Caring for Creation

Native plants are adapted to the local climate and soil conditions where they naturally occur.  These important plant species provide nectar, pollen and seeds that serve as food for native butterflies, insects, birds and other animals.  Unlike natives, common horticultural plants do not provide energetic rewards for their visitors and often require insect pest control to survive.
Native plants are also advantageous, because:
1.     Native plants do not require fertilizers and require fewer pesticides than lawns.
2.    Native plants require less water than lawns and help prevent erosion.  The deep root systems of many native Midwestern plants increase the soils capacity to store water.  Native plans can significantly reduce water runoff and, consequently, flooding.
3.    Native plants help reduce air pollution.  Native plants do not require mowing.  Excessive carbon from the burning of fossil fuels contributes to global warming.  Native plants sequester, or remove, carbon from the air.
4.    Native plants provide shelter and food for wildlife.
5.    Native plants promote biodiversity and stewardship of our natural heritage.
6.    Native plants are beautiful!
Here are a few suggestions for adding native plants to your yard.
Yarrow, Dill, Angelica, Joe Pye Weed, Cosmos, Milkweed, Cone Flowers, Sunflowers, Shasta Daisies, Black Eyed Susans, and Goldenrod.
Some places to find these and other native plants:
Lynde’s Greenhouse and Nursery in Maple Grove
Heidi’s Growhaus and Lifestyle Gardens in Corcoran
Kelly and Kelly Nursery in Long Lake
Enjoy your adventures with native plants!
Join Caring for Creation in our caring for our beautiful Earth.  Contact Steve Kriz at s.kriz@comcast.net.

PLANT A POLLINATOR GARDEN THIS YEAR
 
Each year pollinators, native bees and butterflies, affect $577 billion in global crops, including $235 billion in the US.  The National Wildlife Federation and its partners formed the National Pollinator Garden Network to support the health of pollinators in an attempt to encourage all gardeners to plant gardens to attract and feed pollinators. You can help by providing the following items in your landscaping:

1.  Food-plant native flowering plants and trees that provide pollen and nectar for pollinators.  Avoid planting any invasive species or non-native crossbred plants.  Check out www.nwf.org/native plants to discover which plants are truly native to your area.
 
2.  Clean Water-create a muddy corner of water in your yard or fill a shallow birdbath with gravel to provide water for pollinators.
 
3.  Provide places for pollinators to raise their young. Native bees lay eggs in fallen, dead trees or sandy soil.  Leave fallen logs, standing dead trees and areas of sandy soil.  Leave fallen logs, standing dead trees and space of sandy soil for shelter of  their eggs and young.
Butterflies need special host plants as food for their caterpillars.  Plant host plants that are native to your area.  Also, use cluster plantings to protect and camouflage pollinators from their predators.
 
4.  Avoid pesticides--Insects are a sign of a healthy garden and an important food source for birds and their young.  If there is an infestation of pests, wash them away with a hose. If you must spray, don't use broad-spectrum pesticides. Avoid products that include neonicotinoids and spray very sparingly. Try using pests' deterrents such as soap, garlic and chili pepper to prevent infestations.  Enjoy colorful plants while caring for creation.
   
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT:  www.nwf.org/gardenforwildlife 
 

The worldwide COVID-19 pandemic has had beneficial effects with regard to some types of pollution, such as noticeably less air pollution, due to fewer cars and buses on the road. However, it has also dramatically increased other forms of pollution. One area of increasing concern are the face masks that are being used and discarded and are finding their way into our lakes, streams and rivers, posing a hazard to humans and wildlife.

Masks are everywhere. In 2019, surgical mask sales worldwide were about $800 million. When the tally is completed, sales of masks in the year 2020 are expected to exceed $166 billion or 200 times the normal amount! A larger number is predicted for 2021, even with increasing vaccinations. It is essential that we deal with this ocean of face coverings in an environmentally responsible manner.

Here are some tips for responsible mask usage:

· Use multi-layered, washable cloth masks, if possible. Many types are available on-line, or you can make them yourself. Old cloth items can be recycled at Hennepin Transfer Station.

· Cloth masks can be sanitized by baking them in the oven at 160 degrees or your lowest oven setting, for 15 minutes. (Be careful of open flames!)

