I recently approached the Stewardship of the Environment Committee with a proposal to embark on a campaign encouraging the rewilding of Church properties in the Diocese of Montreal. They were very receptive to taking steps in this direction. Read on to find out about the proposal and how to take action.
Like many of us, I am concerned with environmental stewardship and decolonization practices. It struck me that the rewilding concept is accessible, impactful and most importantly, do-able for our context in the Diocese of Montreal.
Given the current economic situation, exacerbated by ongoing pressures on Churches to recruit new members and retain existing ones, I didn’t want to further burden our leaders. The good news is that this proposal frees us to lean into the deep wisdom inherent in nature herself and to find peace with what is. And, it can be done within the existing frameworks of effort and at little or no cost.
The concept of rewilding church properties is one that not only revitalizes green spaces but also fosters environmental sustainability, promotes biodiversity and support community well-being. Of equal importance to Anglicans, is that this as an opportunity to honor Creation and our commitment to decolonize Churches.
What does this mean?
The rewilding movement aims to restore and protect natural ecosystems by reintroducing native plants, removing invasive species, and allowing natural processes to occur with minimal human intervention. The goal is to reverse habitat degradation, enhance biodiversity, and create healthier, more resilient ecosystems.
We are encouraged to consider all of our green spaces, even those that are not visible from the curb, perhaps flanking the building or the parking lot. For some, this would be the place to start since these areas may be neglected or overlooked.
What can we do?
A few obvious things that we can do immediately is to avoid planting grass, mowing lawns and being mindful of raking leaves to accommodate the life cycle of insects and reptiles. Instead of grass we can plant clover or wildflowers as a means of promoting biodiversity. Instead of annuals we can plant native perennials that will provide food for pollinators. Instead of removing dandelions, we let them flourish as they promote soil health and provide a habitat and food for pollinators and insects.
The book Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer was a source of profound inspiration. Having read the book I feel moved to examine my own life, actions and behavior with greater scrutiny.
“To love a place is not enough. We must find ways to heal it.” (Robin Wall Kimmerer, Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants).
“In the Western tradition there is a recognized hierarchy of beings, with, of course, the human being on top—the pinnacle of evolution, the darling of Creation—and the plants at the bottom. But in Native ways of knowing, human people are often referred to as “the younger brothers of Creation.” We say that humans have the least experience with how to live and thus the most to learn—we must look to our teachers among the other species for guidance. Their wisdom is apparent in the way that they live. They teach us by example. They’ve been on the earth far longer than we have been, and have had time to figure things out.” (Robin Wall Kimmerer, Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants).
Even here in our own diocese there are numerous churches that are well underway in their rewilding efforts and we can learn from them.
Consider for example, St Philips church in Montreal West with their ample fruit trees, raised garden beds and ongoing impressive dedication to community and environmental stewardship.
While I am not an expert – just a concerned citizen and a lover of the natural world – I have found many sources of knowledge on this topic, the results of of which are in the boxes below.
