One thing that almost every congregation does is eat together. Coffee hour after worship, Wednesday dinners, pancake breakfasts—where there is a congregation, there is food. Over the past years, many congregations’ food ministries have inspired community gardens, in which people of faith are growing some of the food that they and their neighbors eat. Some congregations have started gardens for reasons including community outreach, hunger alleviation, and creation care.
It’s exciting that growing your own food is a great way to reduce your (or a congregation’s) greenhouse gases. Although many gardens around the state were not solely created because of climate change, NCIPL celebrates each and every congregational garden. That’s why we’ve started the Climate Change Acknowledgement Campaign, which is an opportunity for gardens around the state to make the climate connection. NCIPL invites all congregations with gardens to make and display a sign in the garden stating “This Garden Makes the Climate Connection.” If you choose to participate, please let us know and be sure and send us a picture so that we can share it. Thank you to those who tend the Earth and we hope that you have fun with this project. A special prize awaits the most creative climate connection sign.
Need some help connecting the dots between climate change and food? Invite us to give a Sacred Foodscapes presentation.
–Allison Reeves Jolley, Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator
North Carolina Interfaith Power & Light (NCIPL) is a program of the North Carolina Council of Churches. NCIPL works with faith communities to address the causes and consequences of global climate change and promote practical, hope-filled responses through education, outreach, and public policy advocacy. Please visit our website for information on our current programs, campaigns, and events.
