To immerse oneself in God’s creation is a truly gratifying and worthwhile practice.

I have been given the opportunity to do just this every day! I am the A Rocha summer intern positioned at Cedar Haven Farm – A Rocha’s hub for environmental education and conservation.

It has been one week of work, however it has not felt like work. Myself and the Cedar Haven program coordinator, ShariAnn Kuiper, have spent a lot of time planning and brainstorming the potential for this summer and the years to come… and there is so much potential! …Natural education and gardening, invasive species removal and prairie restoration, field studies and summer day camps. So many events and ideas to be shared with those who wish to participate in the flourishing of Cedar Haven’s paradisal land.

The 100-acre farm is host to an extremely wide variety of flora and fauna species because of it’s many diverse habitats. The beauty of Cedar Haven is that it is all within reach – an array of creation available for study and safekeeping on this sacred ground.

I have spent my time this past week mostly with the birds. Cedar Haven has near 50 bird boxes set up in hopes to attract Tree Swallows and Bluebirds. I have begun what will be an ongoing catalogue of these boxes, determining the activity and nesting habits of the local avian species. I have also have begun my training on birdcall identification by taking a bird walk with A Rocha’s bird experts Peter and Caleb Scholtens. The Yellow Warbler says, “Sweet-Sweet-Sugar-Sweet”, the Ovenbird calls, “Teacher-Teacher-Teacher” and the persistent Red-Eyed Vireo sings, “Here-I-Am. Look-At-Me. In-A-Tree.” But I’m still learning.

On Saturday Cedar Haven had its monthly volunteer day where families came out to pull weeds and rocks from the plot that will soon be a garden. Many folks might question spending their precious Saturday morning working and sweating for no pay at all, but I understand that these gracious volunteers also receive something from the time and labour that they give to the farm.

There is something important – something life giving – about thrusting your hands into the dirt and teaching your children to do the same. There is something important about feeling the raw soil on your skin and working for something that will produce new life. This work is a God-given gift and I feel very lucky to be a part of it.

– Ben McCullough

Ben is working as a summer intern for A Rocha at Cedar Haven Farm in Hamilton, Ontario.