Green Sanctuary March 2025 News
Green Sanctuary Projects
- Helping plan an Earth Day Service April 20
- Tracking progress on Climate Justice Revival initiatives
- Looking into Green Investing
- Writing a Reaccreditation Plan
Green Architecture: Building for the Future. (save the date!)
- Saturday March 29, 10 am to 11:30 am, UUS
- Speakers Keith Porter, Sally Obernolte, and Deb Schoelerman.
March Better Together – Personal Resilience
- Each month of Better Together we have actions that members of the congregation can take to address climate Mitigation, Adaptation, Resilience, and Justice. Spring’s Focus is Resilience.
- For March the specific focus is to Increase our Options – Be open to solving problems through different pathways and with different partners. This month we have three ways to build personal resilience, some may be new to you, some familiar.
Sustainability One Stitch at a Time
- Knowing how to sew and mend is a sustainable skill and a foe of fast fashion (cheap, synthetic, short-lived styles).
- For this reason, the UU Society Immigrant Action Team is supporting the establishment of a sewing class at the Center for Worker Justice. This class, taught by Jacque Green, will meet two days a week starting in March. Volunteers are needed to partner with students and provide assistance on sewing projects.
- In addition, fabric, thread, scissors, pins, and other sewing equipment is needed. You can be the person that experiences women’s successful attainment of skills.
- Contact Sally Hartman at sallyahartman@hotmail for more information or to volunteer. Check out short instructional videos on basic sewing skills at https://repairwhatyouwear.com/core-mending-skills/
Rice and Beans – Haute Cuisine on a Dime
In some quarters, rice and beans (aka beans and rice) is seen as poor people’s food because it is a cheap and nutritious staple. But the low cost, wide availability, and nutritional value of the key ingredients create an opening for multiple versions of this dish with versions from the Americas, Europe, and Asia. It can be made with red, kidney, pinto, black, azuki, and brown beans, or black-eyed, stew, or green peas.  Rice can be brown, white, or glutinous. Seasonings can be celery, onions, garlic, chilis, tomatoes, cilantro, cumin, oregano, peppers, potatoes, coconut milk. Additions include chicken, pork, beef, and fried eggs. Whether you start with dried beans stewed with savory spices for hours or open a can of precooked beans for a quick evening meal, you will be joining a culinary heritage hundreds of years old. To find a recipe, just search for rice and beans on the web.
To Take Care of the Planet Take Care of Yourself First
You know how you are supposed to put your oxygen mask on first, before helping anyone else with theirs in an airline emergency? The same logic applies to saving the planet. Here are 3 things you can do, in order of increasing difficulty, to boost self-care resilience so you have the stamina to care for the earth.
- Hydrate & Nourish: Start by simply drinking enough water and eating regular, healthy meals. Small changes, big impact!
- Move Your Body: Aim for 30 minutes of enjoyable physical activity most days. Dance, walk, swim – find what you love!
- Mindful Stillness: Gradually incorporate mindfulness or meditation. Even 5 minutes daily can reduce stress and improve focus.
For more resources, check out the American Psychological Association’s guide to building resilience at https://www.apa.org/topics/resilience.
Social and Environmental Justice (SEJ) Sunday March 9
- Green Sanctuary is collaborating with the Social Justice Team to hold Social and Environmental engagement activities on second Sundays. Look for our table in the Fellowship hall.
Our March Meeting Will be on Zoom!
- Green Sanctuary is Wednesday March 12 at 7 pm. Contact Jan Weaver – [email protected] for the zoom link, more information or to get on our email list.
