EarthCare
EarthCare at UCP
We at Unity Center of Peace have adopted Unity’s EarthCare Initiative with enthusiasm. If you would like to contribute to our mission or become a member of the UCP Earthcare Team please email Cheryl Stevens at . We welcome your inspired ideas for how we can become more earth-friendly. For more details on our Earthcare Ministry Team GO HERE.
After the team was launched in September 2019, we dedicated that entire month to the idea of “Loving Our Planet” and wove talks and presentations around this topic. The month ended with an EarthCare Covenant Service where we ceremonially agreed to, and signed, the EarthCare Covenant that we had developed under the direction of our EarthCare Team. The convenant is proudly hung in our front foyer.
UNITY CENTER OF PEACE EARTHCARE COVENANT
Our consciousnes reveals that all of creation is connected as one. The story of creation reveals our role as good caregivers. As a people committed to spiritual awakening, we pledge now to renew our reverence for life and to respect the interdependent web of all existence.
We honor our sacred promise to balance our individual needs with those of nature. We envision a world in which everything has intrinsic value, and where all beings are assured a secure and meaningful life that is ecologically responsible and sustainable.
We agree to align our individual and shared lives in a way that demonstrates our respect for our planet and for each other. We vow to walk upon the Earth for the greatest good of all creation.
Unity Center of Peace Composting Program
Do you feel a little guilty when throwing food waste into the garbage can? Find yourself wondering if that waste could be enriching the soil that grows our food instead of rotting in a landfill?
If this speaks to you, UCP has a solution! We’ve contracted with CompostNow to collect all our food waste, and we’re passing on this opportunity to our members. For $10 a month, you can bring your personal food waste to our recycling container at UCP and know that it will be picked up weekly and put to good use! If you're unable to swing the $10 per month feel free to drop a dollar or two in our Compost Tip Jar anytime - located in the kitchen.
SIGN UP HERE
Most everything that can’t be recycled can be composted. This makes it super easy because you don’t have to think much on what not to include. Here’s a short list of what can be composted:
- fruits and veggies;
- meat, fish and bones;
- eggshells and bread;
- paper towels and napkins;
- coffee grounds, filters, and tea bags
- and many others.
Composting is a high impact Earth Care program that shows our love and care for Mother Earth! To learn more check out the information from the NC Composting Coucil.
For questions about our UCP Composting program contact Cheryl Stevens at.
Check out our UCP Impact Report which highlights the progress we are making towards sustainable business practices
report.pdf
Adopt-A-Highway
UCP has been participating in North Carolina's Adopt-a-Hwy program since 2018. We have adoped our home location - Seawell School Road and clean-ups happen four Saturdays each year. This is a great way for us to care for our environment and show love for it and our neighbors.
Join us at our next Outreach opportunity and receive the gifts of service. We'll provide safety vests, pickup tools etc., and lots of fun! With 12 or more people, we can easily clean our adopted highway (Seawell School Rd.) in the allotted time. The more the merrier! Although NCDOT guidelines allow only children over 12. And, children between the ages of 12-17 are required to have a parent present and sign a Youth Participation Release Form.
Be sure to wear long pants and long sleeves, sturdy, closed toe shoes, bring water, and anything you need to be comfortable outdoors.
Monthly Eco-Tip
Eco-friendly Tip for the Month of December - Hosting an Earth Friendly Christmas Dinner
When hosting a Christmas dinner party, the tableware you choose has a significant impact on the environment. To make your gathering as green as possible, steer clear of disposable plates, cups, and utensils. Instead, opt for reusable options, real placewear sets. If you don’t have enough matching sets, a mix-and-match style lends an eclectic, delightful vibe to the table setting. If you expect a crowd larger than your dinnerware cabinet can accommodate, consider renting tableware from a local service or borrowing from friends.
When reusable options are not feasible, compostable tableware is the next best earthcare alternative. Look for products made from sustainable materials like bamboo or palm leaves. Be sure you understand the composting process or have access to a composting facility that can handle these materials properly.
For the meal itself, try planning for a menu that features locally sourced produce and meats from nearby growers and community markets. This practice will boost the local economy and support your local farmers.
Love Letters for Mother Earth
We thought it would be nice to share this link with our Unity Center of Peace Community.
"In this series of tender meditations, Ten Love Letters to the Earth, Vietnamese Buddhist monk and Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh invites us to be truly present with the Earth, our Mother."
~ shared from Emmergence Online Magazine
