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EarthCare
Prayer for Gulf Coast
We affirm and have faith that the Universe is well ordered and even now, in the seemingly overwhelming conditions of the Gulf Coast oil spill, God is at work through nature, through the minds and hearts of the people repairing and cleaning the spill.... Even now, there is order in the ocean as it rallies to recover, repair and heal.... We are inspired to act in ways that nurture and heal our earth and its oceans, rivers, lakes and streams.... We take action with confidence, knowing we are part of the Divine Order that is unfolding in this and every circumstance and condition.... Amen.
EarthCare - A New Ministry for Our Time
Welcome to the new lay ministry at Unity of Fairfax – EarthCare. The name comes from the Association of Unity Churches International EarthCare Congregation Program which focuses “on fostering the awareness of our spiritual oneness with our Earth home and promoting active care of creation.” EarthCare is designed to educate us and to encourage us to increase our environmental consciousness so that we act for the good of the planet. The core of this ministry asserts the connectedness of all life and our responsibility as a species.
A church that embraces the EarthCare Program will begin in prayer and transcend through six additional steps before being certified as an EarthCare Congregation by the Association.
A number of present ongoing tasks will come under this ministry. They include landscaping the many gardens and maintaining the grounds; recycling; encouraging the use of green products by the office staff, the facility cleaning company and hospitality; preparing and overseeing a church energy audit; and completing the Unity of Fairfax Stormwater Management Project in 2009.
Absolutely essential will be a dedicated number of stewards in the communications arena since providing practical timely education was determined as a core mission of this Unity of Fairfax ministry. Targeted tasks include: a green page on www.unityoffairfax.org with brief pertinent facts and ways to live more environmentally friendly; providing stimulating information on church green programs and events in LoveLight, our quarterly newsletter; and maintaining a presence in the church atrium for sharing educational information with each other. Celebration of special green events such as Earth Day, Arbor Day, special plantings – will involve all sorts of communications including the church bulletin and Sunday platform. Naturally, for such occasions, the music program, youth education and hospitality will be encouraged to participate to involve the entire church.
By spending some time in this ministry, whether beautifying the grounds by planting, being a strong recycling advocate, or contributing a green fact or story for dissemination, the EarthCare ministry will raise our awareness and increase our personal participation in friendly action toward our Earth at church, at home and in our business.
We are not separate or above nature. We are a part of it. When we all know our connection to one another, our love and reverence for life can create the social justice for a sustainable planet. Let’s each do our part.
Watch for your opportunity to make known your support for EarthCare. This opportunity becomes another way for you to choose to demonstrate Unity’s fifth principle by putting action behind your thoughts – this time, to protect the Earth.
Please, Recycle Your Old Cell Phones
Bring your old cell phones to Unity between now and August 1 and place them in the marked box provided in the atrium. Bring them the next two Sundays or drop them off at the church during the week. All the phones we collect will be sent to Re Cellular, Inc. to be refurnished. The proceeds will be equally distributed to Cell Phones for Soldiers, which provides pre-paid phone cards to our men and women in the military, and the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, which provides phones and services to women’s shelters in order to help the fight against domestic violence.
Both Cell Phones for Soldiers and NCADV are partnering with ReCellular, Inc. in the collection of used cell phones. ReCellular is the world leader in electronics sustainability and is committed to recycling all electronic waste in order to protect the environment by refurbishing phones instead of sending them to the land fills.
For more information about these organizations and their cell phone donation programs, visit their websites: Cell Phones for Soldiers: www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com, National CoalitionAgainst Domestic Violence www.ncadv.org/takeaction/donateaphone.php and
ReCellular, Inc. www.recellular.com
Now’s the Time, Adopt-A-Spot
Want your own spot of God’s land on our Unity grounds?
We have beautiful spots available to select from. Join this special group of people who give back to our sacred land here and receive Earth’s cleansing reviving energy in their daily lives. Sign up today in the atrium or see Pete Clifford or Rick Hartley.
