I always think of March as the last winter month of the year; Spring with new life starting to blossom, is just around the corner. This is the time of year that if you want to see truly happy people, go to one of our local Greenhouses and watch the customers, almost in rapture, as they pick the flowers and vegetables they will plant this year. To till and to tend or to till and to keep will become evident in many of our lives.  Trowels, plants, soil, fertilizer, beauty and hope will all be intertwined in our lives.

Spring will bring the annual burning of our church’s prairie to stimulate and to make way for new growth. A Laudato Si quote ( Para 244) states, “We come together to take charge of this home which has been entrusted to us, knowing that all the good which exists here will be taken up into the heavenly feast.”  
 

This month we have a little four-minute video on Care of the Common Home by the international group Caritas.  This is the world-wide organization of the Church that our Catholic Relief Services work with around the world. To access the video, click on the site and then scroll down to the second picture.

https://www.caritas.org.au/learn/cst-toolkit/care-for-our-common-home/

Organic Gardening Tips:

~ Avoid chemical pesticides and weed killers. These are quite toxic to the environment, animals, and people.
~ Instead of using chemicals, research companion plants that work as pest repellants as well as organic pesticides.

~ Compost waste. Instead of artificial fertilizers which pollute the groundwater, use composted garden and kitchen waste instead.

~ Attract wildlife. Most animals do not destroy garden plants. However, many do feed on pests and work as a natural pesticide. Make your garden animal-friendly by installing a bug house, bird box, water, and animal-friendly plants.

~ Collect rainwater. Gardens need a lot of water, so instead of letting the rainwater go down the drain, collect it and use the rainwater to hydrate your garden.

Gardens help the environment by reducing air and noise pollution, erosion, and energy costs, minimizing carbon footprint, filtering the groundwater, and providing a food and home source for various animals and insects.

For information about the Creation Care Team or to join us, contact Rita Bresnan at [email protected]