The people of St. Andrew are blessed by the seven acres of woodland and wetland on the north side of our property. Once farmland, the area has been restored by removing invasives and planting trees, shrubs, and herbs native to the Pacific Northwest. Soaring Douglas-firs surround the Sanctuary of the Firs, our outdoor worship space, while native willows, cherry, cottonwood, ash, and alders flourish. Our wildland refuge is home to deer, owls, coyotes, and countless other creatures that share this habitat, often visited by neighborhood walkers seeking the healing power of nature in the midst of the city.
Johnson Creek borders St. Andrew property on the west, but it’s following a different path than it did 100 years ago, when landowners diverted the creek from the east side to the west to create more tillable land. Fortunately, beavers haven’t yet dammed the main channel of Johnson Creek, which would likely flood the adjacent neighborhood of suburban homes.
Resident beavers have been busy, though, actively building dams along a secondary stream as they expand our wetlands. On November 1, 2024, several members of the Earth Care Team followed forester Don Nearhood into the wild to discover how the beavers are changing the landscape. The following photos were taken that day.
