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Earth Care
WPC is an Earth Care Congregation, committed to caring for God’s earth in worship, education, facilities, and outreach, promoting environmental stewardship in property decisions, administrative practices, and teaching. The Environmental Ministries at the Presbyterian Church (USA) has recertified Westminster as an Earth Care Congregation! The Earth Care Congregations program was started in 2010 by the Environmental Ministries. The goal of the program is to inspire churches to care for God’s earth in a holistic way, through integrating earth care into all of their church life.
Earth Care Team 2024: Chair, Peter Kieffer, Keith Hamilton, Charlie King, Todd Lafrenz, Lynn McMenamin, Maribeth Norton, Susan Shaw, Brad Steller
WPC is an Earth Care Congregation, committed to caring for God’s earth in worship, education, facilities, and outreach, promoting environmental stewardship in property decisions, administrative practices, and teaching. The Environmental Ministries at the Presbyterian Church (USA) has recertified Westminster as an Earth Care Congregation! The Earth Care Congregations program was started in 2010 by the Environmental Ministries. The goal of the program is to inspire churches to care for God’s earth in a holistic way, through integrating earth care into all of their church life.
Earth Care Team 2024: Chair, Peter Kieffer, Keith Hamilton, Charlie King, Todd Lafrenz, Lynn McMenamin, Maribeth Norton, Susan Shaw, Brad Steller
Peter Kieffer, Brad Steller, Susan Shaw, and granddaughter Thalia hosted the Westminster Earth Care table on April 20, 2024 at Union Square Park downtown. Sophia Diana, and Zach Choi stopped by to learn how to conserve water.
PC(USA) RECERTIFICATION
Westminster received word on March 11, 2024 that the Presbyterian Church (USA) recertified Westminster as an Earth Care Congregation, celebrating nine years in this ministry and joining 270 congregations across the denomination.
Westminster received word on March 11, 2024 that the Presbyterian Church (USA) recertified Westminster as an Earth Care Congregation, celebrating nine years in this ministry and joining 270 congregations across the denomination.
Presbytery of Great Rivers highlighted WPC's Earth Care efforts in their weekly newsletter on Mar. 28, 2019. Click here to read the newsletter, in which Dr. Peter Kieffer shared his passion of leading environmental justice ministry at Westminster.
Westminster members who wish to reduce waste may refer to the Room to Room Guide to Reuse and Recycling Options found through this link.
This guide tells us how to reuse and to recycle so many resources that would otherwise end up in a landfill! Of note, not included are ways to recycle Christmas tree lights and single-use non-rechargeable batteries which can be recycled in the bins at the southwest corner of the West Narthex. Nearly 200 pounds of Christmas lights were recycled in 2020.
This guide tells us how to reuse and to recycle so many resources that would otherwise end up in a landfill! Of note, not included are ways to recycle Christmas tree lights and single-use non-rechargeable batteries which can be recycled in the bins at the southwest corner of the West Narthex. Nearly 200 pounds of Christmas lights were recycled in 2020.
SEPTEMBER 2024 EARTH CARE TIP
Autumn is the perfect time to plant a new tree, thereby capturing more carbon dioxide and restoring the beauty of God's creation! Cool weather and steady rains will help roots grow even though leaves will fall. During the autumn, most nurseries offer deep discounts on trees and other perennials to reduce their winter inventory. Buy, dig, plant, and look forward to healthy new growth and green foliage next spring!
AUGUST 2024 EARTH CARE TIP
Many of us enjoy fresh sweet corn during this time of year, buying directly from our local farmers. Let's remember that on Wednesday and Saturday mornings from May through October we can purchase a variety of fresh local produce at our 4th and Adams Farmer's Market downtown. Buying local supports our regional economy and saves precious resources and CO2 emissions required to ship food (which is not so fresh when it arrives!). Stop by on Wednesdays if you work downtown or ride your bike on Saturdays to save even more!
JULY 2024 EARTH CARE TIP
Is the heat wave wearing down your AC? Is your furnace a little old too? If it's that time, consider replacing both with an all-electric heat pump which pumps heat out of the house in the summer, pumps heat back into the house in the winter, costs less to run, produces less CO2, and qualifies for a 30% Climate Bill tax credit (up to $2,000).
JUNE 2024 EARTH CARE TIP
Although it's getting a little warmer on some days, perhaps we should rethink closing the home and turning on the AC until September. Now that seasonal allergens are receding, perhaps we can open the windows on cool nights and dry breezy days. Conversely, closing the windows mid-morning on still, hot, and humid days can keep cool dry comfort in the home. Even if we must turn on the AC in the afternoon heat or during heat waves, on nice days we can enjoy some fresh air, singing cicadas, and chirping birds while saving precious fuels, electric costs, and carbon emissions.
APRIL 2024 EARTH CARE TIP
Saturday April 20th from 11 AM to 3 PM at Union Station, Westminster will host a table on water conservation during the Springfield Earth Awareness Fair. Although water is God's abundant and renewable resource, only a small fraction is suitable for quenching our thirst. As we live our lives, let us reconsider our consumption and share with those who have less: a typical shower consumes half as much as a bath, washing by hand requires twice as much as the dishwasher, and running the sprinkler squirts away a 3-day supply in less than one hour.
MARCH 2024 EARTH CARE TIP
This month, Dr. Katie Carlson-Eastvold will explore the tree imagery of scripture during our Adult Education Forum, just in time for us to consider a spring planting. Trees absorb carbon dioxide, produce oxygen, stabilize soil, and shade our homes. Pine trees provide year-round privacy and home-grown mulch. Holly trees brighten the winter season. Deciduous trees provide summer shade and fall color while permitting the warmth of summer sun. Native trees survive the best and restore the natural beauty of our prairie heartland.
FEBRUARY 2024 EARTH CARE TIP
This year Westminster is recycling caps to create benches for our playground, but we can recycle caps at the curb too! Remember to screw those caps back onto the bottle so that they are efficiently sorted by machines at the recycle plant. When possible, encourage even more recycling by purchasing beverages in aluminum cans which are recycled hundreds of times versus food-grade plastic which is typically downcycled into something else once.
JANUARY 2024 EARTH CARE TIP
Is your family considering a trip south to warm up this winter? Remember some modes of transportation are greener than others, consuming less fuel and producing less CO2: travel by rail is the most earth friendly, car travel (especially with several passengers) is less so, and jet travel is the least. If tight schedules require air travel, consider counter-balancing those emissions by
donating to the Presbyterian Tree Fund through which our denomination supports reforestation and CO2 reduction.
NOVEMBER 2023 EARTH CARE TIP
Even though most of us will never be entirely vegetarian, eating more of a plant-based diet is not only healthy for us but also for our planet. The global food system produces about a third of greenhouse gas emissions. 70% of those emissions in wealthy countries come from meat and dairy which also require 80% of the world's agricultural land but provide only 20% of the calories. Our biblical predecessors ate staples of bread, oil, wine, and fish, consumed dairy when available, and celebrated special occasions with meat--perhaps we should try more of the same!
OCTOBER 2023 EARTH CARE TIP
Remember back in the old days when many families had only one car? Bus and bike commuting, walking, and especially carpooling helped us get through those years and are now coming back as we consider options to limit the consumption of God's precious resources and the production of earth-warming greenhouse gases. Consider a rideshare with family or friends and enjoy the camaraderie and conversation! Please contact Reverend Choi if you would like to share your wheels on the way to Westminster through service on the Transportation Guild.
SEPTEMBER 2023 EARTH CARE TIP
To reduce greenhouse gas emissions and climate change, we need to quit burning stuff! Last year's Climate Bill offers up to $14,000 savings for new electric appliances such as induction stoves and ovens as well as heat pumps for HVAC, water heaters, and dryers. These efficient appliances do not burn fuel or produce greenhouse gases. As our grid transitions to more wind and solar, these appliances will have even more impact. When your old electric or gas appliances need replacement, update, save money, and electrify!