· Cut elastic bands or plastic strings/cords off masks before disposing of them, so that wildlife do not become entangled in them if they do end up loose.

· Dispose of plastic-based masks (e.g. the blue disposable ones) properly – most should go into the trash or medical waste receptable, if available. Some could contain virus particles and should be treated accordingly.

· Do not expose other people to your used masks unnecessarily.

· Never flush masks down toilets, in septic tanks or dispose of them thoughtlessly on streets or in water sources (streams, lakes or rivers).

The pandemic will soon be behind us, so let’s not leave long-lasting, unsightly reminders in the form of mask litter in our beautiful Minnesota outdoors!
 

Greetings All!
Mitig Nation hosts the 2nd Annual Virtual Earth Day Event, on Friday, April 23 from The Family of Trees distribution site on Plymouth Avenue in North Minneapolis.
The Earth Day celebration will be a way to celebrate, liberate and be grateful! Please consider a micro sponsorship of $100 in order to support our work so that we can continue to spread positivity in our community! 

Thank you,
The Family of Trees

Join us virtually via Facebook and YouTube.

Email thefamilyoftrees@gmail.com or call 763-267-1294 for more information.
Download 2nd Annual Virtual Earth Day Event pdf 

In his Encyclical, Pope Francis talks about the interconnectedness of all things. Trees are an integral piece of that web. Take the example of a rainforest. Leaves in the high canopy of the trees pull water from the roots way below. They then take carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and use energy from the sun to create carbohydrates for food for themselves. A byproduct of this process of photosynthesis is oxygen and water vapor! Rainforests can release 20 billion tons of water into the sky each day in the form of clouds. These clouds in the sky are called “aerial rivers” and are larger than the Amazon River itself! These aerial rivers produce rain throughout much of S. America and even affect moisture as far as the Midwest of the U.S. and southern France. There are several rainforests throughout the world, but the Amazon is the largest. When deforestation happens, the balance of carbon dioxide, oxygen and water is disrupted. Climate, health, biodiversity, agriculture, economy, and life are subsequently affected. Explore the research of Nobel Laureate Carlos Nobres, a Brazilian climate scientist working to protect the forests of S. America. And, plant a tree whenever you can!

GRATITUDE AND GENEROSITY  

The best thing that we can do during this pandemic is to consciously be aware of the blessings we have in our lives and then let that lead us to being generous. 

Caring for Creation members love the Earth and want to help heal it and pass on a healthier planet for future generations. 

Here are some ideas for how to show love, kindness and care for people and the Earth. 

Practice acts of social kindness-pick up litter. 

Go out of your way to make contact with a person of another race, nationality, religion or lifestyle. 

Buy fair trade products.  With your purchase you can “vote” for businesses that respect God’s creation and ensure equitable pay for their laborers.  

Plant a tree.  This spring St. Joe’s gave out free trees to parishioners.   We hope to do that again in the future. 

Contribute to organizations in our community working on behalf of social, racial, economic or environmental justice.  When the coronavirus in under control consider volunteering at one of these organizations. 

Caring for Creation is not meeting now but when we can gather again please consider joining us and help to educate others on climate change and learn  how changing our habits can reduce the warming of the Earth.  Contact Steve Kriz at s.kriz@comcast.net.
 

This article is based on Pope Francis' Encyclical Letter--Laudato Si'; Chapter 6 "Ecological Education and Spirituality"

"Since the market tends to promote extreme consumerism in an effort to sell its products, people can easily get caught up in a whirlwind of needless buying and spending."
"The current global situation engenders a feeling of instability and  uncertainty, which in turn becomes a seedbed for collective selfishness."
Considering all that we've been through with COVID19 and the racial unrest in our city and country, now would be a good time to change our lifestyle to reflect spiritual values that create respect for the world we live in. Our own Pope points out the misuse of creation for profit and the inequity of a consumer lifestyle creates imbalance and unrest in humans and in nature.
In the above chapter of his encyclical he states. "Let ours be a time remembered for the awakening of a new reverence for life, the firm resolve to achieve sustainability, the quickening of the struggle for justice and peace, and a joyful celebration of all life."

