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Backyard Habitat
The First Unitarian
Universalist Church of Austin
Austin, TX
The Unitarian Universalist Church holds as one
of its central tenets that the interdependent
web of existence, of which humans are a part,
must be respected, and that humankind must strive
to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature.
The First Unitarian Universalist Church of Austin
took this to heart and, in their efforts to promote
earth-centered traditions and teach the interconnectedness
of all life, implemented their convictions in
their very own backyard, creating a wildlife habitat
on the church grounds.
A native bed of plants forms the backbone of
the church’s backyard wildlife habitat.
The plants themselves are an example of environmental
responsibility since native vegetation, such as
wildflowers and a meadow of Buffalo grass, requires
the least fertilizer and insecticide, and helps
to improve the overall quality of the air, soil
and water in the area.
Congregants Pat and Dale Bulla, Elizabeth Gray and Earl Swisher planned the habitat, incorporating the ideas of the children of the church. One of the children’s most popular ideas was to create a butterfly garden in addition to the playground area already planned. The butterfly garden was built, and provides a beautiful opportunity to contemplate the circle of life in the cycle of the insects from caterpillar to cocoon to butterfly. Likewise, the plants now produce fruits, nuts, berries and flowers, and add to an environment of beauty and bounty that many Unitarian Universalist members view as a deeply spiritual experience: that of living in harmony with the earth. |
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After two years of planning and hard work on
the wildlife habitat, the First Unitarian Universalist
Church of Austin was rewarded for their efforts
by achieving certification status as a backyard
wildlife habitat by the National
Wildlife Federation, becoming the first church
in Texas to receive the honor.
Contact Information:
First Unitarian Universalist Church of Austin
4700 Grover
Austin, TX 78756
Phone: 512-452-6168
email: office@austinuu.org
website: http://www.austinuu.org
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