Launching the Green Group –
The Green Group arose post-pandemic as Friends returned to the Meetinghouse and to the joy of building community while focused on caring for our planet. With the urgency of earth care in mind, several Friends attended the Green Leaders Training Program which is offered by the Interfaith Partners of the Chesapeake (IPC) to the 9000 congregations of all faiths, that fall within the Chesapeake Watershed. Following this training the Green Group formed and requested support of the Annapolis Friends Meeting to join the IPC as a stewardship partner. This partnership was approved by Meeting with the adoption of the Congregation Partner Pledge on February 4, 2024. The stewardship pledge reconfirms our testimony as Friends to care for the Earth and each other.
The Green Group launched with an indoor-outdoor Celebration of the AFM- IPC Partnership Pledge on Mother’s Day. The program began indoors with a blend (virtual and inperson) meeting featuring a presentation “Making Peace with Mother Earth” by photo-journalist, and Annapolis Friend, Fran Palmeri ; those attending in person then stepped outside to participate in the pledge reading and tree planting. Those activities completed, the event concluded with a sacred chant and dance led by AFM’s Sylvia Oliva.
The Green Group is part of a long tradition of stewardship at Annapolis Friends Meeting.
Our Initial Action Plans Included:
Plan 1 – Invasive Species Identification and Removal
- A survey of the invasive plant species on the AFM property was conducted by Friend, Cairn K. in Spring of 2024
- the survey led to the creation of an AFM Invasive Plants Identification Guide – (in progress)
- A walk-around with Draft of the Invasive List in hand was scheduled for Green Group members and Friends.
- Friends participated in a brief training in invasive vines identification and removal with the Scenic River Land Trust (SRLT)
- We look forward to learning more about invasive plants and best practices in how to control them as part of the ongoing efforts with MH&L to control invasive species. More help is needed. We invite you to join us in this and all activities!
Plan 2 – Creating a pollinator meadow
Meetinghouse land has been set aside for the creation of a crescent shaped pollinator meadow in the grassy area that rims the woods on the north side of the Meetinghouse. This no-mow meadow will provide learning opportunities for AFM and we hope with perseverance, that it will add to the food bank for pollinators and other invertebrates. We are currently discussing how to best prepare the soil for planting and collecting seeds to plant in spring.
Plan 3 – Planting more native trees and shrubs for the planet and the Meetinghouse land
We participated in the IPC “Sacred Trees for Sacred Places Program” ! See more on the resulting – Edible Trail!
The Meetinghouse & Lands Committee and the Green Group are working with the Interfaith Partners of the Chesapeake and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to obtain free native trees as part of Maryland’s ‘5 Million Trees Initiative’, that was enacted in the “Tree Solutions Now Act” of 2021 as a carbon mitigation effort.
We hope to soon have a tree and shrub planting plan to share with the Meeting. We are eager to give home to a wide variety of free native specimens (and the DNR’s generous offer of planting them), to create a demonstration/teaching landscape that will also provide habitat and food to enhance the biodiversity of the Meetinghouse Lands. If approved, first plantings could begin in fall of 2024 and continue in the spring of 2025.
Plan 4 – Environmental Voter Project – Writing and mailing
Postcard reminders to encourage participation in our Democracy by voting.
The Green Group’s is supporting a campaign being led by Friend, Connie H., working in tandem with the Environmental Voter Project. To date our group has released over 300 handwritten postcards to help get out the vote around the country. We are writing to remind others their vote is important and to encourage them to vote. This does not involve promoting candidates or parties, it supports the promotion of the democratic process.
Plan 5 – Community Gardening Project – WE ARE NOW ASSEMBLING THE CARTS!
Our group is discussing the creation of an elevated raised bed on wheels that we could use as a small teaching or demonstration garden. In addition, we hope to collaborate with MH&L to use a recently donated cold frame, and to start a winter-sowing project using milk jugs, to raise plants for our meadow and possibly raise items to help support Quaker Market’s fundraising for internal and external community programs.
Plan 6 – Composting, How-To’s – Project – TO DO!
We have two Friends who have indicated they will take the lead on maintaining the compost bins. Others of our group want to also learn best practices involved in composting.