Bethany House and Garden Update

What’s new at the Garden?

Since the garden’s grand opening in October of 2022, many seeds have been planted, those that flower into beautiful plants and vegetables and those that build relationships and faith. The garden is flourishing and being visited regularly by members of the community. Teachers from Topeka High bring their classes for outdoor lessons, volunteers assist with weeding, planting, and harvesting, and neighbors engage with programs and special events.

Bethany House and Garden welcomes new staff members

In June the Rev. Caroline Howard joined the Bethany House and Garden staff. As Curate for Creation Care, Caroline’s primary role is to cultivate and nurture the emerging community of Bethany House and Garden. This interwoven community includes the BHG Team, volunteers, local teachers, students, neighbors, and diocesan visitors.

Willie Madl began working with Bethany House and Garden in May. As Groundskeeper Willie provides oversight and care to the Gardens at Bethany Place and supports diocesan outreach to community and educational partners. He also works to implement sustainable gardening practices.

Monarch Project

Bethany House and Garden is partnering with Meadows Elementary to raise, tag, and release over 600 monarch butterflies in August and September. BH&G staff members recently visited the school and supplied 640 caterpillars to 19 classrooms where students and teachers will monitor their growth for three to four weeks while the fledgling pollinators work their way from caterpillar to chrysalis to butterfly. The students will then bring their butterflies to the garden where they will be tagged and released for their long journey to the Oyamel fir forests in Central Mexico. By helping to raise and protect these important pollinators, the ecosystem that sustains them is also protected.

Praire Garden

The Teaching Prairie has been flourishing and showing off a beautiful variety of blooms and grasses all season. Recently graduated biodiversity intern, Hannah Nuest, completed an illustrated field guide of the prairie garden, which can be accessed on the Bethany House and Garden website.

Culinary Garden

The culinary garden at Bethany House has been enjoying a very fruitful first summer and over 150 pounds of produce have been donated since May. Fresh vegetables and greens are delivered to St. David’s Episcopal Church on Tuesdays and to the West Side Baptist food pantry on Wednesdays. Groundskeeper, Willie Madl, is getting seeds started for autumn, and the team is looking forward to next season and supplying neighbors with fresh food from the garden.

Labyrinth Project

Due to a thoughtful memorial gift, movement has begun to add a labyrinth to the garden. The chosen site is behind Upton Hall where it will be close at hand for Spiritual Retreats, Bishop Kemper School for Ministry faculty and students, and all who visit. This is a joint effort by Grace Cathedral and the Diocese. The cost is $51,000 and $18,000 has been pledged to-date. Donations can be made by check to The Episcopal Diocese of Kansas, with Labyrinth in the memo line. 835 SW Polk St., Topeka, KS 66612. Or at www.episcopal-ks.org/donate/

Kansas Creation Trustees

The diocese is building a network of Episcopalians, the Kansas Creation Trustees, who care for God’s good earth in many ways. Now seven neighboring dioceses are creating similar networks with the hope of protecting water, sequestering carbon, and increasing biodiversity as well as providing healthy food. Titled the Episcopal Grasslands Project, the group is part of the Anglican Communion Forest and Bishop Bascom meets regularly by Zoom with other creation leaders from around the globe.