Green Committee Report

Green Committee / Property Team – making lemonade
Submitted by: Dee Gustavson, April 17, 2020

The church property is not able to accommodate those that need overnight shelter. People sheltering at the church can add strain to our church relationship with the neighbors. We do have an active outreach ministry, Project Needs, which provides food, supplies, and clothing to those in need. Project Needs has been helping our less fortunate neighbors and community for more than 30 years. 

A few weeks back, we found a new encampment on St Paul’s property. The property team discussed what to do, and devised a plan. First was to provide notice to remove personal belongings. Unfortunately, one of the issues our homeless community has is “where do I go to the bathroom”? The new encampment had a pile of dirt which we determined had been used as a restroom, for some time.

Several ideas were brainstormed and considered. The solution – John Severson volunteered to make raised planter beds. Dee Gustavson plans to plant them with drought tolerant low maintenance plants. The planters and plants will fill the space with natural beauty, while at the same time, reducing potential living space. This will be a multi-step project, with opportunity for the entire church to be involved. 

Brighton suggested an “adopt-a-plot” approach at our last property team meeting, and PK emailed the congregation to let all know about the opportunity to help with the project. John has already donated the materials and labor to make the wood planters, Jan Parnell pledged funding for supplies. Steve Pugh and Gus Gustavson helped move the planters from the Seversons to the church property. Dee applied the wood preservative, and Holly and Dee will apply the urethane topcoat to protect the wood from weather and help them last longer.

Bonnie looked for and found local sources for free dirt. Dee found a source for bark mulch. The project is expected to be completed sometime in the next month.
When we have problems, I like how our church pulls together to provide and act on solutions. When life gives you lemons, you can get discouraged, grossed out, or complain….or you can make lemonade. 

Praise God … we have a congregation that makes lemonade. 

Sustainably,

Dee Gustavson