AUGUST 2023 EARTH CARE TIP
You can reduce the environmental impact (and often expense) of a summer vacation by giving your home AC a rest at 84 degrees, by considering a road trip or train ride rather than air travel, by walking or biking at your destination, by reusing bedding and towels during longer hotel stays, by avoiding stores and restaurants which peddle single-use plastic, and by saving dinner leftovers for lunch the next day.
JUNE 2023 EARTH CARE TIP
Long warm sunny days and dwindling spring showers will dry out our lawns soon. Smart watering promotes grass health and conserves a precious resource. Running the sprinkler for one or two hours just after dawn discourages weeds and fungi and encourages deep, well-hydrated roots. Don't water again until the grass looks dry or until you can't easily push a 6" screwdriver into the soil. Mowing the lawn higher will help keep the blades green and the roots long until summer's end.
MAY 2023 EARTH CARE TIP
Springtime resurrects our sunny green lawns, but grass often struggles to revive itself in the shade. For shady areas, consider substituting evergreen ground cover like ivy, euonymus, or pachysandra which crowd out most weeds, need occasional pruning, and require rare watering but no fertilizers. Over one to two years, pachysandra has covered the long shady bed just north of our sanctuary with a blanket of green. Although not considered invasive in Illinois, limit these robust ground covers to bordered gardens and prevent vines from climbing trees.
MARCH 2023 EARTH CARE TIP
We can help preserve creation's precious resources by teaching our children how to fix stuff instead of throwing it away. Teach a child how to sew a torn garment, re-finish scuffed furniture, or glue a broken toy. Searching online for DIY repairs almost always finds a video to show us more complicated repairs. Calling the repair shop achieves the same while fueling our local economy. Repairing that broken item saves resources, replacement cost, and landfill space and preserves the sentimental value of a cherished belonging.
FEBRUARY 2023 EARTH CARE TIP
We can help keep creation clean as we clean our clothes! Earth Breeze biodegradable detergent sheets eliminate heavy plastic jugs and wash well with cold water. Reusable wool dryer balls reduce drying time and keep clothes soft and smooth without disposable dryer sheets. Electric dryers, like electric cars, emit no climate-warming carbon dioxide, and the Climate Bill gives up to a $840 rebate for the most efficient newer ones. Even better, skip the energy-hog dryer and help clothes last longer by hanging them up to dry, either during winter near a heating vent or summer in a warm breeze.
DECEMBER 2022 EARTH CARE TIP
CHRISTMAS LIGHT RECYCLING - Last year's Christmas tree lights don't work? If simply replacing a bulb or fuse doesn't solve the problem, reclaim valuable copper, plastic, and glass by recycling them (without bags or boxes) in the top bin at the southwest corner of Westminster's West Narthex. Consider purchasing more efficient LED lights!
NOVEMBER 2022 EARTH CARE TIP
Creatively managing fall leaves helps us keep truly green landscapes both in color and environmental impact. Leaves can nourish and protect our lawns and gardens just as they mulch trees in the forest. Avoid hauling away leaves in the fall and hauling in wood chips next spring by raking leaves into garden and flower beds or into a mulch bed behind the garage. Rake enough leaves off the grass to allow some light through for photosynthesis. Grass cut a little taller in the fall can hide the remainder as they decompose.
OCTOBER 2022 EARTH CARE TIP
We have three new sustainable stores downtown. Corrine's Closet at 223 South 6th Street sells gently-used vintage and designer women's clothes, handbags, and accessories. Creative Reuse Marketplace at 122 South 4th Street sells school and craft supplies. The Keep Store at 314 East Adams sells sustainable goods and encourages refillable containers. Remember to buy local foods at our Farmers' Market on Wednesday and Saturday mornings between 3rd and 5th on Adams from May through October!
SEPTEMBER 2022 EARTH CARE TIP
Remember carrying to school reusable lunch boxes with a sandwich and fruit before all the disposable bags, single use wrappers, and processed single-serving snacks? Get green again and leave the disposables at home: choose healthy, buy in bulk, and pack that old lunch box with reusable napkins, cutlery, and containers. Please come with the kids to the Earth Care Team table on Homecoming Sunday (September 11) to show them how we can help save creation and nourish our bodies while bringing a favorite lunch to school!
AUGUST 2022 EARTH CARE TIP
When Monsanto marketed the weedkiller Roundup in 1973, promises were that soil microbes would break down the glyphosate into harmless chemicals. Unfortunately, this breakdown takes up to several months, permitting possible harm to other vegetation, wildlife, and humans. For those hard-to-pull weeds, consider dissolving as much table salt as you can into some vinegar. Spray and saturate leaves to kill most weeds in a single application, though some might need a few more shots of this green alternative.
JULY 2022 EARTH CARE TIP
When days heat up this summer, consider adding fans rather than turning on more AC. Ceiling, box, and table-top fans circulate air, help our bodies dissipate heat, and provide more comfort with less air-conditioning. In doing so, that cool breeze directed towards your bed or favorite chair will save precious resources and energy bills. A fan on the patio or deck not only cools us but also keeps away flying mosquitos without insecticide.
JUNE 2022 EARTH CARE TIP
Sometimes less is more. Rather than buying all the chemical products for spring cleaning, consider adding just a few drops of dish soap (like Joy or Dawn) into a reusable spray bottle full of vinegar. The biodegradable detergents in the soap and the natural disinfecting acid in the vinegar along with a reusable washcloth and a little elbow grease can clean floors, counters, outdoor furniture, windows, and bathroom fixtures and keep God's creation cleaner too!
MAY 2022 EARTH CARE TIP
Do I buy the big one or the small one? Larger containers do reduce packaging waste and usually reduce unit cost; however, larger containers can also encourage overconsumption or lead to food waste. Our best option is to buy large containers, watch the expiration dates, consume wisely until the last drop, and recycle the packaging as much as possible.
MARCH 2022 EARTH CARE TIP
Spring cleaning or downsizing? Others can reuse what we no longer need and, in so doing, save natural resources and space at the landfill. Get cash for gently used adult or kids clothing at Plato's Closet or Once Upon a Child. Donations to Goodwill or Salvation Army (clothes and household items), Restore (building materials, hardware, and tools), or Wooden It Be Lovely (wooden furniture) not only promotes reuse but also gives the less fortunate meaningful work and bring us a tax deduction!
FEBRUARY 2022 EARTH CARE TIP
Thank God for our miraculous information technology and telecommunications which bring the world and its knowledge to our fingertips! How can we responsibly harness ever-evolving technology without buying every new gadget and piling up mounds of e-waste? Reduce by repairing, upgrading, and updating to give new life to old devices. Reuse by repurposing (e.g., resurrect a retired iPhone as kid's Wi-Fi tablet, camera, or music player) or by donating to Computer Banc, which supplies the less fortunate. When the gadget finally gives up the ghost, Recycle it at BLH Computers.
JANUARY 2022 EARTH CARE TIP
John the Baptist requested us to give our second coat to the poor, so we can donate to Goodwill and Salvation Army those clothes supplanted by Christmas gifts. Instead of casting aside worn, damaged, or stained clothes, we can reach for the needle and thread (or outsource to our local seamstress or tailor) and remove tough stains with sage advice from wikiHow.com. Remember reusing items reduces consumption of new ones and preserves even more of God's creation than recycling them.
DECEMBER 2021 EARTH CARE TIP
Beginning in December, Westminster will recycle toothbrushes, toothbrush packages, toothpaste caps and tubes, and dental floss containers (empty and not dripping but no need to clean). We will continue to recycle Christmas lights, batteries, and ink cartridges. Look for the appropriate bin or box in the southwest corner of our West Narthex. Remember to recycle all paper, glass, metal, and plastic at the curb through your residential waste hauler.
