We at St. Paul’s have a mission to preserve and improve our planet, our environment, and the community around us through our Environment/Sustainability Ministry. Our organic community gardens, bee apiary, and composting beds contribute to providing a healthy and safe environment in which we can grow vegetables and herbs, as well as many beautiful flowers that are contributed to local foodbanks and are used by the church for various services and events. Our recent installation of rooftop solar panels not only allow us to contribute energy that is added to the local power grids while also ensuring that our campus is powered in the most sustainably friendly manner possible.
Ministry of Environment & Sustainability
The Community Garden is the embodiment of St. Paul’s Environmental/ Sustainability Ministry. Using organic and other natural gardening practices in 20+ large garden beds, we plant and harvest vegetables and herbs that are donated to the Chester County Foodbank. We also grow many beautiful flowers that are used for services and other events. We raise revenue to support the Garden by annually leasing another 20 garden beds to members of the St. Paul’s and local communities.
Whether you are an experienced gardener or just interested in learning more about organic gardening and contributing to the important work of the Chester County Food Bank, we would love to have you join us for our next meetings held on the first Monday of every month at 7:00 PM via Zoom and in person.  Garden Coordinator: Steven Choc (steven.choc@gmail.com)
Compost is an important ingredient that can be used to improve garden soil. Soil with higher organic content is linked to improved fertility, increased crop production, efficient nutrient usage, fewer plant diseases, and improved groundwater quality. Our Composting Program at St. Paul’s allows us to sustainably use food scraps, garden waste and a variety of organic materials to create healthier natural fertilizer to improve the overall quality of the soil in our Community Garden beds.     Coordinator: Dave Kissane
Our beehives are located at the back of our property, where we meet weekly during the summer to “work” with the bees. This year, we have three new hives starting in our apiary, with the hopes of at least one more joining the group. While we enjoy honey, the honeybees are helping our garden produce more fruits and vegetables, as well as helping to pollinate the flowers of native plants and trees. In addition to the benefits of the honey and higher productivity of the garden, our honeybees add to the genetic diversity of colonies of honeybees that are living in the surrounding woods and fields neighboring St. Paul’s. Research suggests that is a very good thing for the environment and for wild colonies of bees. All are welcome to come and learn as we work with the bees! We also will look forward to the honey harvest. There is no experience needed to help with the bees, and we have all of the gear needed.
Coordinator:Â J.T. Grosch
To celebrate the many blessings of our Environment/Sustainability ministry, all members of St. Paul’s and our garden bed renters are welcomed to our Sunset Socials held on the second Friday during the Summer months. The 2025 Sunset Socials are scheduled for June 20th, July 18th, August 15th at 7:00 PM, and September 19th at 6:30 PM in the Community Garden. Please bring your own chair, beverage of choice, and snacks to share if you would like. All are welcome.