Earth Prayer for the Gulf
Today I absolutely know that each individual consciousness and life form on this planet unites with The One Life, The One God, and The One Consciousness. The One Source of All Life and as all of us, as the entire planet of Earth beings comes together in consciousness, those individuals working to stabilize and cap the gushing oil in the Gulf Coast are totally and completely supported in reaching a solution today. Free of blame, without remorse and without fear, I see behind the conditions and circumstances, I claim today as the moment when the race consciousness shifts and claims its divine inheritance. I know the truth, I see through the appearance of tragedy to the spiritual reality which radiates brilliantly behind all life and all events--the life expression of God and Universe cannot be contaminated, it cannot be stopped, it never ceases and always remains whole, pure and complete. The very power and beingness of Life now comes into balance with itself, the totality of humanity’s consciousness rises from every level, every belief system, every possible expression of self to acknowledge the beauty and blessing our Earth is to us. As a nation, as a world of nations, as part of a galaxy, as a universe, we give thanks for the living entity that is currently our physical home and which has blessed us with such beauty and abundance and opportunities to experience physical life. We are so grateful that Earth graciously allows us to play upon its mantle, to throw ourselves against this physical-spiritual backdrop as we learn how to find our way back to God, to our oneness with each other and therefore our total unity with All There Is. As I go about my work today and each day forward, I do so in gratitude, knowing that we are rising to the occasion, we are supported by all life and by the Earth and higher consciousness always prevails. And so it is.
Laura Ritchie,
Casey's Corner ---- NATIVE PLANTS ATTRACT BIRDS & BUTTERFLIES
Benefits of using native plants (those plants that have evolved over time in a region and possess traits that make them adapted to local conditions)
1) provides protective cover and food (seeds, friuit, insects) for animals, butterflies and birds.
2) use less water and pesticides, benefiting the community.
3) attract beneficial bugs which are natural predators and can rid your garden of destructive bugs.
4) reduce erosion and maintain or improve soil fertility.
5) reduce harmful run-off that threatens our streams and rivers.
6) help prevent the spread of alien species of plants and prevent future invasion of alien species.
Ask for native plants at your local garden center! In Fairfax County, you can order bare-root seedlings of native trees and shrubs through the Northern Virginia Soil & Water Conservation District (703-324-1460) www.fairfaxcounty.gov/NVSWCD ).
Why Compost?
Compost is organic waste that is cheap and easy to make from food scraps and yard trimmings that decompose naturally. It is easy do and reduces waste while adding organic fertilizer for your outdoor plants. When food ends up in a landfill, it is broken down by anaerobic bacteria, which gives off methane gas, threatening our environment. So instead of ending up in a landfill, you can compost your food and yard waste. The benefits for your garden/yard are:
1. Improves the soil structure, texture and aeration
2. Increases the soil’s water holding capacity.
3. The organic material in compost is food for microorganisms, which keep the soil healthy and balanced.
4. Compost reduces plant diseases and pests and eliminates the need for chemical fertilizers.
3 Basic Ingredients of Compost:
1)Browns – dead leaves, branches, twigs (carbon)
2)Greens – grass clippings, vegetable waste, fruit scraps, coffee grounds (nitrogen)
3)Water (moisture to breakdown organic matter)
Have an equal amount of browns to greens and alternate layers of organic materials of different sizes. www.epa.gov
Waste Free Lunch Program
Start a waste free lunch program in your home by using reusable food containers, drink containers, utensils and napkins. Discourage the use of prepackaged foods, plastic bags, juice boxes and pouches and disposable utensils. An average school-age child who uses a disposable lunch generates about 67 pounds of waste per school year. Buy larger quantities of lunch food, then recycle the packaging, and place the food in reusable containers for lunch. The result is less trash in the landfills and you spend less for lunch food. Check the website, www.wastefreelunches.org for reusable containers and menu ideas.