NOVEMBER 2021 EARTH CARE TIP
The 23rd Psalm reminds us that our cup overflows, but from which earth-friendly cup should we drink? Although Styrofoam cups insulate well with low production and transportation costs, we cannot reuse or recycle them so their tiny bits end up all over creation. Ceramic mugs and glasses have the lowest environmental impact if reused hundreds of times, cleansed in the dishwasher, and left to air dry. Dedicated sippers can sup from reusable and recyclable stainless steel thermally-insulated coffee mugs (e.g., Contigo) which keep hot drinks hot, cold drinks cold, and soda fizzy all day long.
OCTOBER 2021 EARTH CARE TIP
In the kitchen, we can nourish our bodies and sustain God's creation: Cold pre-rinse dirty plates, run only a full dishwasher, turn off the heated dry, and pull the racks out to air. 38F in the fridge and 5F in the freezer are cold enough to keep food fresh. Not preheating the oven uses all the energy to cook. Most bags and foil can be reused many times prior to recycling. Well-planned grocery lists and creative leftover recipes minimize food waste while mulched food scraps bring new life to the garden.
SEPTEMBER 2021 EARTH CARE TIP
Early September is the perfect time for green thumbs to seed a lawn with summer clippings having provided enough soil nutrients, lower sun and cooler nights favoring germination, rainy days providing moisture, and eventually frost killing off the weeds. Grass planted over Labor Day will have many months to root before the stress of the next summer while the blades will remain green through early winter and will require little mowing until the spring.
AUGUST 2021 EARTH CARE TIP
Our webmaster Krista tipped us off to http://www.earthbreeze.com whose lightweight laundry detergent sheets save shipping costs, plastic packaging, and the burden of those heavy jugs. Most detergents will wash well in cold water, saving energy regardless of the brand. Line drying with solar energy on those sunny summer days (or even hanging up inside) will dramatically cut back two of our biggest energy hogs: the dryer and the AC.
JULY 2021 EARTH CARE TIP
We make about 100 times more plastic than we did in the 1960's and recycle just about 10% of it. New plastic is a plentiful and cheap byproduct from oil refineries. Using less gas and reducing, reusing, and recycling plastic will bring less to the landfill. Recycle triangles 1-5 and 7 at the curb, bring bags back to the market, and take large Styrofoam (triangle 6) to Foam Products Corporation in Maryland Heights on your next road trip to St. Louis.
JUNE 2021 EARTH CARE TIP
Some of us remember returning glass soda and milk bottles for reuse and a few cents back. Reusing is always greener than recycling, and we can still reuse some glass, like a mason jar. Even so, recycling still saves about a third of the energy to make a new glass bottle from sand. Better yet, consider an aluminum can whose recycling saves 95% of its production costs and whose light weight saves even more in transportation costs.
MAY 2021 EARTH CARE TIP
Aluminum cans are the best choice for earth-friendly beverage drinkers. Aluminum's light weight allows for less wasteful transportation, from factory to table, from table to recycler, and from recycler to factory. It cools faster in the fridge. We can recycle the aluminum in a can hundreds of times without degrading its quality. Since we have already mined most of the bauxite out our fifty states, recycling aluminum cans discourages exploitative foreign mining, and promotes our own economy!
APRIL 2021 EARTH CARE TIP
We read a newspaper for a day and yet clergy and scholars have read and reused the papyrus Dead Sea Scrolls for thousands of years! We can reduce paper consumption by substituting cloth shopping bags or electronic photos, bills, and books. If not, we can reuse documents for scrap paper, boxes for shipping again, or shredded napkins for mulch. We can use books again and again at the library or by giving to a friend. As a last resort, we can recycle paper at the curb, taking care to avoid banned grease stains. Purchasing recycled paper goods helps complete the cycle!
MARCH 2021 EARTH CARE TIP
Just as Christ gave up comfortable living and fasted during his 40 days in the wilderness, during Lent we can sacrifice a convenience or a comfort to help preserve the environment. Perhaps we could consider a walk or bike ride to a closer destination rather than hopping in the car. Perhaps we could wear a sweater and turn down the heat a bit. Even sacrificing meat on Fridays would save natural resources. During Lent if we discover that the convenience or comfort is no longer a necessity, then our seasonal sacrifice could become an everlasting routine to help care for God's Creation.
FEBRUARY 2021 EARTH CARE TIP
How do we avoid consuming God's precious forests and their capacity to reduce carbon dioxide? Buying antique furniture essentially reuses wood. Crate & Barrel sells beautiful dark wood items recycled from crates and pallets. Bamboo, which can grow up to one foot per day, provides rapidly renewable wood for many of our needs from toothbrushes to toilet paper. When buying, look for FSC wood certified by the Forest Stewardship Council to be from recycled sources or responsibly managed forests. When discarding, bring wooden furniture to a resale shop or gently-used lumber to the Habitat for Humanity ReStore.
JANUARY 2021 EARTH CARE TIP
Although the seventies leisure suits gave polyester a bad reputation, it underwent a rebirth in the eighties when it was blended with cotton to create comfortable, durable, and low-maintenance fabric. Polyester is in trouble again as the textile industry has recognized its roots in fossil fuel and its troublesome durability--decades to a couple of centuries in the landfill! When shopping the after-Christmas sales, let's consider non-iron cotton, a natural biodegradable fabric which combines wrinkle-free comfort with sustainability.
DECEMBER 2020 EARTH CARE TIP
Amidst the pandemic, we see new challenges for the environment. Consider wearing, cleaning, and reusing two-ply cloth masks to save hundreds of paper masks from the landfill. If your grocery store will only fill plastic bags, save your reusable bags for after the pandemic and recycle those plastic bags right at the grocery. As we Christmas shop online to avoid the crowds, consider a reusable gift -- here are a few dozen courtesy of a tip from Jay Kennerly: Reusable Versions of Things You Use Every Day | Reader's Digest (rd.com)
Autumn is the perfect time to plant a new tree, thereby capturing more carbon dioxide and restoring the beauty of God's creation! Cool weather and steady rains will help roots grow even though leaves will fall. During the autumn, most nurseries offer deep discounts on trees and other perennials to reduce their winter inventory. Buy, dig, plant, and look forward to healthy new growth and green foliage next spring!
AUGUST 2024 EARTH CARE TIP
Many of us enjoy fresh sweet corn during this time of year, buying directly from our local farmers. Let's remember that on Wednesday and Saturday mornings from May through October we can purchase a variety of fresh local produce at our 4th and Adams Farmer's Market downtown. Buying local supports our regional economy and saves precious resources and CO2 emissions required to ship food (which is not so fresh when it arrives!). Stop by on Wednesdays if you work downtown or ride your bike on Saturdays to save even more!
JULY 2024 EARTH CARE TIP
Is the heat wave wearing down your AC? Is your furnace a little old too? If it's that time, consider replacing both with an all-electric heat pump which pumps heat out of the house in the summer, pumps heat back into the house in the winter, costs less to run, produces less CO2, and qualifies for a 30% Climate Bill tax credit (up to $2,000).
JUNE 2024 EARTH CARE TIP
Although it's getting a little warmer on some days, perhaps we should rethink closing the home and turning on the AC until September. Now that seasonal allergens are receding, perhaps we can open the windows on cool nights and dry breezy days. Conversely, closing the windows mid-morning on still, hot, and humid days can keep cool dry comfort in the home. Even if we must turn on the AC in the afternoon heat or during heat waves, on nice days we can enjoy some fresh air, singing cicadas, and chirping birds while saving precious fuels, electric costs, and carbon emissions.
APRIL 2024 EARTH CARE TIP
Saturday April 20th from 11 AM to 3 PM at Union Station, Westminster will host a table on water conservation during the Springfield Earth Awareness Fair. Although water is God's abundant and renewable resource, only a small fraction is suitable for quenching our thirst. As we live our lives, let us reconsider our consumption and share with those who have less: a typical shower consumes half as much as a bath, washing by hand requires twice as much as the dishwasher, and running the sprinkler squirts away a 3-day supply in less than one hour.
