Leopold Benches Project

With the financial support of several sponsors and the skill of our weekend warrior woodworkers, we now have 11 Leopold benches to enjoy in our outdoor sanctuary area and in front of the building on the Ceres Drive side.

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Don Engelstad, sponsor of 2 benches (with Trudy Wood)
Steve Nelson, craftsman (with Leah Nelson)

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Alisa and David Burrous, sponsors
David Burrous, craftsman

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Lorraine Wilson, sponsor
David Burrous, craftsman

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Cindy Beeler, sponsor
David Burrous, craftsman

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Dotty Stauber Crafts, sponsor (with Bill Crafts)
David Burrous, craftsman

Special note:  Visit the Building Committee's Week 69 video clip to hear a reflection by long-time member, friend, and supporter of the Fellowship, Dotty Stauber Crafts, entitled "I am not there".

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Joan Mulcahy and Hans Jordan, sponsors
David Burrous, craftsman

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 Constance Holden and T.K. Smith, sponsors of 1 bench

Mary Stackpole, sponsor of 1 bench

Rich Evertz, craftsman

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Mary Headley, sponsor of 2 benches

Brad Shannon, craftsman

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And soon to be installed on each bench ...

plaques honoring these members and friends

for their contributions to the

BVUUF Leopold Bench Project 2021.

Many thanks to you all.

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If you would like to build your own Leopold bench, click here for the plans.

Build it ...

Did you know that we haver a brand new, super duper playground at the Fellowship? 

To view a short video of the playground construction, 

click below:

Build it and they will come to play!

Can You Build or Donate Materials for a Leopold Bench?

The Leopold Bench ...

Who was Aldo Leopold?   

"Considered by many to be the father of wildlife ecology and the United States’ wilderness system, Aldo Leopold was a conservationist, forester, philosopher, educator, writer, and outdoor enthusiast. Among his best known ideas is the “land ethic,” which calls for an ethical, caring relationship between people and nature." For more information, click on this link:  The Aldo Leopold Foundation

Aldo Leopold created the Leopold Bench as "a revolutionary act of a conservationist".  If you sit frontward, you are comforted and supported by the back part of the bench.  

If you turn it around, you can put your legs in the space between the back support and the seat, rest your arms on the back, and with binoculars in hand, enjoy nature.

A Request:

The Grounds Teams has members who are building Leopold Benches with funds that generous members donated to purchase the materials.  These benches will be placed in our outdoor sanctuary -- the outdoor gravel-covered space between the Sanctuary and the Fellowship Hall.  

Imagine sitting out there with a beverage and enjoying this meditative space with fellow members after an invigorating sermon and music by our choir and music director. 

Where can I obtain the plans?  

Four Oaks Crafts offers a tutorial and free plans for a Leopold bench.  Click on the link and download a pdf copy of the plans.  The cost of lumber, stain, sealant, and hardware is about $100.  Your skills, time, and  generosity are priceless.

If you would like to take part in this project, won't you please let David Burrous know of your interest?  d303burrous@gmail.com

Thanks.

When it rains...It pours!

Members of the Grounds Teams checked the Fellowship Building and there were no leaks inside.

Our detention ponds did their job and prevented our neighbors' properties from being flooded.

 

Under the old apple tree.

 Members of the Grounds Team got out and pruned the old apple tree on the west side of the property next to the raised gardens.  Yes, the apples are delicious when the frost doesn't get them.

Other members took the branches to Western Disposal for composting.  Particularly strong members moved the picnic table into the shade.  

All set now for a picnic!

Off to industrial composting.

Orange Cones Return - Our Own Duke Of Wellington

 

Statue of the Duke of Wellington in Glascow, 

Scotland.  The cone is removed and the next day

another one appears.

The Grounds Team has removed about 7 cones

from the front of the building.  It's important that

we all maintain our sense of humour.

 

The Murphy Family, Gwen, Rick and kids, joins 

the LawnMowing Team.  Kids pull weeds

while mom and dad mow.  Yay!

We could use 2 more folks to mow

once a month.  Takes about 1 hour.

Wendie foraging for salad greens for Jim.

It's time to mow our new lawn.... but we need some help.

 Dear Friends:  It's time to start mowing our new lawn.  

We could spend several thousand dollars a year and hire a landscaping service, or we could do it ourselves for free.  

Being UUs, guess which alternative we chose?  Right!  We'll do it ourselves.

So, now we need a team of enthusiastic mowers to take care of the lawn on a weekly basis.  

We need two mowers each week.  

If we had 8 volunteers, each volunteer would only have to mow once a month, April through September.

Larry Arp, Hans Jordan and Rich Evertz
have been trained to use the riding mower.

We need 4 volunteers to mow with the Toro mower
in places where the riding mower can't reach.

If you would like to join the BVUUF Lawn Mowing Team, please send us an email at  groundsteams@bvuuf.org