By Jaxson Schneider

Love the environment? Love service? L’Terra is the club for those who love both of these things.

Founded on the Jesuit principle of service, L’Terra’s main mission is to engage students in environmental stewardship, contribute to sustainable food systems, work with pollinators and increase recycling and composting around Bellarmine and the local community.
One of those ways students can make a difference is working with Bellarmine’s Master Beekeeper, Rick Samyn of St. Leo’s Parish, in maintaining and expanding the Bellarmine Bee Hive. As one may or may not know, honey and bumblebee populations are declining all over the world. The work L’Terra is doing with sustainable beekeeping is game-changing for the local community, and people can get involved.When asked what L’Terra is all about, club president Quentin Yeager said, “What this is is a chance for people to get their hands dirty and make an impact on the world in a positive way. They can go home at the end of the day and know they did something productive and made a difference in the world.”

Sustainable beekeeping is not the only game changing thing L’Terra does in the greater Tacoma area. Students will also have the opportunity to contribute to creek restoration, elimination of invasive plant species, freeing the local watershed of pollutants and planting native plants.

L’Terra is a chance to reconnect with the world through the Jesuit practice of service, math teacher and club moderator Donna Pitt said, “Our buildings have separated us from the world. When we go out there, it’s almost a spiritual thing. It feels good to connect with the earth in that way. Jesus set the example of working with the lowest of the low. How much lower can we go than plants?”