Prayer

God of Life, You love the universe into being, Let us give praise.

You embrace the world without distinction, Let us give thanks.

You call humanity to make flesh Your tenderness, Let us live accordingly.

You endow all creation with Your divine beauty and wisdom, Let us acknowledge.

You forgive all trespasses. Let us learn Your ways.

You grace us unconditionally, Let us receive humbly.

You are our hope, Let us remember.

Amy Echeverria,
Columbans International, LSM Cofounding Member and Founding Board President.
United States of America …
From the Laudato Si’ Movement Prayer Book

 

Knowledge

It’s autumn. Many people love this time of year. They pull out their sweaters and fall decorations. Apple cider and pumpkin spice everything are on the shelves at the store.

Personally, I am a person who loves summer. For me, fall means more clothes, lots of blankets and only leaving the house when necessary. I’m a little like an insect in that respect. I would not mind burrowing into a warm place to await the spring. For humans, that’s not really possible, but for the critters in your
yard, that is exactly what they do.

What is my point? Fall yard/garden clean-up means different things to different people. I have to admit, a nicely organized, cleaned yard looks appealing to me. However, when you rake those leaves and cut back your plants you are destroying the places many insects need to survive the winter. Native bird species depend on those hibernating insects for protein during the lean months of winter in the delicate balance nature always seems to have. Native bee
species, many native butterfly larvae and insects like ladybugs and other predatory insects need these places to survive. Those bees and butterflies will
pollinate your plants and predatory insects will keep other, more destructive, insects at bay come spring.

Just a note, on the other side of this, don’t start your spring clean-up until temps are consistently above 50 degrees. They will all be out of hibernation then.

 

Action

This might be the best action column YLBG has ever had. I never get to say, “Do nothing.” Does this mean I can burrow into my blankets and leave
yard clean up until spring? Essentially yes. You can rake those leaves into a pile if needs be. After that, leave them be. If you find a chrysalis or
cocoon, be especially gentle with it.

Educating yourself and your neighbors as to the reasons not to clean up your yard in the fall is a great start to your weekend.

There are many resources to help. The Laudato Si’ Movement (formerly Catholic Climate Covenant) has recently published a prayer booklet. It is free to download.

Recently I found the Marianist Environmental Education Center in Dayton Ohio. Not sure how I’ve missed this gem for so long. Check out Earth Connection in Cincinnati too. Both have great resources.

These resources are just a start. Many more are out there.