Members of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church know that the building’s stained glass can best be appreciated from the inside, as the sun pours through the windows. This experience will be open to the public Sept. 19 and 20 as part of Doors Open Milwaukee. The church is one of six central city locations featured this year. The two-day citywide event lets people visit more than 150 local attractions, from churches to community centers, residences to breweries, free of charge. Concordia Gardens, 220 E. Concordia Ave. The 1.5-acre parcel nestled in Harambee is bursting with flowers, produce and promise. Concordia Gardens, created by Victory Garden Initiative, features raised garden beds for rent, along with an urban orchard, composting site and production farm, which grows produce for neighborhood residents. Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing! Alex Hagler, garden coordinator, is one of many people who make the urban farming project possible. “There’s no one farmer,” Hagler said. “It really is a collective effort from a lot of different people from a lot of different walks of life.” Beyond keeping the grounds clean and turning over compost, Hagler helps with the garden’s farm stand. Between five and 15 neighborhood kids come to harvest, prepare and sell the produce on Thursdays, Hagler said. “All of the sales that we get, we actually give to the kids,” he said. “It’s a cool employment opportunity for them to learn a little bit about employment skills,” such as setting prices, managing cash and customer service. The gardens also attract area residents who can rent one of the 35 raised beds for $10 a season. It is a hub for volunteers as well, with groups coming from neighboring high schools and colleges. John Van Eerden, a first-time volunteer at the gardens, said that he was drawn to the organization’s mission of providing accessible, healthy and fresh food. However, he is most interested in another feature of the space — the solar panels and rainwater collection system. “I was surprised how sustainable it is,” he said. Rainwater is collected and dispersed through an underground system. It feeds the nutrient-rich soil created from the compost bins, creating what Hagler called a “food oasis.” More than that, though, the gardens are bringing the neighborhood together through healthy and sustainable urban agriculture. “I think it’s going to be a catalyst for a lot of rehabilitation in the area,” Hagler said. Havenwoods Environmental Awareness Center, 6141 N. Hopkins St. It’s easy for visitors to the 237-acre state forest to get caught up in the wonders of nature and miss the wealth of Milwaukee history at the site. The land around the Havenwoods Environmental Awareness Center has been transformed over 140 years from a family farm, to a corrections house, to a U.S. Army facility, to its current incarnation. The Doors Open weekend is an opportunity for the urban forest to feature some of this little-known history, said Judy Klippel, superintendent of Havenwoods State Forest. “There are only a few features on the land that are still there from the old days, but they will be marked for people to see,” she said. Visitors should look for the remnants of the Cold War-era missile base, which are now covered by a prairie. They will be able to see a series of old photographs and maps of the property. However, the center will focus on showcasing its hiking trails and environmental education programs. “One of our jobs is to try and help people reconnect with nature,” Klippel said. Between May and October, school groups come to the space to learn about local animal and plant life, create nature-related crafts and learn about the importance of nature. Doors Open provides another opportunity for urban residents to connect with the outdoors, Klippel said. “I would like to see more people use this place. This is a buffer from the city. It’s a place where people can find quiet in the middle of the city.” Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, 3022 W. Wisconsin Ave. Behind the pews of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, the pipes that make up the church’s famous organ pump out hymns, filling the sanctuary and spilling out the open doors onto Wisconsin Avenue. After the service, people gather for coffee, dessert and lemonade. The church has been open for more than 150 years; the congregation is a mix of new arrivals and longtime churchgoers. Michael Sykes, one such newcomer, was encouraged to visit by the Rev. Dr. Patrick Keen. Sykes said the diverse congregation made him feel at home as soon as he walked in the door for the first time. “These people don’t know who I am, but they were so welcoming,” he said. Sykes asked church members, including LaVonne Williams, about service opportunities.