MARCH 2024 EARTH CARE TIP
This month, Dr. Katie Carlson-Eastvold will explore the tree imagery of scripture during our Adult Education Forum, just in time for us to consider a spring planting. Trees absorb carbon dioxide, produce oxygen, stabilize soil, and shade our homes. Pine trees provide year-round privacy and home-grown mulch. Holly trees brighten the winter season. Deciduous trees provide summer shade and fall color while permitting the warmth of summer sun. Native trees survive the best and restore the natural beauty of our prairie heartland.
FEBRUARY 2024 EARTH CARE TIP
This year Westminster is recycling caps to create benches for our playground, but we can recycle caps at the curb too! Remember to screw those caps back onto the bottle so that they are efficiently sorted by machines at the recycle plant. When possible, encourage even more recycling by purchasing beverages in aluminum cans which are recycled hundreds of times versus food-grade plastic which is typically downcycled into something else once.
JANUARY 2024 EARTH CARE TIP
Is your family considering a trip south to warm up this winter? Remember some modes of transportation are greener than others, consuming less fuel and producing less CO2: travel by rail is the most earth friendly, car travel (especially with several passengers) is less so, and jet travel is the least. If tight schedules require air travel, consider counter-balancing those emissions by
donating to the Presbyterian Tree Fund through which our denomination supports reforestation and CO2 reduction.
NOVEMBER 2023 EARTH CARE TIP
Even though most of us will never be entirely vegetarian, eating more of a plant-based diet is not only healthy for us but also for our planet. The global food system produces about a third of greenhouse gas emissions. 70% of those emissions in wealthy countries come from meat and dairy which also require 80% of the world's agricultural land but provide only 20% of the calories. Our biblical predecessors ate staples of bread, oil, wine, and fish, consumed dairy when available, and celebrated special occasions with meat--perhaps we should try more of the same!
OCTOBER 2023 EARTH CARE TIP
Remember back in the old days when many families had only one car? Bus and bike commuting, walking, and especially carpooling helped us get through those years and are now coming back as we consider options to limit the consumption of God's precious resources and the production of earth-warming greenhouse gases. Consider a rideshare with family or friends and enjoy the camaraderie and conversation! Please contact Reverend Choi if you would like to share your wheels on the way to Westminster through service on the Transportation Guild.
SEPTEMBER 2023 EARTH CARE TIP
To reduce greenhouse gas emissions and climate change, we need to quit burning stuff! Last year's Climate Bill offers up to $14,000 savings for new electric appliances such as induction stoves and ovens as well as heat pumps for HVAC, water heaters, and dryers. These efficient appliances do not burn fuel or produce greenhouse gases. As our grid transitions to more wind and solar, these appliances will have even more impact. When your old electric or gas appliances need replacement, update, save money, and electrify!
AUGUST 2023 EARTH CARE TIP
You can reduce the environmental impact (and often expense) of a summer vacation by giving your home AC a rest at 84 degrees, by considering a road trip or train ride rather than air travel, by walking or biking at your destination, by reusing bedding and towels during longer hotel stays, by avoiding stores and restaurants which peddle single-use plastic, and by saving dinner leftovers for lunch the next day.
JUNE 2023 EARTH CARE TIP
Long warm sunny days and dwindling spring showers will dry out our lawns soon. Smart watering promotes grass health and conserves a precious resource. Running the sprinkler for one or two hours just after dawn discourages weeds and fungi and encourages deep, well-hydrated roots. Don't water again until the grass looks dry or until you can't easily push a 6" screwdriver into the soil. Mowing the lawn higher will help keep the blades green and the roots long until summer's end.
MAY 2023 EARTH CARE TIP
Springtime resurrects our sunny green lawns, but grass often struggles to revive itself in the shade. For shady areas, consider substituting evergreen ground cover like ivy, euonymus, or pachysandra which crowd out most weeds, need occasional pruning, and require rare watering but no fertilizers. Over one to two years, pachysandra has covered the long shady bed just north of our sanctuary with a blanket of green. Although not considered invasive in Illinois, limit these robust ground covers to bordered gardens and prevent vines from climbing trees.
MARCH 2023 EARTH CARE TIP
We can help preserve creation's precious resources by teaching our children how to fix stuff instead of throwing it away. Teach a child how to sew a torn garment, re-finish scuffed furniture, or glue a broken toy. Searching online for DIY repairs almost always finds a video to show us more complicated repairs. Calling the repair shop achieves the same while fueling our local economy. Repairing that broken item saves resources, replacement cost, and landfill space and preserves the sentimental value of a cherished belonging.
FEBRUARY 2023 EARTH CARE TIP
We can help keep creation clean as we clean our clothes! Earth Breeze biodegradable detergent sheets eliminate heavy plastic jugs and wash well with cold water. Reusable wool dryer balls reduce drying time and keep clothes soft and smooth without disposable dryer sheets. Electric dryers, like electric cars, emit no climate-warming carbon dioxide, and the Climate Bill gives up to a $840 rebate for the most efficient newer ones. Even better, skip the energy-hog dryer and help clothes last longer by hanging them up to dry, either during winter near a heating vent or summer in a warm breeze.
DECEMBER 2022 EARTH CARE TIP
CHRISTMAS LIGHT RECYCLING - Last year's Christmas tree lights don't work? If simply replacing a bulb or fuse doesn't solve the problem, reclaim valuable copper, plastic, and glass by recycling them (without bags or boxes) in the top bin at the southwest corner of Westminster's West Narthex. Consider purchasing more efficient LED lights!
NOVEMBER 2022 EARTH CARE TIP
Creatively managing fall leaves helps us keep truly green landscapes both in color and environmental impact. Leaves can nourish and protect our lawns and gardens just as they mulch trees in the forest. Avoid hauling away leaves in the fall and hauling in wood chips next spring by raking leaves into garden and flower beds or into a mulch bed behind the garage. Rake enough leaves off the grass to allow some light through for photosynthesis. Grass cut a little taller in the fall can hide the remainder as they decompose.
OCTOBER 2022 EARTH CARE TIP
We have three new sustainable stores downtown. Corrine's Closet at 223 South 6th Street sells gently-used vintage and designer women's clothes, handbags, and accessories. Creative Reuse Marketplace at 122 South 4th Street sells school and craft supplies. The Keep Store at 314 East Adams sells sustainable goods and encourages refillable containers. Remember to buy local foods at our Farmers' Market on Wednesday and Saturday mornings between 3rd and 5th on Adams from May through October!
SEPTEMBER 2022 EARTH CARE TIP
Remember carrying to school reusable lunch boxes with a sandwich and fruit before all the disposable bags, single use wrappers, and processed single-serving snacks? Get green again and leave the disposables at home: choose healthy, buy in bulk, and pack that old lunch box with reusable napkins, cutlery, and containers. Please come with the kids to the Earth Care Team table on Homecoming Sunday (September 11) to show them how we can help save creation and nourish our bodies while bringing a favorite lunch to school!
AUGUST 2022 EARTH CARE TIP
When Monsanto marketed the weedkiller Roundup in 1973, promises were that soil microbes would break down the glyphosate into harmless chemicals. Unfortunately, this breakdown takes up to several months, permitting possible harm to other vegetation, wildlife, and humans. For those hard-to-pull weeds, consider dissolving as much table salt as you can into some vinegar. Spray and saturate leaves to kill most weeds in a single application, though some might need a few more shots of this green alternative.
JULY 2022 EARTH CARE TIP
When days heat up this summer, consider adding fans rather than turning on more AC. Ceiling, box, and table-top fans circulate air, help our bodies dissipate heat, and provide more comfort with less air-conditioning. In doing so, that cool breeze directed towards your bed or favorite chair will save precious resources and energy bills. A fan on the patio or deck not only cools us but also keeps away flying mosquitos without insecticide.
