Everything Under The Sun: The Spiritual And The Environment Go Together

Wednesday, December 14, 2016

The Spiritual And The Environment Go Together

Todd Slinde with Eagle's NEST information table.

Out in California, Todd Slinde has had his feet planted in two different worlds. One is in nature, the environment, and sustainability. The other is faith-based, as an ordained Elder with the First Presbyterian Church in Visalia. Combined together into one, these commitments became EAGLE'S NEST, an organization committed to bridging the gap between faith and non-faith communities in an effort to promote environmental conservation and cooperative learning.

Essentially, Eagle's NEST brings spirituality and creation-based environmental learning to churches, then facilitates connections with non-faith organizations in projects that protect and preserve environmental resources. These projects can range from nature trips and weekend retreats to trail clean-up and removal of nonnative plants in preservation areas.

This past spring, Eagle's NEST partnered with The Boys and Girls Clubs of the Sequoias in two different activities. The first was preparing the planned organic vegetable and herb garden. That involved weeding the proposed garden area; removing debris; adding soil, as needed, along with hoeing and raking. Volunteers worked side by side with youth, in this garden preparation. The next weekend involved planting the expected crops. Both groups continued to work together throughout the growing season, through harvesting the produce.

Spring also presented an opportunity for publicity, with the organization running an information booth at the California State University Fresno Earth Day event and the Cigna Green Fair Earth Day event. Todd Slinde presented talks on the Moment For Mission after two services at the First Presbyterian Church.

Clean-up of resource areas is an important activity.

Todd has been vocal about the reasons that he continues the work of Eagle's NEST, "Building bridges of trust and common ground between faith and non-faith communities is rare these days. We are beginning to make a difference in that regard toward the greater good of our world and its environment."