JUSTICE GARDEN AWARDED A FARE GRANT - 2026

In the Spring of 2026, SHPC was awarded a FARE Grant (Food, Agriculture, and Resilient Ecosystems) of $11,261 by the Marin County Parks and Open Space Commission. This grant supports sustainable food systems, climate-beneficial management, and improving natural resource values on Marin's working lands.  

These funds were immediately used to refurbish our garden beds and to replenish our soil before the 2026 growing season. 

We are so grateful to have received this award, which made this crucial work possible.

On March 15, we held a groundbreaking ceremony and, as a congregation, asked God’s blessing on the hands that will dig, plant, water and harvest the tomatoes, as well as the mouths that will receive and enjoy these delicious fruits.

We not only rededicated the gardens which have brought forth so much beauty and nourishment for others, but we asked God’s blessing upon the work that will be happening as we rebuild the garden beds and restore the soil.

Sleepy Hollow Church is blessed to be nestled amidst the rolling hills of Marin County. With sanctuary windows that offer sweeping vistas of the Ross Valley, the church embraces the natural beauty of our surroundings and inspires those deeply committed to protecting the natural world.

Concerned about climate change and motivated to take action, we formed an environmental “Green Team” in 2014. The Marin Independent Journal profiled the Green Team’s work in a front-page article about climate change.

The team’s mission is multi-faceted:  help our church become an environmental leader; inspire and give hope to our youth for a better future; encourage the community-at-large to be sound environmental stewards; and play a small, but important role, to help save our planet.

To achieve these goals, the Green Team’s award winning work has focused on both land management and conservation, and to date, our accomplishments are extensive.

• We designed, built and managed an organic Justice Garden using the skills, knowledge and labor of adults and high school youth from our community.
• Vegetables grown in our garden are sold during the growing season at a weekly farm stand to raise funds that help organizations feeding those in need in Marin and beyond.
• Excess bounty from our garden is delivered to Marin Food Bank, local food pantries and group homes that serve the under-privileged, so they too can enjoy fresh and healthy produce.
• To combat drought and demonstrate leadership in wise water use, we installed a catchment system that recycles rainwater and cuts our water consumption. The catchment system supports our garden and serves as a visible, motivational tool to educate our community about water conservation.
• In partnership with SolarCraft and California Clean Energy,  we have installed a 5.7 kW solar photovoltaic system which is now producing 99% of the electricity used by SHPC.  These solar electric panels will spare the air nearly 315,830 lbs. of harmful greenhouse gases annually.  Over 25 years the system is estimated to offset 201,332 kWh of electricity, and the air pollution saved will be equivalent to eliminating over 500,000 miles of driving or planting 3 acres of trees.
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Individually, our garden, rainwater catchment, and solar panel efforts are small steps. However, as we share the story of our work, these small but powerful steps will motivate other communities to take similar environmental actions. Sleepy Hollow Church is blessed to be nestled amidst the rolling hills of Marin County. With sanctuary windows that offer sweeping vistas of the Ross Valley, the church embraces the natural beauty of our surroundings and inspires those deeply committed to protecting the natural world.

Concerned about climate change and motivated to take action, we formed an environmental “Green Team” in 2014. The Marin Independent Journal profiled the Green Team’s work in a front-page article about climate change.

The team’s mission is multi-faceted:  help our church become an environmental leader; inspire and give hope to our youth for a better future; encourage the community-at-large to be sound environmental stewards; and play a small, but important role, to help save our planet.

To achieve these goals, the Green Team’s award-winning work has focused on both land management and conservation, and to date, our accomplishments are extensive.

• We designed, built and manage an organic Justice Garden using the skills, knowledge and labor of adults and high school youth from our community.
• Vegetables grown in our garden are sold via a weekly farm stand to raise funds that help organizations feeding those in need in Marin and beyond.
• Excess bounty from our garden is delivered to a school that serves under-privileged children and to the elderly so they too can enjoy fresh and healthy produce.
• To combat the drought and demonstrate leadership in wise water use, we installed a catchment system that recycles rainwater and cuts our water consumption. The catchment system supports our garden and serves as a visible, motivational tool to educate our community about water conservation.
• In partnership with SolarCraft and California Clean Energy,  we have installed a 5.7 kW solar photovoltaic system which is now producing 99% of the electricity used by SHPC.  These solar electric panels will spare the air nearly 315,830 lbs. of harmful greenhouse gases annually.  Over 25 years the system is estimated to offset 201,332 kWh of electricity, and the air pollution saved will be equivalent to eliminating over 500,000 miles of driving or planting 3 acres of trees.

Individually, our garden, rainwater catchment, and solar panel efforts are small steps. However, as we share the story of our work, these small but powerful steps will motivate other communities to take similar environmental actions.d love to help you take this important step. 

In partnership with the Marin Monarch Working Group, SHPC has made significant advancements in supporting the Monarch population in Marin County. 

• In 2026, we began growing and selling Native Milk Weed plants at our Annual Plant Sale in April. We were able to map where over 500 of the plants were to be planted, in hopes of tracking Monarch activity in Marin County. 

• In cooperation with the Little Mountain Preschool, we have planted Native Milkweed and Pollinator Gardens throughout the property, which attract Monarchs for many months throughout the year. 

• As a partner with the Marin Monarch Working Group, we have been invited to participate in the 2026 Bioblitz! On July 31st, there will be a training at the Marin Arts and Garden Center in Ross. Counting and Observation opportunities will take place August 1-9.

              This is a great activity for families, as younger eyes are closer to the group and 

               have a knack for discovering caterpillars and chrysalises! If you are interested 

               in taking part in this global event, please reach out to Patti Vance for more information.