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Gardening connects us to nature – “the caress of God.” In his magnificent song, Canticle of the Sun, St. Francis of Assisi understood and appreciated our connectedness to nature with his words, “Praise be to you, my Lord, through our Sister, Mother Earth, who sustains and governs us, and who produces various fruit with colored flowers and herbs.” Many studies show the physical, emotional, spiritual, and environmental benefits of planting and caring for a garden. However, what we plant and how we care for our landscapes determines whether it enhances or harms the environment. By using sustainable gardening practices, parishes and parishioners can create an oasis for people and wildlife around their churches and homes and restore local ecosystems.

Massachusetts has a robust Master Gardener Extension Volunteer program that can be a good source of expertise for the church or family garden.