JUNE 2022 EARTH CARE TIP
Sometimes less is more. Rather than buying all the chemical products for spring cleaning, consider adding just a few drops of dish soap (like Joy or Dawn) into a reusable spray bottle full of vinegar. The biodegradable detergents in the soap and the natural disinfecting acid in the vinegar along with a reusable washcloth and a little elbow grease can clean floors, counters, outdoor furniture, windows, and bathroom fixtures and keep God's creation cleaner too!
MAY 2022 EARTH CARE TIP
Do I buy the big one or the small one? Larger containers do reduce packaging waste and usually reduce unit cost; however, larger containers can also encourage overconsumption or lead to food waste. Our best option is to buy large containers, watch the expiration dates, consume wisely until the last drop, and recycle the packaging as much as possible.
MARCH 2022 EARTH CARE TIP
Spring cleaning or downsizing? Others can reuse what we no longer need and, in so doing, save natural resources and space at the landfill. Get cash for gently used adult or kids clothing at Plato's Closet or Once Upon a Child. Donations to Goodwill or Salvation Army (clothes and household items), Restore (building materials, hardware, and tools), or Wooden It Be Lovely (wooden furniture) not only promotes reuse but also gives the less fortunate meaningful work and bring us a tax deduction!
FEBRUARY 2022 EARTH CARE TIP
Thank God for our miraculous information technology and telecommunications which bring the world and its knowledge to our fingertips! How can we responsibly harness ever-evolving technology without buying every new gadget and piling up mounds of e-waste? Reduce by repairing, upgrading, and updating to give new life to old devices. Reuse by repurposing (e.g., resurrect a retired iPhone as kid's Wi-Fi tablet, camera, or music player) or by donating to Computer Banc, which supplies the less fortunate. When the gadget finally gives up the ghost, Recycle it at BLH Computers.
JANUARY 2022 EARTH CARE TIP
John the Baptist requested us to give our second coat to the poor, so we can donate to Goodwill and Salvation Army those clothes supplanted by Christmas gifts. Instead of casting aside worn, damaged, or stained clothes, we can reach for the needle and thread (or outsource to our local seamstress or tailor) and remove tough stains with sage advice from wikiHow.com. Remember reusing items reduces consumption of new ones and preserves even more of God's creation than recycling them.
DECEMBER 2021 EARTH CARE TIP
Beginning in December, Westminster will recycle toothbrushes, toothbrush packages, toothpaste caps and tubes, and dental floss containers (empty and not dripping but no need to clean). We will continue to recycle Christmas lights, batteries, and ink cartridges. Look for the appropriate bin or box in the southwest corner of our West Narthex. Remember to recycle all paper, glass, metal, and plastic at the curb through your residential waste hauler.
NOVEMBER 2021 EARTH CARE TIP
The 23rd Psalm reminds us that our cup overflows, but from which earth-friendly cup should we drink? Although Styrofoam cups insulate well with low production and transportation costs, we cannot reuse or recycle them so their tiny bits end up all over creation. Ceramic mugs and glasses have the lowest environmental impact if reused hundreds of times, cleansed in the dishwasher, and left to air dry. Dedicated sippers can sup from reusable and recyclable stainless steel thermally-insulated coffee mugs (e.g., Contigo) which keep hot drinks hot, cold drinks cold, and soda fizzy all day long.
OCTOBER 2021 EARTH CARE TIP
In the kitchen, we can nourish our bodies and sustain God's creation: Cold pre-rinse dirty plates, run only a full dishwasher, turn off the heated dry, and pull the racks out to air. 38F in the fridge and 5F in the freezer are cold enough to keep food fresh. Not preheating the oven uses all the energy to cook. Most bags and foil can be reused many times prior to recycling. Well-planned grocery lists and creative leftover recipes minimize food waste while mulched food scraps bring new life to the garden.
SEPTEMBER 2021 EARTH CARE TIP
Early September is the perfect time for green thumbs to seed a lawn with summer clippings having provided enough soil nutrients, lower sun and cooler nights favoring germination, rainy days providing moisture, and eventually frost killing off the weeds. Grass planted over Labor Day will have many months to root before the stress of the next summer while the blades will remain green through early winter and will require little mowing until the spring.
AUGUST 2021 EARTH CARE TIP
Our webmaster Krista tipped us off to http://www.earthbreeze.com whose lightweight laundry detergent sheets save shipping costs, plastic packaging, and the burden of those heavy jugs. Most detergents will wash well in cold water, saving energy regardless of the brand. Line drying with solar energy on those sunny summer days (or even hanging up inside) will dramatically cut back two of our biggest energy hogs: the dryer and the AC.
JULY 2021 EARTH CARE TIP
We make about 100 times more plastic than we did in the 1960's and recycle just about 10% of it. New plastic is a plentiful and cheap byproduct from oil refineries. Using less gas and reducing, reusing, and recycling plastic will bring less to the landfill. Recycle triangles 1-5 and 7 at the curb, bring bags back to the market, and take large Styrofoam (triangle 6) to Foam Products Corporation in Maryland Heights on your next road trip to St. Louis.
JUNE 2021 EARTH CARE TIP
Some of us remember returning glass soda and milk bottles for reuse and a few cents back. Reusing is always greener than recycling, and we can still reuse some glass, like a mason jar. Even so, recycling still saves about a third of the energy to make a new glass bottle from sand. Better yet, consider an aluminum can whose recycling saves 95% of its production costs and whose light weight saves even more in transportation costs.
MAY 2021 EARTH CARE TIP
Aluminum cans are the best choice for earth-friendly beverage drinkers. Aluminum's light weight allows for less wasteful transportation, from factory to table, from table to recycler, and from recycler to factory. It cools faster in the fridge. We can recycle the aluminum in a can hundreds of times without degrading its quality. Since we have already mined most of the bauxite out our fifty states, recycling aluminum cans discourages exploitative foreign mining, and promotes our own economy!
APRIL 2021 EARTH CARE TIP
We read a newspaper for a day and yet clergy and scholars have read and reused the papyrus Dead Sea Scrolls for thousands of years! We can reduce paper consumption by substituting cloth shopping bags or electronic photos, bills, and books. If not, we can reuse documents for scrap paper, boxes for shipping again, or shredded napkins for mulch. We can use books again and again at the library or by giving to a friend. As a last resort, we can recycle paper at the curb, taking care to avoid banned grease stains. Purchasing recycled paper goods helps complete the cycle!
MARCH 2021 EARTH CARE TIP
Just as Christ gave up comfortable living and fasted during his 40 days in the wilderness, during Lent we can sacrifice a convenience or a comfort to help preserve the environment. Perhaps we could consider a walk or bike ride to a closer destination rather than hopping in the car. Perhaps we could wear a sweater and turn down the heat a bit. Even sacrificing meat on Fridays would save natural resources. During Lent if we discover that the convenience or comfort is no longer a necessity, then our seasonal sacrifice could become an everlasting routine to help care for God's Creation.
FEBRUARY 2021 EARTH CARE TIP
How do we avoid consuming God's precious forests and their capacity to reduce carbon dioxide? Buying antique furniture essentially reuses wood. Crate & Barrel sells beautiful dark wood items recycled from crates and pallets. Bamboo, which can grow up to one foot per day, provides rapidly renewable wood for many of our needs from toothbrushes to toilet paper. When buying, look for FSC wood certified by the Forest Stewardship Council to be from recycled sources or responsibly managed forests. When discarding, bring wooden furniture to a resale shop or gently-used lumber to the Habitat for Humanity ReStore.
JANUARY 2021 EARTH CARE TIP
Although the seventies leisure suits gave polyester a bad reputation, it underwent a rebirth in the eighties when it was blended with cotton to create comfortable, durable, and low-maintenance fabric. Polyester is in trouble again as the textile industry has recognized its roots in fossil fuel and its troublesome durability--decades to a couple of centuries in the landfill! When shopping the after-Christmas sales, let's consider non-iron cotton, a natural biodegradable fabric which combines wrinkle-free comfort with sustainability.
