Lenten Carbon Fast -- Discussion

Lent started this week and some of us are signed up for the Lenten Carbon Fast -- sponsored by the New England Council of Churches -- you can still sign up here.

The fast gives you daily email suggestions of things to do and prayerfully consider.  Here's a summary so far:

Day 1 -- commit to the fast!
Day 2 -- pick a lightbulb anywhere in your home and take it out for the duration of the fast
Day 3 -- slay "vampire power" in your home -- unplug power plugs needlessly using electricity
Day 4 -- sign up for an energy audit through NSTAR or your own power company
Day 5 -- consider how 20% of the earth's population use 80% of its resources

I was a little dubious at first thinking I'm "ahead of the curve" on some things and at my limit on others.  But then I found an extra light-bulb in my bathroom that turns on every time I turn on the bathroom light -- I get along fine without it.  If all 1,000 people in the fast do the same, that's not insignificant.  I went looking for vampire power and found two things I'd forgotten about.  I got to pat myself on the back for already having an energy audit.  And the thought for Day 5 prompted me to get some laundry on the line today, even though the weather is a bit borderline, and the girls had a great time running through the towels.  A clothes dryer is quite a luxury in the grand scheme of things -- after all I'm lucky to have a washer compared to a lot of mothers around the world.  And you can't play "run through the towels" when they are in the dryer.

So looking forward to the next 35 days -- anyone else have any reactions to the fast?

Response to "No Impact Man"

Thank you to the brave souls who came out on a tough weather night to share good popcorn and a good movie. 

If you are thinking of doing your own, "no impact" project for Lent or on your own time-table, our youngest viewer would love to hear from you.  She has been inspired to create her own earthcare blog (really, on her own, I only found out what she was up to after helping to spell various words like "styrofoam," "transportation," etc.), you can find it here: http://www.earthcarebyakid.blogspot.com/.  We can't wait to hear what projects this may have inspired!

Free movie night -- "No Impact Man" -- Friday, Feb. 25th

Free Friday Night Flick with Earthcare Education!

Featured Movie: “No Impact Man”

Friday, February 25, 7 – 9 p.m.

Grace Congregational Church, UCC; 76 Salem End Rd., Framingham

We’ll provide the movie, snacks (Framingham’s Stearns Farm popcorn!), and plenty of food for thought.

Edwards Church UCC and Grace Congregational Church UCC present another in our series of Earthcare events. Find out what happens when a “New York liberal decides to practice what he preaches for one year . . . Turns off the electricity, stops making garbage, gives up TV . . . all while taking his baby daughter and caffeine-loving retail-obsessed TV-addicted wife along with him." Then discuss how you could dial down YOUR impact this Lent with a “carbon fast.” Sponsored with the generous support of the Barnes Foundation.

Call the Grace office 508-872-3342 for more information, see the Grace website for directions.

Next Event -- Dessert and Book Discussion -- RESCHEDULED to Mon., Nov. 22nd 7:30 p.m.

Note: we've moved the date from Nov. 9th to Nov. 22nd.  This will allow us to attend the first Framingham Sierra Club meeting  at 7 p.m. on Nov. 9th at the Framingham Public Library (all welcome!).  But otherwise, same details, new date.

Book Choice: Eaarth by Bill McKibben
At Edwards Church, UCC; 39 Edwards St., Framingham

Join us if you’ve read the book cover-to-cover, just dipped into the first chapter, or are just curious why this book spells “earth” incorrectly. Bill McKibben has a powerful argument to make about the fate of our earth, a sobering argument that yet leaves room to hope. Come share your thoughts and share some food.

Dessert and beverages provided!

For directions see http://www.edwardschurch.org/directions.html , or call the Edwards office: 508-877-2050.  We will most likely meet in the fellowship hall building nearest the parking lot, not the main church building, look for cars parked near, lights on, and an "Earthcare" sign!

Fall Work Day -- Stearns Farm, Oct. 16, 2010

The Grace church group joined Stearns sharers, staff, and other volunteers to help plant over 7,000 garlic this past Saturday.  The weather was great, the group enthusiastic, and we had 7 kids with us who turned out to be garlic clove peeling and planting naturals. These work hours are part of our commitment to providing a winter share for the food pantry -- this year's "winter" share will extend into March, so we're looking forward to picking up spinach, kale, and root veggies in a warm greenhouse in the snow as 2010 turns to 2011. 

Thank you to Amelia, our 9 year-old photographer.  You won't see her in the photos because she was behind the lens!

Trees for Framingham, Trees for Tanzania

We did it! 10/10/10 was definitely a success!

One beautiful afternoon, three beautiful trees, three very skilled guys from Framingham Parks and Rec, one truck, many shovels, one shovel on a bike, and thirty incredible volunteers, who along the way contributed $150 to help plant three million trees on Mt. Kilimanjaro.  What a great day -- no matter which number you look at.  And hopefully drawing some attention to the big number "350."

Thanks to all who came!

UPDATE (10/23/10): We have now raised $350 towards the Mt. Kilimnjaro tree project, with some additional donations and matching funds from the Barnes Foundation.  Thank you so much too all who contributed -- you can find out more where we are sending the $ here.

Global Work Party for the Earth -- 10/10/10 -- Trees for Framingham, Trees for Tanzania

It's all coming together! The Earthcare group will be working with the Town of Framingham to plant 3 new trees at spots around town on 10/10/10 - part of the http://www.350.org/ "Global Work Party for the Earth"
Meet at Christa McAuliffe Library, Framingham
2p.m., Sunday, Oct. 10, 2010

-- Interfaith blessing and planting of a new tree outside the library; followed by carpool, bike, driving to Long’s Field and Cushing Park in Framingham to plant two more trees.

-- Thank-you reception with hot cider, coffee, snacks at Grace Congregational Church, UCC, 76 Salem End Rd., Framingham 4:00-5:30 p.m. , to celebrate three new trees for Framingham and many more for Tanzania.

-- Free-will offering at each planting and the reception to support trees for the slopes of Mt. Kilimanjaro – donation to be made to Kilimanjaro Environmental Conservation Programme, Tanzania, through the Interfaith Power and Light Carbon Covenant Program – see http://www.co2covenant.org .


Thank you to Mass ReLeaf for providing trees and training, the Town of Framingham for permission, supervision, and expertise, and to the Barnes Foundation for continous support.