SNOHOMISH — St. John’s Episcopal Church members are trying to create a more environmentally conscious congregation.
They made this commitment after attending a 2008 conference called “Healing Our Planet Earth” by forming a group called the Creation Stewards.
“We thought, ‘Someone’s got to really get to work and care for creation,'” said the group’s chairwoman, Nancy McConnell, 72, of Snohomish.
As part of their efforts, the church will be hosting two free healthy food workshops Feb. 26.
The workshops will work toward the goal of integrating healthy, local food choices into the community. “Healthy Cooking Using Local Ingredients” will be presented by vegetarian chef and food writer Debra Daniels-Zeller.
After, Nancy Vandenberg, nutrition instructor at Everett Community College and member of both the church and the stewards, will present, “Eating Healthy on a Budget.”
The presentation will highlight tips for making healthy food choices without breaking the bank.
“You always hear about how expensive it is to eat healthy,” Vandenberg said, “I want to dispel that notion.”
The event also will provide information about how to get involved with community supported agriculture, a system in which a consumer can purchase a share of a local farm and receive fresh produce in installments.
Eric Fritch, 50, of Snohomish, is the owner of Chinook Farms, a certified organic farm in the Snohomish River Valley. “We have geared our (farm) to be really appealing to people that want to share the experience of involvement with a farm,” he said.
Members pay for a 22-week membership and pick up a box of whatever fresh organic produce is in season. Boxes may contain anywhere from eight to 12 different items.
More than 50 members used the service last year.
The stewards also work to plant and maintain gardens to produce food for community food banks and kitchens. They have a garden at Chinook Farms, where they grow vegetables to supply to the Everett Gospel Mission, and the Snohomish and Monroe food banks. “It is members of our church that pull the weeds and plant the seeds,” McConnell said.
Environmental consciousness has been an official goal of Episcopal churches since the Genesis Covenant was passed at a national convention in 2009.
The covenant is a call to action to all communities of faith to cut in half all greenhouse gas emissions and energy use by 2019.
Ashley Stewart: 425-339-3453; astewart@heraldnet.com.
Check it out
The workshops are from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 26 at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 913 Second St., Snohomish.
The event is free, but registration is required. To do so, contact the church office at 360-568-4622 or wakearch@frontier.com,
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