This statement was taken from a document which can be found on the North Carolina Botanical Garden website at http://ncbg.unc.edu and North Carolina Pollinator Conservation Alliance website, http://ncpollinatoralliance.org/
Why does Watts Street Baptist Church have a pollinator garden?
The conservation and protection of healthy pollinator populations is crucial to maintaining ecosystem health and resilience, in addition to protecting our agricultural economies and our food supply. The planting of pollinator habitat is one important action to support healthy pollinator populations by providing and enhancing food supplies and nesting habitat. In addition to attracting and supporting pollinator species, pollinator habitat supports agriculturally beneficial predatory insects that can help control crop pests and also provides food (seeds and insects) and shelter for birds and other wildlife. Pollinator gardens won’t look “orderly” like other gardens—they are created to be free. (North Carolina Botanical Garden http://ncbg.unc.edu and North Carolina Pollinator Conservation Alliance http://ncpollinatoralliance.org/)
The NC Wildlife Federation provided all plants, materials and volunteers to plant the Watts Street Baptist Church Pollinator Garden. To learn more about NCWF and ongoing conservation efforts please visit: https://ncwf.org/wildlife/pollinators/
If you would like to learn more about the Creation Care Ministry of Watts Street Baptist Church, please visit: https://wattsstreet.org/serve/creation_care/
Why does Watts Street Baptist Church compost?
Americans waste roughly 30% of the food produced (USDA, 2020). In a landfill, food waste produces methane as it decomposes, a greenhouse gas that is 20 times more potent than CO2 and remains in the atmosphere around 10 years (EPA, 2020). Further, landfills in North Carolina and across the U.S. are located in communities disproportionately burdened by environmental hazards. Thus, food waste is a climate and environmental justice issue. Beginning in fall 2019, Watts Street Baptist church began composing all food scraps from meals served on the premises, in an effort to reduce landfill waste. That year, the church diverted 545lbs from the landfill, avoiding 71lbs in methane emissions which is equivalent to 1,418lbs CO2 avoided. This amount has held steady in subsequent years.
If you would like to learn more about the Creation Care Ministry of Watts Street Baptist Church, please visit: https://wattsstreet.org/serve/creation_care/