Northern Water has issued grants to a number of small, largely volunteer organizations to introduce local flora to their property, which recipients say adds beautification as well as making efficient use of water. Particularly in the American Southwest, a concept known as xeriscaping, or using local plants that are better suited to the region’s arid climate rather than shipping in nonnative plants that require more frequent watering to survive in drier climates, has become more popular. In total, roughly $300,000 in grants, largely to churches, homeowners associations and other organizations largely staffed by volunteers have been handed out this year, all to encourage the growth of plants well suited to the climate, rather than ill suited plants that require heavy watering in a region where water is sometimes hard to come by.
Over the last six years, about $1.2 million has been allocated by Northern Water to such projects. Northern Water requires matching funds to apply for their grants, so in total, roughly $2.
5 million has been spent during that time to bring local landscaping efforts in line with the region’s climate, covering around 7 million square feet. “As we look back on the past six years of our grant program, it’s inspiring to witness its transformative impact,” said Frank Kinder, manager of the Water Efficiency Department at Northern Water, in a press release announcing the grants. “The program continues to pioneer low-water and ecosystem-enhancing landscapes that thrive in our unique climate, showcasing to the public what can be achieved in their own landscapes.
” One project the grant funded is at Trinity Lutheran Church in Loveland. The church plans to install a “prayer labyrinth” on a mostly undeveloped lawn near its front entrance. Not as foreboding as it sounds, the prayer labyrinth is simply a garden with local plants grown in a designated pattern that churchgoers can walk through, contemplating spiritual topics.
From above it looks like a maze, but on the surface the plants only grow to about knee height, only nudging visitors to follow a specific path. Using native plants, according to Tom Aberle, is part of being effective stewards of God’s resources. The church already grows grapes in a grape arbor just a few yards from where the prayer labyrinth is set to be installed, that they use to help make their own communion wine, so using the grant to further its goals of sustainability made sense.
“It’s dual purpose,” he said. “Part of it is beautification, we want to bring people into the church. But God’s given us resources to use and work with that glorify him.
But we have to have good stewardship of His land. We can still make it a beautiful thing without being wasteful.” Other Loveland organizations that received grants are The Ridge at Mariana Butte HOA, Townhomes at Seven Lakes HOA and KidsPak.
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