-supporting ministry and must raise its own funds to support the maintenance of the trail, butterfly gardens, Giving Garden, and the purchasing of supplies for the various service projects. Funds are raised through the annual Spring Plant Sale and Holiday Coffee/Tea Sale.

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