Environmental Studies at DGFUMC and at Home

The Environmental Stewardship Work Area at DGFUMC took responsibility for an area on the church's grounds over the past year to maintain its landscaping and vegetation.  This area (south of the main parking lot between the main entrance and exit) is visible to everyone from Maple Street and is seen as everyone enters/exits the main parking lot from Maple.  Over the past year our group has planted more than a dozen Choral Bells, put down mulch, and ensured those pesky weeds don't overtake the tulips, bushes, or other plants.   

One new endeavor our group has undertaken is studying the effects of different weed prevention methods.  In a small area, about 6' x 18' surrounded by grass, we've put down commercial weed matting and wet newspaper, both covered with mulch, to study the potential varying effects of each type of weed prevention method.  Also, what study would be complete without a control?  To allow for an unbiased estimate in the difference in treatment effects we've put an area with nothing but mulch on the dirt in between the weed matting and newspaper prevention methods.  Over this summer our group members will rotate every two weeks to monitor the area to observe and report which areas had the most/least amount of weeds.  From there we'll continue remove the weeds and in the end will report back to the church with a method that may be more effective and worth implementing in other areas around the church.  

Studies like this are simple, thought provoking, great for the summer, and encourage children to spend their time outdoors.  Parents can discuss what they think will "win" with their children and track the progress together.  Children can relate what they may be learning at school with their own home.  Consider such studies as this, making compost, making a small biodome, or tracking the growth of different seeds that you plant together.  A great book with over 90 environmentally friendly activities to encourage the understanding and appreciation of the earth and other living things is Earthways: Simple Environmental Activities for Young Children (Carol Petrash, July/1992).  By setting up such environmental projects together you'll be helping the environment, spending time outdoors, and opening doors of thought and communication.