After Mardi Gras -- Join us for a Carbon Fast? -- Kick-off Potluck Wed., Feb. 22nd, 6:00 p.m.

This week marks the beginning of Lent, and instead of "giving up" chocolate or television or other temptations, we invite you to join us in the Ecumenical Carbon Fast. Some of us in the Earthcare group did this last year and it was a good discipline.  You sign up for a daily email with a reflection and an invitation to concrete actions -- some are small (remove one lightbulb from your house) -- some more challenging (if you still eat meat, consider becoming vegetarian). We will gather for a potluck dinner to kick off the fast at Edwards Church, this Wed., Feb. 22nd, at 6 p.m. -- followed by the Ash Wednesday service at Edwards at 7:30 p.m.  All are welcome! Whether you come to the potluck or not, you can sign up for the Carbon Fast at http://www.macucc.org/pages/detail/2410 or see the daily posts on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/carbonfast?sk=wall.

Styrofoam Collection -- Sat., Jan. 7, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Another one of our "seasonal" styrofoam collections coming up very soon at Grace Church, 76 Salem End Rd.  Bring along your styrofoam and/or plastic utensils (clean, separate from the styrofoam) anytime from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., this Saturday, Jan. 7th. We will also be accepting cans of non-perishable food to help the Hope Food Pantry in Framingham re-stock after the holidays.  Stay for a bit and help load the truck if you have time. If you miss this one, look for another collection in April, close to Earth Day. For more information on what can be recycled, see http://www.refoamit.com/.  Sponsored by Grace Congregational Church, UCC and Refoamit, Inc. Congratulations to Barbara Sherman of Refoamit on being selected as the Woman who Made Framingham Better in 2011!

Free Movie -- "Coal Country" -- Sat., Nov. 19th, 7 p.m.

We’ll provide the movie, snacks (Framingham’s Stearns Farm popcorn), and plenty of food for thought.  Join us for a thought-provoking movie (about 45 minutes long) on the effect of coal mining, especially by mountain-top removal, on communities in Appalachia. Hear more about the Sierra Club’s “Beyond Coal” Campaign and learn what you can do to help end this destructive practice. The audience is invited to make a free-will offering to support a local program providing children in Appalachia with much-needed school supplies. This event is at Grace Church, 76 Salem End Rd., near Framingham State University.

Fall Styrofoam Collection -- Oct. 22nd

Save your Styrofoam and plastic utensils -- we have another collection day coming up at Grace Chuch -- Sat., Oct. 22nd., 10a.m.-3 p.m. For more information on what can and cannot be recycled, see http://www.refoamit.com/. To volunteer for an hour or two at the collection (it's light duty, but help is much appreciated!), contact Mary Memmott at memmottm@gmail.com.

Report on "Shine a Light on Solar" and Moving Planet Rally

Earthcare partnered with the Framingham Sierra Club to present “Shining a Light on Solar” on September 24th.  Thank you to Rev. Debbie Clarke and Edwards Church for hosting and providing a delicious lunch, and thanks to Dan Greenwood of SolarFlair for providing timely, important information on solar power and the credits and tax advantages that have made this an increasingly affordable option. We had 30 people in attendance, and the discussion was intelligent and focused. Who knows what new solar installations you will see around town that were sparked at this meeting! If you missed this event, and want more information on solar power, there is another company speaking at Edwards Church on solar power on Tuesday, October 11th. See this link for more information.



Thank you also to the two “Pria” car-loads of folks from Framingham, Sudbury, and Worcester who followed lunch with a trip into Boston to attend the Moving Planet rally. The highlight of the rally was probably seeing all those from the Boston area who have been arrested in Washington protesting the Tar Sands Pipeline project stand up to be recognized. You can find out more about this ongoing protest, and see pictures of Moving Planet Day all over the world, at http://www.350.org/. We proudly held our "350" banner in Framingham and Boston on September 24th -- if you don't know why we care about 350, time to get to that website!

"Shine a Light on Solar" -- Sat., Sept. 24th -- 11 a.m.

I just left a planning meeting for this event -- we have a wonderful (free) lunch planned, activites for the kids, and a speaker on a timely subject -- solar energy and your home or business. And then if you feel inspired you can join us as we carpool/T to Boston to participate in a rally calling on our leaders to move beyond fossil fuels (free water bottle included!).  Please RSVP if you can to help us plan, or just come that day. All are welcome.

Here's an outline of the day:

SEPTEMBER 24th :   350.org’s Global Moving Planet event.
Moving Framingham towards Renewable Energy!
When/Where:
11am – 1pm , Edwards Church - Solar Power presentation and lunch
1 pm: Carpool to Riverside - T into Boston
3 pm: Parade from Park St. station to Columbus Waterfront Park
3:50 pm:  New England Rally for Moving Beyond Fossil Fuels
6 pm: Carpool back to Framingham

Join EarthCare and the Framingham Sierra Club as we participate in 350.org’s worldwide rally to demand solutions to the Climate Crisis: Moving Planet- A Day to Move Beyond Fossil Fuels.
We begin with a local event here in Framingham focused on solar energy.   Dan Greenwood of Framingham’s own SolarFlair  , will “shine the light” on solar power as a viable renewable energy source, including information on costs, rebates, incentives, net metering and the Solar Renewable Energy Credit market.   Come enjoy a light lunch and get your solar questions answered, while the kids help create our Moving Planet Banner for the New England Rally in Boston and try some "solar" crafts and activities.
At 1pm, we'll be heading into Boston via carpool and the T to join the rest of our neighboring communities for the Boston rally at Columbus Waterfront Park in Boston near the Aquarium!!  Join us for both events, or just one!  For more info, or to RSVP, contact Mary Memmott at memmottm@gmail.com. 

Styrofoam Collection -- this Saturday, July 23, 10 - 3

Another one of our "seasonal" styrofoam collections coming up very soon at Grace Church, 76 Salem End Rd.  Bring along your styrofoam and/or plastic utensils (clean, separate from the styrofoam) anytime from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., this Saturday, July 23rd. Stay for a bit and help load the truck if you have time. If you miss this one, look for another collection on Oct. 22nd. For more information on what can be recycled, see http://www.refoamit.com/.  Sponsored by Grace Congregational Church, UCC and Refoamit, Inc.