By Cammy Freed
Hope Meadow is a project I undertook after enrolling in the Pennsylvania Master Naturalist program in Lancaster County in 2019. The program was an eye-opener for me. I learned so much about nature and biology, which inspired me to create something that would benefit our Hope United Methodist Church, our community, and the environment.
My capstone project was to remove the grass behind the church and create a native plant wildflower meadow, which would serve as a refuge for native wildlife and provide an opportunity for the community to explore and connect with the church. The meadow would extend to the edge of the church property and be bordered by the Ephrata-to-Warwick Rail Trail, making it accessible to the public. After I presented my capstone project, the trustees and church council approved the plan, and we began the journey to make Hope Meadow a reality.
We faced several challenges, from ensuring township approval to securing funding for the project. However, with the help of organizations like Alliance for the Chesapeake and Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake, we were able to raise awareness and funds. We also sold native wildflower seed packets, applied for grants, and even received help from the Pennsylvania Game Commission, who assisted in transporting a seeder from Pheasants Forever and showed us how to use it. After ordering a Pennsylvania native wildflower mix and several pounds of native Little Bluestem grass, we tilled the area and seeded it with the wildflower and grass mix. We also included oats to help keep the non-native grasses from overtaking the native flower seedlings.
I organized a Plug Planting Day. The “plugs” are “baby” plants, already growing but very small (about two inches). Typically, plugs have a high transplant-success rate and reach flowering size in the first season. I advertised the day online, at the local library, along the rail trail, and at local grocery stores. We predrilled all the holes for the plugs a week before planting day, making planting quicker and more efficient. All the plants were in the ground by noon, and our volunteers celebrated by having lunch in the church pavilion.
Today, Hope Meadow is a vibrant and thriving community space. We hold various events in the meadow, from vacation Bible school events to Monarch butterfly tagging and native-plant education events. We also have “Wild Church” once a month, where we gather at the meadow for outdoor worship and spend time reflecting, exploring the meadow, or walking along the rail trail. In 2022, we applied for more grants to buy a sign to place along the rail trail, inviting users to explore the meadow, and the township put Hope Meadow as a destination on the rail trail maps.
In summary, Hope Meadow is a testament to what can be achieved when a community comes together to create something beautiful and meaningful. It is a place where people can connect with God and nature and one another, and we are proud to have played a part in its creation.
Cammy Freed is a proud member of Hope United Methodist Church in Ephrata, Pennsylvania. During the week she’s also a research and development pharmaceutical chemist. In her free time she loves photographing nature.