Looking back, it all started in the early spring of 2005. Serendipitously, the Unity Prayer Ministry was asking for a meditation garden, while unknowingly, a couple in the congregation was moving and looking for a home for all their garden plants, many of which were native species.

By June, the meditation garden was in and certified by the National Wildlife Federation as a Wildlife Habitat. Soon, composting was added and a landscape policy adopted, which prevented the use of pesticides, herbicides and chemical fertilizers. As landscaping developed on our five-acre site, special attention was given to reduce erosion and to slow and direct water runoff. River jack was used to control these problems, and appropriate native plants were always considered first for their hardiness, adaptability and beauty.

Benefits of greening
Then, in March 2007, it was evident that the church needed a new roof on its Mildred Park Center. It could spend $35,000 on a standard replacement flat aggregate roof of 4,500 square feet with a life of eight to 10 years, or spend $76,000 to retrofit a “green” roof with a 40-plus year lifespan, and importantly, have a major, positive impact on our environment. A properly installed “green” (vegetative) roof could:

• Drastically reduce storm-water runoff and flow rate.
• Conserve energy.
• Improve air quality.
• Provide insulation qualities.
• Suppress noise and reduce interior sound levels.
• Extend life of the roof—minimize UV and temperature impact.
• Restore ecological and aesthetic value to open spaces.
• Reduce maintenance costs over the life of the roof.

By the time the membership voted to construct the green roof, over $31,000 had been awarded in grants to fund what we called “The Unity of Fairfax Stormwater Management Project.” The project included installing a green roof; planting a storm water detention pond to clean the water by further filtering the decreased roof runoff; and creating a demonstration site for educational interest in the community.

A revealing ride
For those closely associated with the Unity of Fairfax Stormwater Management Project, this journey has been a wonderful revealing ride. So much has happened that reminds us of a Higher Power. We did not know what the end would look like when we started with the meditation garden.

One door closed as another opened. Our task has been to read the signs, be willing to work, love the land, and get out of the way as God directed the work and gave us the energy to bring it to fruition.

This article appeared in the December 2008 issue of Contact magazine.

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