Faith & the Environment – How big is your Footprint?
January 19, 2007
As I said in yesterday’s sermon, I have a pretty big footprint! My carbon footprint is rather large, I think. According to this website, if everyone on the earth lived as I lived we would need 5.8 earths to sustain us! So, this week I’m reducing my carbon footprint. What about you? How big is your footprint?
As our worship series on “Faith & the Environment” wraps up this Sunday, what have you learned about yourself, your faith & your impact on the environment? What changes have you made in your own personal life? I hope that as we anticipate the beginning of Advent in a few weeks, we’ll continue to challenge one another in our care for our earth.
Happy Thanksgiving!
LeAnn
Posted in Faith and the Environment
November 20th, 2007 at 10:13 am
LeAnn,
Thanks for the sermon and link to the carbon footprint website. I thought I was totally green, but it would take 3.5 earths if everyone lived like I did. I noticed one reason for my large footprint was my food habits. We often do not think about how many miles our food travels (sometimes from South America or China) because we demand all foods at all times during the year. Eating seasonally from local farmers reduces our carbon footprint. I urge everyone to read Barbra Kingsolverís Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. It is a non-fiction account about a family in rural Virginia who attempts to eat food locally for a whole year. Granted, it would be extremely difficult for any of us to eat all of our food locally, but we can be more committed to buying local produce and even growing some of our own food. I would also love to see Peachtree host a local Georgia Farmerís Market in our church parking lot. Another idea would be to start growing some herbs and other container crops on our church grounds for use in our Wednesday night suppers. Here is a great website on how to eat more locally in the Atlanta Metro area: http://www.georgiaorganics.org/ Just some ìfoodî for thought!
November 27th, 2007 at 11:57 am
Thank God women speak at Peachtree. They have a lot to say and I’m a richer Christian for the experience! And my name is on that comment. Now, if we can get back on point, I haven’t had a chance to check my footprint yet, but will soon. But the Green Team is moving forward with many initiatives, embracing God’s command to care for his creation. An energy audit has been completed, a section of Briarcliff Rd. has been adopted by the Peachtree Baptist Church Green Team so that we can have a visible impact on our surrounding community, and other projects are in the works. The Web site looks great!
November 30th, 2007 at 12:38 pm
Hi!
Here’s an article I came across and wanted to share. I have included the link to the article in case my formatting is weird…I have never posted on a blog before!!
Merry Christmas,
Heather
http://green.yahoo.com/blog/greenpicks/46/oh-christmas-tree-oh-green-christmas-tree.html
Oh Christmas tree, oh green Christmas tree?
By Trystan L. Bass | Posted Mon Nov 26, 2007 1:21pm PST
Nothing says “Christmas” like the smell of pine in your living room on a winter morning! But is that smell really “green” or is it bad for the planet? Is it more environmentally responsible to buy a fake tree and use it year after year? What about keeping a live tree for Christmas? Let’s look at the options one by one.
If you want a tree for the holiday, the experts at Grist and TreeHugger say it’s actually better to buy a cut real Christmas tree than an artificial tree.
Why? In a word, plastics. Fake trees are made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Producing this type of plastic creates a lot of pollution, and PVC is difficult to recycle.
Plus, lead has been found in PVC. According to a report (PDF) in the Journal of Environmental Health, lead levels are higher in older artificial trees. You’ve probably heard about lead in children’s toys, so just imagine the kiddos hanging around lead-tainted branches of your fake Christmas tree. Not a merry scene.
Farmed Christmas trees are ultimately a renewable resource. Growing trees absorb carbon dioxide, and after the holidays, the trees can be recycled into mulch. Check Earth 911 to see where to take your dead tree after the 25th.
What about a live tree? This is often promoted as the ultimate eco-friendly holiday option. Well, it’s not that simple. First, you have to live in the right climate to plant a tree after Christmas. If the ground is frozen outside, you can’t do it.
Then, you can only keep a live tree indoors for a few days, either 4 to 10, depending on the type of tree. You can’t have this tree up after Thanksgiving and around till New Years, or you’ll kill it.
Some types of live trees can be kept outside in containers for a year or two. Others grow fast and must be planted in the ground sooner. Either way, this isn’t a long-term solution to your Christmas decorations — what do you do the following year? Pretty soon, the tree won’t fit in the house.
Also, you must carefully consider how much space you have in your yard to plant trees. Remember, these trees may grow up to 60-feet tall.
So, the most practical solution for earth-friendly folks who celebrate Christmas is to look for a locally grown tree. Ask if the farm uses integrated pest management instead of tons of chemicals.
If you can, find a cut-your-own Christmas tree farm. It’s good family fun too.