DECEMBER 2020 EARTH CARE TIP
Amidst the pandemic, we see new challenges for the environment. Consider wearing, cleaning, and reusing two-ply cloth masks to save hundreds of paper masks from the landfill. If your grocery store will only fill plastic bags, save your reusable bags for after the pandemic and recycle those plastic bags right at the grocery. As we Christmas shop online to avoid the crowds, consider a reusable gift -- here are a few dozen courtesy of a tip from Jay Kennerly: Reusable Versions of Things You Use Every Day | Reader's Digest (rd.com)
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NOVEMBER 2020 EARTH CARE TIP
Fall is the perfect time to put the car to rest and to get out the bike for the sake of cleaner air, personal fitness, and a little outdoor break from shelter-in-place. Cooler and dryer weather permits comfortable commuting in street clothes rather than all the Lycra and Spandex. Consider a ride to Westminster and lock up to our new bicycle rack constructed from recycled plastic! |
OCTOBER 2020 EARTH CARE TIP
Even without solar panels on our roofs, we can harvest God's gift of solar energy. Opening southern blinds can warm a home on cool sunny days. Leaving laundry out to dry gives the energy-hog dryer a rest. Tending a garden is a way for agriculture to capture solar energy for our bodies. If your family needs more clean energy, subscribe to mySolar through which we can pay a reasonable surcharge for kilowatts generated at CWLP's solar farm northwest of Springfield.
SEPTEMBER 2020 EARTH CARE TIP
Looking for new ways to care for God's creation? Mighty Nest (www.mightynest.com) offers green alternatives with household items. Blueland (www.blueland.com) sells tap water soluble tablets and reusable bottles to reduce harmful chemicals, shipping costs, and plastic waste associated with cleaning solutions. Terracycle (www.terracycle.com) helps recycle many difficult disposables including pens, razors, toothbrushes, and even guitar strings.
AUGUST 2020 EARTH CARE TIP
Energy-efficient laundry can clean up the air too! "Cold Wash" then "Cold Rinse" usually cleans clothes efficiently with less fading. Drying clothes in the backyard on the clothesline captures solar energy whereas a dryer consumes a lot of electricity or gas and, in summertime, makes the AC consume even more energy. If we do use a dryer, we could hang-dry the shirts and avoid the need for an iron. Skip the Bounce and toss in a reusable tennis ball to reduce wrinkling, static cling, and dryer time!
JULY 2020 EARTH CARE TIP
Do you like getting more for the same price? Once you reach the bottom of a container get more out of each tube of toothpaste by cutting and rolling it, more out of each detergent or shampoo bottle by diluting and shaking it, and more out of each food jar by wiping the sides with a rubber spatula. Even better, buy products in large containers which leads to relatively less packaging and waste at the bottom. Of course, reuse or recycle that container after you get the last drop!
JUNE 2020 EARTH CARE TIP
Are you washing a few more dishes since all the restaurants closed? Dishwashers are actually greener than washing by hand since so much hot water can go down the drain. To save even more energy, rinse the dishes in cold water prior to stacking and run only full loads. Cancel the heated dry cycle and instead pull out the racks for a few minutes to air dry the dishes which saves energy to the heating element and to the kitchen AC!
MAY 2020 EARTH CARE TIP
Are we feeling cooped up yet in quarantine? Let us remember that we can maintain proper social distance even while taking a walk in the park! Although Springfield playgrounds, park bathrooms, dog parks, and golf courses are closed due to the pandemic, park trails and green spaces are open. Walking, running, biking or even yoga in the outdoors can alleviate stress, promote meaningful exercise, and foster our connection with God's creation.
APRIL 2020 EARTH CARE TIP
Perhaps social distancing and a few weeks at home will give us opportunities for some green spring cleaning! If we are downsizing good stuff stashed in the garage or basement, we can share treasures no longer needed: donate clothes and small items/appliances to Goodwill or Salvation Army, give tools/large appliances/construction materials to Habitat ReStore, or post for free almost anything else on Craigslist. We could sort now and deliver or schedule pickup after businesses reopen. Reusing our stuff becomes an opportunity to give, reduces trash in landfills, avoids the costs of recycling, and preserves natural resources.
MARCH 2020 EARTH CARE TIP
Fortunately, most of us can recycle the majority of our waste each week at the curb. Remember to rinse plastic containers and replace the caps. Flatten boxes prior to putting them in the bin. Even empty aerosol cans can be recycled for the metal. Grocery stores help recycle most plastic bags. Heavily soiled paper should be mulched. Keep Styrofoam until your next visit to St. Louis where it can be recycled. For anything else check out Springfield's "Room-to-Room Guide to Household Reuse and Recycling" (available online or from Public Works).
FEBRUARY 2020 EARTH CARE TIP
Most of us know the three R's of earth-friendly consumerism: reduce consumption if we can, reuse products that we must have, and recycle those that we discard. Now we can add two more: refuse that free single-use plastic straw, cup, or bag (which encourages vendors to think green) and repair rather than discard broken items (which not only reduces waste but also supports the American service industry). Although we love to recycle, usually one of the other R's is a better choice for God's creation.
JANUARY 2020 EARTH CARE TIP
In hot water with the utility bills? We can save money and energy with how we heat and use hot water. Lowering the temperature to 120 degrees is better for the bank account and safer for the kids. A hot water heater blanket conserves energy (especially in a cold basement or garage). Low-flow shower heads get the job done with less water. Time for replacement or upgrade? Tankless water heaters last longer and recoup their higher cost within a few years.
DECEMBER 2019 EARTH CARE TIP
With cold weather already here, let us remember to winterize for optimal energy efficiency and comfort. Consider a programmable thermostat with lower temperatures while asleep or not home. Door sweeps and weather stripping help fill the gaps which bring as much cold as a two-inch hole in a door. For a drafty chimney, consider an insulated Flueblocker.
NOVEMBER 2019 EARTH CARE TIP
"I think that I shall never see, a poem as lovely as a tree," praised poet Joyce Kilmer a century ago, but did he rake and bag the leaves? Reduce your work, reduce hauling costs, save soil nutrients, and repurpose the leaves into free mulch! Grind them up with your lawn mower to dime-sized pieces that fall between the blades, winterize perennial beds with smaller leaves, or stir leaves into your compost pile to create more nourishing mulch for springtime. Consider collecting leaves with an eco-friendly "push leaf sweeper" which saves arms tired from the rake and ears tired of the blower.
OCTOBER 2019 EARTH CARE TIP
How about saving cash and God's creation as you clean? Vinegar (acidic cleaner and disinfectant) and a few drops of Dawn (biodegradable detergent) in a spray bottle can clean many household surfaces. With this simple green cleaning solution and no paper towels, we can scrub the tubs and toilets with a microfiber rag, wipe mirrors with a dry washcloth, or clean windows with a squeegee.
SEPTEMBER 2019 EARTH CARE TIP
As we prepare for another school year, let's consider how to pack an Eco-Friendly Lunch. By avoiding individually wrapped foods, using reusable containers, buying foods grown locally and in season, including less meat, abstaining from bottled water, and bringing home recyclables and compostables, we can eat lunches which both nourish our bodies and sustain God's creation!
AUGUST 2019 EARTH CARE TIP
What do we do with all those spent toothbrushes? Unfortunately, trashed brushes go to the landfill forever while most recyclers toss them into the trash bin anyway. Perhaps we can reduce plastic waste by purchasing a bamboo brush or using our plastic one a little longer. Certainly we could reuse a spent toothbrush for other household tasks such as scrubbing small spots out of the carpet or applying shoe polish. As a last resort we could recycle through Colgate/TerraCycle (who will pay for shipping to recycle any brand of toothbrush, toothpaste tube, or dental floss container).