Our Stormwater Management Project Winds Down As Grants End
December 31, 2009 was the last day of the life of our two grants to support the Unity of Fairfax Stormwater Management Project. The grants were from Fairfax Water ($1,600) and the Department of Conservation and Recreation ($30,000) and had three phases to them:
- installation of a green (vegetative) roof
- planting a detention pond using bayscaping techniques
- creating the site for environmental education in our community
The six original objectives were successfully achieved. They were to put in place:
- A modified/improved storm water retention pond to collect and filter stormwater;
- A heavily planted drain area to reduce the flow and filter water runoff;
- A green roof on a main structure (4,500 square feet) to recycle nutrients, process airborne toxins, re-oxygenate the air, reduce stormwater runoff;
- A 5.0 acre BayScape demonstration site promoting restorative and stormwater management techniques including a landscaping policy which eliminates the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides.
- An educational program to promote public awareness and personal involvement on behalf of the Bay and local watersheds among the 300 regular attending Unity members and many additional visitors in this highly transitional Washington D.C. area. A workshop will be designed and presented to the Association of Unity Churches with invitations to churches national and international to raise awareness of green consciousness and to promote similar action by other churches.
- A training program designed to educate maintenance personnel and Board of Trustees on BayScaping techniques.
Project Phases
1) Installation of Our Green Roof
Construction of the roof was completed in May 2008. A thin 1/8th inch waterproof rubber membrane was replaced with over 5 inches of protection, including 3 inches of soil substrate and 3,000 sedum plants that have a high tolerance for weather and moisture extremes. In urban settings the single greatest mitigation of stormwater is a green roof by transforming impervious surfaces into square footage that filters, absorbs and delays stormwater surges. Other important benefits of a vegetative roof include:
- Conserves energy
- Improves air quality
- Provides Insulation
- Suppresses noise, reducing interior sound levels
- Extends the life of the roof – Minimizes UV and temperature impact
- Reduces cost over the life of the roof
- Restores ecological and aesthetic value to open space
On-going maintenance includes weeding from wind born implantation and watering during extended periods of drought. After the third year, the sedum plants should have matured enough that maintenance will be minimized.
2) Detention Pond Planting
Because the green roof drains into the detention pond, it was advantageous to plant sponge and pollinator gardens in the pond. Native plants worked best since they help restore wildlife, further filter stormwater runoff, and, due to their hardiness, require less maintenance. A widespread variety of native herbicide plants and eastern wildflower seeds were planted. Among plants selected to attract pollinators were: New York aster, Black-eyed Susan, coneflower, butterfly milkweed, red columbine, wild blue indigo, blue flag, beebalm and Joe-pye weed. Plants like great blue indigo, cardinal flower, blue and yellow flag, swamp milkweed, and soft rush were selected because they tolerated a wide range of moisture conditions. On the banks of the pond and in the adjacent valley garden, the riparian buffer was enhanced with native trees, shrubs and plants to further restore natural habitat, absorb stormwater and attractively naturescape (using plants indigenous to the immediate surroundings) the land. Some of the plants were the dogwood, redbud, vibernum, black-eyed Susan, coneflower and red twig dogwood.
3) Environmental Education Site
In late summer 2009, outdoor activities slowed as efforts moved to focus on creating an informative self-guided tour of the bayscaping projects. Colored identification signs were developed to provide standardized information for all the native plants. Kyle Pinkham pursued his Eagle Scout status by constructing six stand-alone information stations. Stations explain: welcome and project objectives, riparian buffer, pollinator garden, sponge garden, green roof, and wildlife habitat. Also, Kyle graphically designed a site map as centerfold in the explanative brochure, “The Bayscape Project of Unity of Fairfax,” which provides additional environmental information on each aspect of the total project.
Finally, a DVD has been completed by photographer Pete Clifford, taking the viewer from beginning to end in beautiful picture sequence This will be shown in the atrium at the church prior to, and on Earth Day Sunday, April 18, 2010.
Future Outreach Plans
Beginning this spring, as the sap rises and the landscape comes into bloom, efforts will be directed to informing our surrounding church and business community of what we’ve accomplished here at Unity. We plan to invite their participation in contributing to a growing green consciousness with activities and financial support which improve our environment by reducing energy consumption or stormwater damage or by purchasing green business products, etc.
