Food, Farms, Gardens

Crown Point Ecology Center

Picture courtesy of crownpt.org

Crown Point is an ecology center in Bath, Ohio. Their mission is to demonstrate the applications of ecology and connect them to spirituality, social justice, and environmental protection. They work to be a role model for food security and sustainable land use through farm stewardship, advocacy, and education. Their goals and mission are achieved by integrating their four core values into everyday life. Their four core values include community, justice, spirituality, and sustainability. To learn more about Crown Point and their programs, click here.

Engaged Organization: Dominican Sisters of Peace

Picture courtesy of oppeace.org

The Dominican Sisters of Peace are Catholic Sisters who strive to live a life of peace-making. They work to make the world a place that is more accepting and less violent; more welcoming of others, and more respectful of the planet and less consuming of Earth’s resources. They do this by serving God through education, health care, spirituality, care of creation, and more. The have more than 550 members and congregational offices in many different states, including one in Columbus. To learn more about the Dominican Sisters of Peace and their work, click here.

Urban Agriculture and Container Gardens

 

 

 

 

Pictures courtesy of technologyforthepoor.com

 

Technology For the Poor is a non-profit organization started by Dr. Job Ebenezer. Their mission is to develop, innovate, and disseminate sustainable technologies to the poor all over the world. While Dr. Ebenezer has designed and implemented many different sustainable practices, one of the most notable is his work with urban agriculture and gardens. Using inexpensive containers and suitable soil mix, he has created container gardens in urban areas such as rooftops and unused parking lots in places such as Chicago and Washington D.C. Locally, he has created these gardens at Ascension Lutheran Church, Faith Mission Men’s Shelter, and a soup kitchen in Franklin. To learn more about Technology for the Poor and their work, click here. To read about container gardens and a guide on how to start your own, click here.

Enagaged Orginazation: Technology for the Poor

Pictured above is a dual-purpose bicycle built by Dr. Ebenezer, courtesy of technologyforthepoor.com

Technology for the Poor is a non-profit, charitable organization started by the current president, Dr. Job Ebenezer. Based on the philosophy of George Washington Carver, their work strives to serve communities by providing them with sustainable technologies. These sustainable technologies include human powered energy systems, urban agriculture, and sustainable building technologies. Specific examples of their work includes a dual-purpose bicycle, wind energy generators, low-cost construction techniques, and container gardening. Dr. Ebenezer’s container gardens have made it much easier for urban buildings, such as churches and community buildings, to have their own gardens. To learn more about urban agriculture, click here. For more information on Technology for the Poor, click here.

Engaged Organizations: Food, Faith, and Farming

Picture courtesy of cclpmidwest.org

Food, Faith, and Farming, previously known as Churches’ Center for Land and People, uses an interfaith collaboration approach to integrate earth stewardship, economic justice, community and spirituality around issues related to agriculture and food. They aim to strengthen rural life and the connection between farmers, their land, and their communities. They do so by offering a prayerful and spiritual perspective in rural communities, raising awareness of rural spirituality in our culture, and providing resources for those in church life and beyond. To check out their website, click here. Additionally, they offer a flyer containing resources for faith communities on the spiritual integrity of rural life and farming. To read the flyer, click here.

Engaged Organizations: Jewish Food Movement: Hazon

Picture courtesy of hazon.org

Hazon, which means vision, is an organization that works to create a healthier and more sustainable Jewish community. They do so through three effective changes: transformative experiences, thought-leadership, and capacity building. They are all intensive multi-day retreats or workshops that encourage people to make a difference in the world, and in the process enable them to renew their Jewish journeys. To learn more about the Jewish Food Movement and Hazon, click here.

Engaged Organizations: Christian Food Movement

Picture courtesy of christianfoodmovement.org

The Christian Food Movement combines discipleship, sustainability, health and justice in hopes to inspire conversation and collaboration about agriculture and providing food for all who need it. Their website is a guide to different Christian organizations that either provide information about sustainability producing food, or are a resource for those in need of food. They believe in loving and taking care of ones neighbor, no matter their faith. This is how and why this program was started and has since grown. In addition, their website offers a directory which can be used to find resources in any state. To access this directory click here. To read more on the Christian Food Movement, click here.

My Jewish Learning

Picture courtesy of myjewishlearning.com

My Jewish Learning was launched in 2003 with the initiative to empower Jewish discovery for anyone interested in learning. Their website includes helpful guides on celebrating, eating, living, mourning, praying and studying. Their study section includes Science and Ecology, which includes articles written on Jewish Science, the ethical treatment of animals in Judaism, sustainable Jewish eating, nature and the environment, and more environment related posts. To learn more, click here.

Earth Connections

Picture courtesy of earth-connection.com

Earth Connection is an outdoor school in Virginia that aims to teach students how to be comfortable and feel at home in the wilderness. They focus on teaching students about the resources and history around them. Their class offerings range from how to stay safe while being in the outdoors, to teaching of the enjoyment of nature on a deeper, more spiritual level. To learn more and see how to register, click here.

Engaged Organizations: The National Wildlife Federation: Sacred Grounds

Picture courtesy of nwf.org

For over 40 years, The National Wildlife Federation has been assisting congregations and faith-based organizations in creating wildlife friendly yards and landscapes through their program Sacred Grounds. Sacred Grounds was created to give people of all faiths the opportunity to connect with nature at their place of worship. They do so by offering an online certification process about proper gardening and other tips to connect with nature. To learn more about this program and the National Wildlife Federation’s work, click here.