May 2012
Gardening and grounds work at UUS:E.
Our arborist has done a whole lot of tree work. There is still lots of wood available to take home if you can use it. On April 14th our arborist volunteered with a whole group of us, organized by our Ecological Landscape team, to finish creating and covering with wood chips the path to our spring and around to a newly created meditation area in the woods with peace sign pathways and stump seats. The path starts from the woods road to the left of the Memorial garden and curves around past the peace sign area and back to the woods road lower down.
Please everyone – when walking to view the spring – stay on the path. The area around and below the spring is a fragile eco-system of loose soils and delicate plants. We are trying now to repair damage done to our woodlands. This area should not be compacted by walking on it. Once compacted, many plants will not grow well there and invasives will take root in their place. The spring ran briefly early in the spring, but as of this writing there has been so little rain that it is very low, and the wetland area is drying up. Also the wall itself could fall in if many people walk too close. Of course, if you are drawing water for a ceremonial purpose, like a child dedication, you can do so carefully.
Work Party May 5th!.
To help with the Ecological Landscaping Team come to the May 5th work party 9-12 and contact the office to get on the list.
Hal’s Garden
To help with the children’s gardening – most Sundays at 11:00 or other Being Green program activities at 9:00, sign up with Janet or Vicki – sign up sheet is on the bulletin board in the Gathering Area on the Garden Level.
Outreach
Help is needed for the MACC Food Pantry Garden at Manchester Community College. Contact Janet Heller to get involved with this on-going project growing nutritious fresh organic food for and with food pantry garden volunteers and participants.
Weatherization
Maybe your bills were not so high this year, but how hot will the summer get, and who knows how much heat we’ll need next year. Sign up for your Home Energy Solutions assessment to get your home weatherized. Contact Jay Stewart to sign up with one of our contractors, who will contribute $35 to the MACC fuel bank for each assessment done. Cost is $75 or free if you are income eligible. Share this information with anyone needing it.
FOOD issues!
Let’s make food safer. The GMO labeling bill is still alive in the state capitol, but will die if it is not called by early on in May before the session ends. Please go to http://righttoknowct.org/ for an update and to see how to contact your legislators to call and support HB 5117 the GMO labeling bill, and also ask them to support HB 5116 to require labeling of packaging containing BPA.
Solar Panel Grant Application
We should hear sometime this month about the grant we applied for in January to help us put solar panels on our roof!
Unfortunately the Bio Blitz scheduled for May 19th has been canceled for now. The Sustainable Living
The Sustainable Living Committee meets at UUS:E on the second Tuesdays of each month. If interested please join us. For more information about the Sustainable Living Committee, Green Sanctuary, or anything in this article, contact the church office at 860-646-5151.