JULY 2019 EARTH CARE TIP
Vinegar is a natural acidic product of plant fermentation with a miraculous potential to replace harsh chemicals for many household purposes including disinfecting bathroom and kitchen surfaces, killing insects, removing ink stains, and washing windows. A spray bottle with vinegar in the home can help save dollars at the supermarket and keep our waters clean.
JUNE 2019 EARTH CARE TIP
"O God our help in ages past, our hope in years in years to come" begins one of our favorite hymns of inspiration. Amidst all the gloom and doom regarding climate change, we have hope in sustaining God's creation! CWLP has plans now to move towards greener and cleaner energy as coal generators near retirement. Illinois currently generates 8% of its electricity from wind while much more is coming. Germany can now generate the majority of its electricity from renewable sources and for brief period last year covered all of its consumption with sustainable energy!
MAY 2019 EARTH CARE TIP
WPC is one of the only places in town that accepts both rechargeable and single-use batteries for recycling! Since reusing is better than recycling, for frequently-used electronics consider replacing single-use AAA, AA, D, or C cells with rechargeable batteries. The batteries and recharger will soon pay for themselves, will last for years, and can eventually be recycled too!
APRIL 2019 EARTH CARE TIP
China’s recent restriction on recycling the world’s paper, plastic, and glass unfortunately has diverted some of these commodities to landfills and polluting incinerators. This recycling crisis reminds us that reducing our consumption and reusing what we buy are greener alternatives to using once then recycling. For example, let us read on a screen what we could have printed and let us reuse the backside of what we printed for scrap!
MARCH 2019 EARTH CARE TIP
As we approach the season of Lent and remember how Christ lived simply in the wilderness for forty days, let us consider how we might begin new routines dedicated to simplicity and environmental stewardship, such as eating less meat, giving up disposable tableware, or starting a compost pile.
FEBRUARY 2019 EARTH CARE TIP
Recently oceanographers discovered a discarded plastic bag on the deepest floor of the Pacific! To reduce the trillions of single-use plastic bags in the world, California outlawed them in 2016 and Illinois is considering legislation to limit their use. We can show our love for creation by reusing Westminster’s shopping bags or by recycling plastic bags at the grocery.
JANUARY 2019 EARTH CARE TIP
If you put up a real Christmas tree this year, Springfield crews will pick it up curbside starting 7 AM January 7th to repurpose it for mulch. Hold on to your artificial tree as long as possible! After its 23rd year, a plastic tree becomes “greener” than growing, cutting, transporting, and mulching a real one every year.
DECEMBER 2018 EARTH CARE TIP
Last year's Christmas tree lights don't work? If simply replacing a bulb or fuse doesn't solve the problem, reclaim valuable copper, plastic, and glass by recycling them (without bags or boxes) in the top bin at the southwest corner of Westminster's West Narthex. Next time, consider purchasing more efficient and long-lasting LED lights!
NOVEMBER 2018 EARTH CARE TIP
Are you ready for the winter cold? Annual maintenance of your furnace keeps it efficient and staves off costly repairs and replacement. Check doors and windows for drafts and replace weather stripping to keep cozy and to prevent losing precious heat. A programmable thermostat can substantially reduce energy costs by giving your furnace a rest while you are not at home or while you sleep under an electric blanket.
SUMMER 2018 EARTH CARE TIP
Are the dog days of summer starting to brown your green grass? You can easily push a screwdriver several inches into a lawn with enough water. Save time, conserve precious water, and improve lawn health by running the sprinkler for about an hour once a week at dawn. More frequent watering encourages weeds and disease while much of afternoon sprinkling ends up evaporating.
MAY 2018 EARTH CARE TIP
Need a new lawnmower and looking for some exercise in God’s Creation? Consider the old-fashioned push reel mowers which are making a comeback to help conserve energy and to help shrink waistlines. Cut the grass at 3” and leave the clippings to conserve water and nutrients!
APRIL 2018 EARTH CARE TIP
From biblical times, gardeners have reused food scraps in compost to nourish their plants. Compost is real plant food and greatly reduces food waste and the need for fertilizer! Just mix any leftover edibles about 1:1 with other compostables (leaves, yard waste, paper products, etc.). Chopping, frequent stirring, and moisture will help create “black gold” within a few weeks.
Earth Care Team: Dr. Peter Kieffer, Keith Hamilton, Charlie King, Becky McDonald, Lynn McMenamin, Maribeth Norton, Susan Shaw, Brad Steller
Get involved: See our bulletin board for ways to be environmentally conscious! If you are interested in joining our Earth Care Team, we would love to hear from you.
Even without solar panels on our roofs, we can harvest God's gift of solar energy. Opening southern blinds can warm a home on cool sunny days. Leaving laundry out to dry gives the energy-hog dryer a rest. Tending a garden is a way for agriculture to capture solar energy for our bodies. If your family needs more clean energy, subscribe to mySolar through which we can pay a reasonable surcharge for kilowatts generated at CWLP's solar farm northwest of Springfield.
SEPTEMBER 2020 EARTH CARE TIP
Looking for new ways to care for God's creation? Mighty Nest (www.mightynest.com) offers green alternatives with household items. Blueland (www.blueland.com) sells tap water soluble tablets and reusable bottles to reduce harmful chemicals, shipping costs, and plastic waste associated with cleaning solutions. Terracycle (www.terracycle.com) helps recycle many difficult disposables including pens, razors, toothbrushes, and even guitar strings.
AUGUST 2020 EARTH CARE TIP
Energy-efficient laundry can clean up the air too! "Cold Wash" then "Cold Rinse" usually cleans clothes efficiently with less fading. Drying clothes in the backyard on the clothesline captures solar energy whereas a dryer consumes a lot of electricity or gas and, in summertime, makes the AC consume even more energy. If we do use a dryer, we could hang-dry the shirts and avoid the need for an iron. Skip the Bounce and toss in a reusable tennis ball to reduce wrinkling, static cling, and dryer time!
JULY 2020 EARTH CARE TIP
Do you like getting more for the same price? Once you reach the bottom of a container get more out of each tube of toothpaste by cutting and rolling it, more out of each detergent or shampoo bottle by diluting and shaking it, and more out of each food jar by wiping the sides with a rubber spatula. Even better, buy products in large containers which leads to relatively less packaging and waste at the bottom. Of course, reuse or recycle that container after you get the last drop!
JUNE 2020 EARTH CARE TIP
Are you washing a few more dishes since all the restaurants closed? Dishwashers are actually greener than washing by hand since so much hot water can go down the drain. To save even more energy, rinse the dishes in cold water prior to stacking and run only full loads. Cancel the heated dry cycle and instead pull out the racks for a few minutes to air dry the dishes which saves energy to the heating element and to the kitchen AC!
MAY 2020 EARTH CARE TIP
Are we feeling cooped up yet in quarantine? Let us remember that we can maintain proper social distance even while taking a walk in the park! Although Springfield playgrounds, park bathrooms, dog parks, and golf courses are closed due to the pandemic, park trails and green spaces are open. Walking, running, biking or even yoga in the outdoors can alleviate stress, promote meaningful exercise, and foster our connection with God's creation.
APRIL 2020 EARTH CARE TIP
Perhaps social distancing and a few weeks at home will give us opportunities for some green spring cleaning! If we are downsizing good stuff stashed in the garage or basement, we can share treasures no longer needed: donate clothes and small items/appliances to Goodwill or Salvation Army, give tools/large appliances/construction materials to Habitat ReStore, or post for free almost anything else on Craigslist. We could sort now and deliver or schedule pickup after businesses reopen. Reusing our stuff becomes an opportunity to give, reduces trash in landfills, avoids the costs of recycling, and preserves natural resources.
