Newsletter

Winter 2000: Notes from a Participating College

A House Afire with a Passion for Creation
by Sharon Nowak

In the spring of 1999, five Messiah College students decided to develop a practical way to demonstrate their convictions about the environment as an outgrowth of their environmental science class. A year and half later, their vision is still going strong.

The Greenhouse, an intentional community focused on developing habits of sustainable living and environmental stewardship, has expanded to include four women and five men: Michelle Anderson, Liz Johnson, Sharon Nowak, Leanne Whitesell, Andy Gorman, Mike Metzler, Nate Shumaker, Jeremiah Robinson, and Matt Zieger; it also involves the support of faculty members David Foster and Joseph Sheldon.

While Greenhouse members come from a variety of backgrounds and majors, they share a passion for the creation around them. "I pray we will come together in our efforts," says Metzler, junior biology major. "The Greenhouse, I hope, will be one of many sparks to ignite the church and world into a growing fire of change. It will threaten current indifference and complacency in the Christian church towards creation around us."

Housed in a renovated eighteenth-century farmhouse, the Greenhouse is surrounded by ten and half acres that support a variety of edibles, including apples, grapes, pears, and chestnuts. Greenhouse members strive to maintain a high level of sustainability; they are careful to do things such as purchase recyclable products, use low-energy appliances, and support local growers, and through this they hope to create a living space that will serve as a environmentally-friendly model for the community around them.

The Greenhouse focuses on challenging Messiah College toward a higher level of environmental responsibility, supporting legislation that advocates a more earth-friendly state, and working in partnership with local organizations that share a similar purpose. Greenhouse members view environmental stewardship as an act of worship, and seek to further godly principles of environmental justice, including a greater realization of issues that have global as well as local impacts.

Greenhouse advisors David Foster and Joe Sheldon are Au Sable Faculty. Messiah is one of fifty Au Sable Participating Colleges.

Sharon Nowak is a senior English major. In the few months of living at the Greenhouse, she has learned much about living sustainably and responsibly toward the environment, which she feels is an important part of the Christian lifestyle. She hopes to attend a session at Au Sable in the future.

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