Green church

As a Green Church, Fairlington actively works toward lowering our impact on the environment around us. We aim to be good stewards of our property, implement eco friendly practices throughout our building, and educate others on how to live out our responsibility to care for Gods Creation.

Fairlington is dedicated to celebrating God’s grace, glory, and beauty in creation by regularly making the connection between our faith and our role in God’s creation. In worship we honor creation in including the provision of organic and locally grown communion elements, fresh flowers, fair trade palms for Palm Sunday, host occasional outdoor worship activities, and use recycled paper for bulletins.

Throughout the property, Fairlington is committed to planting only native species, working to reduce the presence of invasive plants, work to reduce storm water runoff, and minimize the use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers. In the building, Fairlington will give preference to green products in maintenance and repairs, as well as prioritizing the use of energy efficient, low toxicity options.

Native Habitat Garden

The native habitat garden space is parallel to our upper parking lot, across van Dorn street from the church building. The space is cared for by volunteers from the church and contains native plants. Volunteering in the garden is a wonderful opportunity for all ages!

“The United Methodist Church realizes and affirms the responsibility of every United Methodist to care for God’s creation. We are called to participate not only in the redemption of individuals and all of humanity, but in the healing of creation itself. Therefore, ministries that encourage care for God’s creation are significant in our mission as United Methodists.”

ALIVE! Vegetable Garden

The ALIVE! Garden is an organic vegetable garden located on Fairlington's playground. Food grown in the garden is donated to ALIVE! for distribution. Volunteering in the garden is a wonderful opportunity for all ages!

Awards

In 2024, Fairlington was the recipient of the Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions Sustainability Champions Award for People of faith developing local solutions to the climate crisis. The Green Church Initiative of the Virginia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church also recognized Fairlington as a Green Church.

Get Involved!

Volunteering in the ALIVE! Vegetable Garden or the Native Habitat Garden is a wonderful opportunity for all ages! The Green Church team hosts regular work days throughout the year. Be on the lookout for those days when advertised in the church announcements. During the growing season (May-October), the team hosts weekly volunteer times to help maintain and care for the garden spaces.

Visit the Garden!

We love to welcome visitors at our native habitat garden! The garden is located across van Dorn street from our church building. It is parallel to our upper parking lot. When you enter the garden, you will find pathways, many native plants, places to sit and enjoy Gods creation. We kindly ask that you leave the space as you find it.

Plant a Tree or Shrub!

Plant a native tree or shrub in the Native Habitat Garden or on the Fairlington property in memory or in honor of a loved one. Please contact Anne Wilson (wilsanne@gmail.com) with any questions and to discuss details of your donation.

Fairlington UMC

3900 King Street Alexandria VA 22302

(703)-671-8557 • office@fairlingtonumc.org