Acknowledgements
I hope you have read this far because now its time to for you to stand up and take a bow. Without you and the rest of our Unity communities loving consciousness for our earth, this wonderful project would not have happened. Once we all said “yes” the universe has been incredibly responsive providing solutions over the years. Everyone has given in some way. Working this land has opened my heart and fed my soul. I hope that nature, perhaps here at Unity, will touch you deeply and bring you back to that very special place within. God bless you.
FARMER’S’ MARKETS – WHAT’S THE BIG DEAL?
Farmer’s’ markets were very common during the 19th century, but decreased when refrigeration and transportation systems made it possible to ship produce long distances. We have seen a revival of Farmer’s’ markets as educated and health conscious consumers want the freshest and safest produce possible. Statistics from the Department of Agriculture (USDA) show that the number of Farmer’s’ markets in the United States has grown from 1,755 in 1994 to 4,685 in 2008. USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service maintains a listing of all the Farmer’s markets at their website, http://apps.ams.usda.gov/FarmersMarkets or through their hotline, 1-800-384-8704.
- Benefits of Farmer’s’ Markets
The fruits and vegetables are grown locally and picked when perfectly ripened. This enhances the taste, texture, and aroma of the produce so that consumers can experience what non-processed food tastes like.
- The produce is fresh and has more nutritive value.
- Our existing system of food transportation and distribution requires enormous amounts of energy and resources. Before reaching your table, the average food item in the United States will travel 1300miles! In fact, only about 10% of the fossil fuel energy used in the world’s food system is used for production. The other 90% goes into packaging, transportation, and marketing of the food. All this inefficiency creates many environmental problems.
- Environmentally preserves the farmland and rewards family Farmer’s who produce high-quality fresh products.
- Animates public spaces and renews downtown neighborhoods.
- Provides a chance for both Farmer’s and buyers to interact. Farmer’s can talk to their customers and get feedback on their produce. When customers buy at a grocery store, they’re not sure if the produce is 1 or 3 weeks old. They don’t know who grew it, where it came from or what’s in it. At a Farmer’s market, they can ask Farmer’s how they grew it, if they used chemicals, etc. The result is improved food safety.
Farmer’s Market Nutritive Program (FMNP) (Please read – Someone you know may qualify.)
Congress established the FMNP in 1992 to provide fresh, unprepared, locally grown fruits and vegetables to participants in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), which is a federal assistance program for healthcare and nutrition of low-income women and children. In 2001, it was expanded to include low-income seniors. Eligible seniors or WIC participants are issued vouchers to purchase fruits and vegetables from Farmer’s who have been approved to accept them. The Farmer’s deposit them in the bank, the same as cash. It benefits seniors, women and children by giving them access to the nutritional benefits of fresh, locally-produced agricultural products. It also benefits Farmer’s by increasing their direct sales.
Fairfax County Farmer’s’ Markets
www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/farm-mkt.htm
- Annandale Farmer’s Market
Mason District Park
6621 Columbia Pike
Thursdays 8am to 12noon
5671 Roberts Pkwy.
Saturdays 8am to 12noon
- Frying Pan Park Farmer’s Market
2709 West Ox Road, Herndon
Wednesdays 8am to 12:30pm
777 Lynn St, Herndon
Thursdays 8am to 12noon
- Kingstown Farmer’s Market
Kingstowne Towne Center
Fridays 4 to 7pm
8990 Lorton Station Blvd.
Sundays 9am to 1pm
1659 Chain Bridge Rd.
Fridays 8:30am to 12:30pm
- Mount Vernon Farmer’s Market
2501 Sherwood Hall Lane
Tuesdays 8am to 12noon
Lake Anne Village Center
Saturdays 8am to 12noon
- Smart Markets at Fairfax Corner
The Plaza, 11901 Grand Commons Ave
Tuesdays 3 to 6:30pm
- Smart Markets at Fair Lakes Whole Foods
4501 Market Commons Dr.
Wednesdays 8am to 1pm
- Smart Markets Unitarian Universalist Congregation
2709 Hunter Mill Rd.
Saturdays 9am to 1pm
Market and Explorer Sts.
