Permaculture planting with Resilient Roots at Saint Barnabas’s

Saint Barnabas’s Episcopal Church and Resilient Roots of Cape Cod seek volunteers to help transform 2,500 sq ft of lawn on Siders Pond into a sustainable, fruit-bearing landscape for the Falmouth community to visit and enjoy. Dozens of native perennials will be planted in “guilds,” groups that support each other and mimic the natural ecosystem. The garden, known as permaculture, centers on three ethical principles: Earth care, people care, and fair share. The permaculture garden at Saint Barnabas’s will provide food for wildlife and humans, and capture carbon through habitat restoration. The planting area will include walkways to encourage and facilitate public access through the permaculture garden.

Church and community volunteers will participate in an educational workday on Saturday, May 27, 2023 from 8:30am to 3:00pm. Participants will learn both the theory and the hands-on skills of permaculture planting. Lunch will be provided. Anyone who would like to volunteer is asked to register at StBOutreach@gmail.com or by calling Saint Barnabas’s at 508-548-3863.

The Rev. Will Mebane, rector of Saint Barnabas’s, said, “This project has been developing since late 2020 when the parish hosted “Nature’s Best Hope” a webinar presented by New York Times best-selling author Douglas Tallamy. Members of the church immediately expressed the desire to support nature with native plants that could be a small step in addressing the climate emergency. We are grateful for the guidance and expertise of Kristie Kapp and Resilient Roots that helped make this permaculture garden possible. Grants supporting the project have been received from The Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts and the Behren’s Fund of Saint Barnabas's.”