I am Anya, a ninth grader at Shaker Heights High School, and long term congregant at UUCC. As a member of a young generation, I feel incredibly anxious and scared for our planet’s future. But I also feel the weight of the incredible responsibility to do something. When I first learned about Miyawaki Forests, these powerhouses of green that can incredibly quickly and effectively restore biodiversity and life to the most urban, degraded soils, I was immediately drawn to the concept. 

With inspiration and support from the incredible UUCC Ministry For the Earth, I began the process of researching, designing, and creating a Miyawaki Forest on our very own grounds. In December I put down the lasagna mulch, a method of preparing the soil over the winter, on my little 3×3 meter spot of grass behind the playground. I used Tilth Soil which uses the Rustbelt Riders’ compost and am preparing to plant in the spring. I hope to see you out there and you can find more information about these incredible forests at 

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/24/climate/tiny-forests-climate-miyawaki.html.