Thursdays 3:30 to 6:30pm
- Smart Markets at Trinity Center
5875 Trinity Pkwy. Centerville
Fridays 3:30 to 6:30pm
Oak Marr Recreation Center
Wednesdays 8am to 12noon
- Vienna Saturday Farmer’s Market
Church Street and Dominion Road NE
Saturdays 8am to 12noon
- Wakefield Farmer’s Market
8100 Braddock Rd. Wakefield Park
Wednesdays 2 to 6pm
- Falls Church Farmer’s Market
300 Park Ave.
Saturdays 8am to 12noon
COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AGRICULTURE
Several biodynamic gardeners brought the idea of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) to North America in the mid-1980s. It has become a popular way for consumers to buy local, seasonal food directly from a farmer. The farmers and consumers provide mutual support and share the risks and benefits of food production. The farmer offers a certain number of “shares” to the public. The share usually consists of a box or bag of vegetables, along with other farm products at times. Interested consumers purchase a share and in return receive a box or bag of seasonal produce each week during the farming season.
The advantages for the consumer:
- Eating fresh food, with all the flavor and nutrition benefits
- Learning about new vegetables and new ways of cooking
- Visiting the farm at least once a season
- Developing a relationship with the farmer who grows their food and learn about how food is grown
- Discovering that children typically favor food from “their” farm, including veggies that they’ve never been known to eat
- Reconnecting with rhythms of nature by eating produce when it is in season.
- Reuniting with the Earth and a community and discovering a kind of spiritual nourishment.
The advantages for the farmer:
- Being able to spend time marketing the food early in the year, before their 16 hour days in the field begin
- Receiving payment early in the season, which helps the farm’s cash flow
- Getting to know the people who eat the food they grow
- Shared risk – the consumer accepts without complaint whatever the farm can produce, which creates a sense of community among members.
CSA is not about cheap food, which is usually not nourishing or grown with care for the environment. CSA is about each of us being responsible.
The Earth is a living being and the actions of every individual have an effect on the whole. The soil is the basis of all human life. The quality of its care and health affect not only the people who eat the food today, but those who will depend on the soil in the future. Although less than 1% of our population is in farming, it is in the consumer’s best interest to support farmers so they can grow the highest quality, most nutritious food while preserving the quality of the environment and the soil.
Modern biodynamic gardening, which led to the CSA concept, is a combination of two European agricultural methods that were developed during the 18th and 19th centuries.
- The first was French intensive farming using glass domes as miniature green houses to lengthen the growing season. Also, planting crops very close to one another to prevent weeds and water evaporation and using organic fertilizer, like horse manure.
- The second was Austrian, Rudolph Steiner, who pushed organic fertilizers and planting of nitrogen fixing plants to prevent soil depletion. He promoted companion planting or planting certain plants next to each other because they were mutually beneficial. And most important, was that lunar forces that cause oceanic tidal changes also effect plant root and foliage development during the 28 day lunar cycle. Flower, fruit, and vegetable seeds should be planted two days prior to a new moon because light and gravitational conditions during 7 days following a new moon promote the development of roots and plant foliage.
CSA’s that serve the Northern Virginia area can be found at www.localharvest.org/csa . Some are seasonal and require joining prior to the growing season, while others are year round. There are e-mail addresses and phone numbers listed on the website.
When you are a CSA member, you will be eating seasonally, which means that you cannot expect the same items as the grocery store. In most areas, the first crops will be peas, salad greens, onions, etc. By the end of the season, the items will be heavier and include winter squash, potatoes, tomatoes and broccoli. Many farms provide a list of produce to expect and when it is expected.
The following are suggestions on what to ask the farmers before signing up:
- How long have you been farming?
- How long have you been doing CSA?
- Do you include items from other farms in your CSA?
- How much produce do you expect to deliver each week and how does that vary from the beginning of the season to the end?
- What happens if I am on vacation or have an emergency and cannot pick up my share?
- Is it possible to talk to some of your members before I commit?
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