Rev. Brian Jack is the Associate Pastor at First Lutheran Church in Mildford, IA, just south of Lake Okoboji. He loves nature and the outdoors and values the importance of getting in touch with the land. For him, even something as simple as growing a tomato plant in a pot can remind us of what it takes to get a seed to sprout, helping us appreciate the fruit of that labor.
In 2019, Pastor Brian started beekeeping as a side project in his backyard. That simple hobby soon turned into a catalyst for a climate-learning journey alongside other church leaders across the state, through Iowa Faith & Climate Network’s clergy cohort. Now he’s working with a committee at First Lutheran to establish an 11-acre prairie restoration project on the church property. For Pastor Brian, his creation care passion comes down to one simple desire: our need to restore a right relationship with the land.
“Growing a connection again to the land and to the place you come from really does start to change you,” he shares.
First Lutheran’s congregation takes pride in stewarding both their church community and the property grounds. They have a community garden that fosters conversations and brings together congregation members and people from the community. On one side of the garden are several apple trees which provide fruit for the church’s food pantry.
During the summertime, the congregation gathers for outdoor worship services on different locations of the church property—sometimes with a bonfire. They even have a unique drive-in worship space. They’ve created a welcoming space for all, including tourists who come in the summer.
Right next to the drive-in worship space is the prairie restoration site that Pastor Brian and a committee have been working on for over a year. Throughout each stage of the process, the congregation has had a front row seat to the project, and have been watching with curiosity, excited for this story to unfold.
From Beekeeping to Prairie Restoration
When Pastor Brian first started keeping bees in his backyard, he quickly discovered that Iowa is a difficult place to raise honey bees because there aren’t as many diverse natural resources for them to thrive on their own. Although there are nutritional supplements and treatments to help them survive diseases, Pastor Brian shares that “The primary thing that is going to help them thrive and do well on their own is restoring a right relationship between them and the kind of environment that they need to thrive in. That’s not just honey bees—that’s a lot of our pollinators and other insects too.”
The more he learned about bees and the challenges they face, the more he felt compelled to do something in response. He had worked on a small restoration project in his backyard and wondered if there might be an opportunity to do the same thing on a larger scale. First Lutheran’s campus sits on several acres of land, much of it grass. “I got to thinking,” he said, “here’s 11 acres that as far as I can tell, nobody’s doing anything with.”
He started exploring how they could convert the grass on their church property to native Iowa prairie. “This congregation is very curious and willing to try new things,” he shares. When he asked around in the church community, he didn’t get any resistance. In fact, they were very supportive of the idea.
Pastor Brian admits that although the project sounded great, he didn’t necessarily have the conservation expertise or the resources to make it happen. “But the more and more I talked to people about it, it’s just been one of those things where doors keep opening up, or people say ‘you know, I could help out with that.’”
First Lutheran has built several strong partnerships through the course of the project, including with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation. They also have water and conservation experts within the congregation who are serving on the prairie project committee, including Greg Grupp (Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation), Brooke Fleming (Conservation Technician, Jackson County Minnesota), and Dennis Heimdal (Iowa Lakeside Laboratory). Also valuable to the project’s successful implementation: the help of the Titterington family of farmers, who offered their time and farm equipment in preparing the prairie.
First Lutheran is now in their second year of the project, preparing the ground to be seeded with native Iowa prairie plants this fall.
Participating in Iowa Faith & Climate Network’s Clergy Cohort
As a member of Iowa Faith & Climate Network’s Climate-informed Clergy Cohort, Pastor Brian recounts just how amazing it felt to walk alongside a group of other faith leaders in Iowa and explore climate care issues. “The biggest takeaway from the cohort was hope. And along with that, hope that comes from the notion that you don’t have to do something on a grand scale to make a difference.”
Although he had already started exploring environmental issues prior to joining the clergy cohort, he admits that he felt isolated in that journey. “I was thinking, I don’t know if anyone cares about this. I don’t know if anybody else is studying this.” Then he happened to attend a church conference and met Iowa Faith & Climate Network’s Associate Director, Tim Gossett, who announced that they were starting a new climate study cohort.
Pastor Brian immediately thought, “There’s my sign!’”
Because climate and environmental issues can be overwhelming at times, he highlights that having a group of other faith leaders to talk to was hopeful and encouraging—not only to know that others are wrestling with the same things, but to find inspiration in how each person is making an impact right where they are, alongside their faith communities.
“For me, [the cohort] has been one of the best continuing education experiences that I’ve gone through,” Pastor Brian shares. “It’s been a cohort that really expanded my understanding of ministry and that’s been a benefit to those I serve, and I can say now to the place that I serve.”
Three Sisters Gardening: Faith, Food, and Environment
One way he’s integrated creation care into his ministry is by growing a “Three Sisters” vegetable trio in First Lutheran’s community garden. A Three Sisters vegetable garden traditionally includes three companion plants—corn, beans, and squash—that support one another with different strengths. The corn provides a sturdy stalk for the beans. The squash keeps the soil shaded and cool. Underneath the ground, the plants exchange nutrients—like nitrogen—that each one needs to thrive. Pastor Brian looks forward to using this garden to teach the children’s class about caring for creation and the intricate relationship between plants. This fall, they plan to cook a soup using the vegetables from his garden plot.
After exploring climate issues through the cohort, and reflecting on the connection between faith, the food we eat, and the environment, Pastor Brian is hoping to inspire others to view the land as a living relationship and a home we share. “Something that drives and inspires me now to get more into this work, is to help people get rooted and have a sense of place and relationship with where they come from,” he shares.
Iowa Faith & Climate Network equips individuals and communities across the state with information, training, and resources to take climate action. Learn more about how you can start an environmental project in your faith community by checking out our Iowa Eco-project Map.
Deborah Douglas is a mission-driven writer and content creator who is passionate about making a difference for people and the planet. Based in Ankeny, IA, she enjoys gardening and spending time in nature with her family.