When Benjamin Vogt spoke at First Lutheran on June 27, he invited those gathered to think differently about yards, gardens, prairies and the landscapes we pass by every day. Through stories, images and information about native plants and prairie ecosystems, Vogt challenged listeners to consider how the choices we make in our own outdoor spaces are connected to the health of pollinators, water resources, food systems and the wider web of creation.
For Joan Johnson, one of the most encouraging takeaways was knowing that First Lutheran is planning to convert part of its lawn into a prairie garden. Vogt’s presentation also affirmed the way she already thinks about her own yard.
“I’m not much for keeping a ‘golf course’ type of lawn,” Joan shared. “I welcome dandelions and white clover.” She has since ordered Vogt’s book Prairie Up: An Introduction to Natural Garden Design and plans to use it as she selects plants for next year.
Carol Olson, who has read Vogt’s books, attended one of his previous talks and follows his work on social media, appreciated the opportunity to hear him again in person.
“His perspective is timely, sometimes challenging, and yet always hopeful,” Carol said. She was especially struck by the way Vogt helped those gathered think beyond their own individual yards and consider the non-human life that depends on the landscapes we create and maintain.
“Expanding our understanding beyond our own individual yards to viewing them from the non-human perspective is powerful,” she shared. “If we stop to consider how a community, country, hemisphere or planet views plant and animal life, we would make much different decisions on a daily basis about how to tend our backyards.”
Carol also reflected on one phrase from Vogt that stayed with her: “We bring our own wounds into the natural world.” For her, this raised deeply spiritual questions about how the way we tend to our own needs shapes the way we care for others and for creation.
“Benjamin didn’t necessarily speak from a religious perspective, but his presentation was very spiritual,” Carol said. “How are we interconnected among species, and how can we support each other? What does it mean when we choose to narrow our perspectives to only what serves our eye or desires? How might a wider view of the Divine Presence guide our larger environmental decisions?”
Brian Niebuhr shared that he has recently become interested in native gardening and planted native seedlings in part of his garden this spring. While he had already begun learning about the benefits of native plants, Vogt’s presentation helped him better understand how harmful some common landscaping practices can be, as well as how much good native plants can do.
Before the presentation, Brian said he had often wondered why medians filled with weeds were not planted with native plants and grasses instead. He has been encouraged to see more places in Lincoln making that shift. But Vogt’s talk helped him think beyond road medians and consider the default choices often made when land is developed.
“His talk made me consider how our default when we develop land is to cover it with grass, even areas that won’t be used by humans,” Brian shared. “We could be making much better choices: using native plants as a default instead of grass would provide food and shelter for many insects and animals, and significantly reduce water use.”
Since hearing Vogt speak, Brian has found himself paying more attention to native plantings around town and thinking more intentionally about how native plants could be used in his own landscaping decisions.
For people of faith, these conversations are about more than gardening trends or curb appeal. They are about our call to care for God’s creation. As water resources become less predictable and pollinator numbers decline, the choices we make in our yards, gardens, church grounds and community spaces matter.
Ethical creation care is something we can practice now and teach to future generations. Whether we are experienced gardeners, native plant beginners or simply people who value the gift of creation, Vogt’s presentation reminded us that we are part of a larger web of life. What we plant, what we remove, what we welcome and what we protect all become part of how we live out our faith as caretakers of God’s creation.
Click here to learn more about Benjamin Vogt’s work and to sign up for webinars and courses and download helpful pocket guides.