MARCH 2020 EARTH CARE TIP
Fortunately, most of us can recycle the majority of our waste each week at the curb. Remember to rinse plastic containers and replace the caps. Flatten boxes prior to putting them in the bin. Even empty aerosol cans can be recycled for the metal. Grocery stores help recycle most plastic bags. Heavily soiled paper should be mulched. Keep Styrofoam until your next visit to St. Louis where it can be recycled. For anything else check out Springfield's "Room-to-Room Guide to Household Reuse and Recycling" (available online or from Public Works).
FEBRUARY 2020 EARTH CARE TIP
Most of us know the three R's of earth-friendly consumerism: reduce consumption if we can, reuse products that we must have, and recycle those that we discard. Now we can add two more: refuse that free single-use plastic straw, cup, or bag (which encourages vendors to think green) and repair rather than discard broken items (which not only reduces waste but also supports the American service industry). Although we love to recycle, usually one of the other R's is a better choice for God's creation.
JANUARY 2020 EARTH CARE TIP
In hot water with the utility bills? We can save money and energy with how we heat and use hot water. Lowering the temperature to 120 degrees is better for the bank account and safer for the kids. A hot water heater blanket conserves energy (especially in a cold basement or garage). Low-flow shower heads get the job done with less water. Time for replacement or upgrade? Tankless water heaters last longer and recoup their higher cost within a few years.
DECEMBER 2019 EARTH CARE TIP
With cold weather already here, let us remember to winterize for optimal energy efficiency and comfort. Consider a programmable thermostat with lower temperatures while asleep or not home. Door sweeps and weather stripping help fill the gaps which bring as much cold as a two-inch hole in a door. For a drafty chimney, consider an insulated Flueblocker.
NOVEMBER 2019 EARTH CARE TIP
"I think that I shall never see, a poem as lovely as a tree," praised poet Joyce Kilmer a century ago, but did he rake and bag the leaves? Reduce your work, reduce hauling costs, save soil nutrients, and repurpose the leaves into free mulch! Grind them up with your lawn mower to dime-sized pieces that fall between the blades, winterize perennial beds with smaller leaves, or stir leaves into your compost pile to create more nourishing mulch for springtime. Consider collecting leaves with an eco-friendly "push leaf sweeper" which saves arms tired from the rake and ears tired of the blower.
OCTOBER 2019 EARTH CARE TIP
How about saving cash and God's creation as you clean? Vinegar (acidic cleaner and disinfectant) and a few drops of Dawn (biodegradable detergent) in a spray bottle can clean many household surfaces. With this simple green cleaning solution and no paper towels, we can scrub the tubs and toilets with a microfiber rag, wipe mirrors with a dry washcloth, or clean windows with a squeegee.
SEPTEMBER 2019 EARTH CARE TIP
As we prepare for another school year, let's consider how to pack an Eco-Friendly Lunch. By avoiding individually wrapped foods, using reusable containers, buying foods grown locally and in season, including less meat, abstaining from bottled water, and bringing home recyclables and compostables, we can eat lunches which both nourish our bodies and sustain God's creation!
AUGUST 2019 EARTH CARE TIP
What do we do with all those spent toothbrushes? Unfortunately, trashed brushes go to the landfill forever while most recyclers toss them into the trash bin anyway. Perhaps we can reduce plastic waste by purchasing a bamboo brush or using our plastic one a little longer. Certainly we could reuse a spent toothbrush for other household tasks such as scrubbing small spots out of the carpet or applying shoe polish. As a last resort we could recycle through Colgate/TerraCycle (who will pay for shipping to recycle any brand of toothbrush, toothpaste tube, or dental floss container).
JULY 2019 EARTH CARE TIP
Vinegar is a natural acidic product of plant fermentation with a miraculous potential to replace harsh chemicals for many household purposes including disinfecting bathroom and kitchen surfaces, killing insects, removing ink stains, and washing windows. A spray bottle with vinegar in the home can help save dollars at the supermarket and keep our waters clean.
JUNE 2019 EARTH CARE TIP
"O God our help in ages past, our hope in years in years to come" begins one of our favorite hymns of inspiration. Amidst all the gloom and doom regarding climate change, we have hope in sustaining God's creation! CWLP has plans now to move towards greener and cleaner energy as coal generators near retirement. Illinois currently generates 8% of its electricity from wind while much more is coming. Germany can now generate the majority of its electricity from renewable sources and for brief period last year covered all of its consumption with sustainable energy!
MAY 2019 EARTH CARE TIP
WPC is one of the only places in town that accepts both rechargeable and single-use batteries for recycling! Since reusing is better than recycling, for frequently-used electronics consider replacing single-use AAA, AA, D, or C cells with rechargeable batteries. The batteries and recharger will soon pay for themselves, will last for years, and can eventually be recycled too!
APRIL 2019 EARTH CARE TIP
China’s recent restriction on recycling the world’s paper, plastic, and glass unfortunately has diverted some of these commodities to landfills and polluting incinerators. This recycling crisis reminds us that reducing our consumption and reusing what we buy are greener alternatives to using once then recycling. For example, let us read on a screen what we could have printed and let us reuse the backside of what we printed for scrap!
MARCH 2019 EARTH CARE TIP
As we approach the season of Lent and remember how Christ lived simply in the wilderness for forty days, let us consider how we might begin new routines dedicated to simplicity and environmental stewardship, such as eating less meat, giving up disposable tableware, or starting a compost pile.
FEBRUARY 2019 EARTH CARE TIP
Recently oceanographers discovered a discarded plastic bag on the deepest floor of the Pacific! To reduce the trillions of single-use plastic bags in the world, California outlawed them in 2016 and Illinois is considering legislation to limit their use. We can show our love for creation by reusing Westminster’s shopping bags or by recycling plastic bags at the grocery.
JANUARY 2019 EARTH CARE TIP
If you put up a real Christmas tree this year, Springfield crews will pick it up curbside starting 7 AM January 7th to repurpose it for mulch. Hold on to your artificial tree as long as possible! After its 23rd year, a plastic tree becomes “greener” than growing, cutting, transporting, and mulching a real one every year.
DECEMBER 2018 EARTH CARE TIP
Last year's Christmas tree lights don't work? If simply replacing a bulb or fuse doesn't solve the problem, reclaim valuable copper, plastic, and glass by recycling them (without bags or boxes) in the top bin at the southwest corner of Westminster's West Narthex. Next time, consider purchasing more efficient and long-lasting LED lights!
NOVEMBER 2018 EARTH CARE TIP
Are you ready for the winter cold? Annual maintenance of your furnace keeps it efficient and staves off costly repairs and replacement. Check doors and windows for drafts and replace weather stripping to keep cozy and to prevent losing precious heat. A programmable thermostat can substantially reduce energy costs by giving your furnace a rest while you are not at home or while you sleep under an electric blanket.
SUMMER 2018 EARTH CARE TIP
Are the dog days of summer starting to brown your green grass? You can easily push a screwdriver several inches into a lawn with enough water. Save time, conserve precious water, and improve lawn health by running the sprinkler for about an hour once a week at dawn. More frequent watering encourages weeds and disease while much of afternoon sprinkling ends up evaporating.
MAY 2018 EARTH CARE TIP
Need a new lawnmower and looking for some exercise in God’s Creation? Consider the old-fashioned push reel mowers which are making a comeback to help conserve energy and to help shrink waistlines. Cut the grass at 3” and leave the clippings to conserve water and nutrients!
APRIL 2018 EARTH CARE TIP
From biblical times, gardeners have reused food scraps in compost to nourish their plants. Compost is real plant food and greatly reduces food waste and the need for fertilizer! Just mix any leftover edibles about 1:1 with other compostables (leaves, yard waste, paper products, etc.). Chopping, frequent stirring, and moisture will help create “black gold” within a few weeks.
Earth Care Team: Dr. Peter Kieffer, Keith Hamilton, Charlie King, Becky McDonald, Lynn McMenamin, Maribeth Norton, Susan Shaw, Brad Steller
Get involved: See our bulletin board for ways to be environmentally conscious! If you are interested in joining our Earth Care Team, we would love to hear from you.
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