Young people demand change.  They wonder how anyone can claim to be building a better future with the outthinking of the environmental crisis and the suffering of the excluded.
Pope Francis
 

How Minnesota students are combating climate change
“From eliminating single-use plastic items to pressing school boards to commit to 100 percent clean energy, Minnesota students are changing how schools respond to climate change. 

Jason Rodney, a youth program coordinator for Climate Generation — a Minneapolis-based nonprofit founded by Will Steger in 2006 that’s focused on supporting climate change education and youth-led climate change solutions — says he supports students who are involved in projects at the school or city level. 
His organization is one of many that are helping youth think about how to take action against climate change, through policy changes at both the state and local levels. In schools, he says some of the other most common initiatives include things like integrating climate change education into classrooms, providing more training and job opportunities in green careers — like sustainable agriculture practices, especially in rural districts — and improving composting and recycling services at schools”. 

-adapted by an article by Erin Hinrichs, MinnPost’s education reporter
 

Next Phase of Recycling: Lab Gloves and Apparel 
More labs and cleanrooms are aiming for zero waste by diverting gloves and apparel from landfills and turning the items into totes, shelving, and lawn furniture. Just to name a few uses. 
Lab workers use several pairs of gloves a day which creates a big environmental waste in landfills. One university estimated that nearly 30 percent of its waste comes from research buildings.  A waste audit from University of Washington found that 22 percent of its waste consisted of nitrile gloves. Many labs and cleanrooms are now shipping used gloves and apparel
to recycling facilities where they are turned into plastic pellets which are then reprocessed into durable consumer goods. Universities are also assisting other schools and laboratories to reduce their waste in the same way.

TWO SIMPLE THINGS YOU CAN DO TO REDUCE PLASTIC WASTE
1. Do not use plastic bags when you shop. Always use reusable bags. They are inexpensive and can be purchased at many stores. They last for years and do not add to plastic pollution. People are still using 10-15 plastic grocery bags when they shop at places like Cub. This is unnecessary and adds to the huge amount of plastic pollution in our cities, state, country and world. If you forget your reusable bags, use paper grocery bags, and reuse them. They can be used several times before you recycle them.

Also, ask to talk to store managers and ask them to stop using plastic bags.

2. Refuse plastic straws when eating in restaurants and tell the server why. Say something like “I don’t want a plastic straw. They are a huge source of pollution”. If you must use a straw purchase a reusable one made from bamboo, metal or paper. Some sources where you can find these optional straws: Buluh for bamboo straws, Simply Straws for glass straws, Final Straws for silicone/stainless steel straws or Koffie for silicone straws.

These actions may seem insignificant but if all of us take time to consider our use of plastics and find options that are healthier for our planet the effect can be VERY significant.

If you would like to join Caring for Creation here at St. Joe’s contact Steve Kriz at s.kriz@comcast .net. The group meets once a month from 7:00 to8:30 PM in the library except in June, July and August.

DO YOU KNOW ALL THE ACTIONS CARING FOR CREATION HAS TAKEN IN 10 YEARS? 

The Caring for Creation team was started in 2008 as an off-shoot of our Social Justice Group, with support and encouragement from Roxanne Smith.   The group’s purpose is to educate about how we can help care for God’s beautiful creation, Earth.  The members of the group also educate ourselves on climate change and how we can implement changes in our personal lives to become more thoughtful in the ways we live, to become more energy efficient and dispose of our trash in the least damaging ways.  It is now a group of 7 people and hopes to continue to grow. 

These are some of the actions the group has taken in ten years. 

1.  Hosted Will Steger to speak at St. Joe’s, followed by a Q&A session.  He spoke on climate changes in Arctic.  

2. Hosted author Jack Nelson-Palmyer presentation who spoke to us about his book, “Authentic Hope-It’s the end of the world as we know it but soft landings are possible” and we had a Q&A with him as well. 

3. Hosted a discussion with J. Drake Hamilton who is science policy director at Fresh Energy, an independent, Minnesota –based nonprofit organization working to speed the transition to a clean energy economy. 

4. Screened the documentary, Days of Living Dangerously, an American television series, followed by Q&A. 

5. Hosted 4 Green Fairs in 2008, 2012, 2016 and 2018 at St. Joe’s. 

6. Did a letter-writing campaign to local restaurants regarding use of paper vs. Styrofoam for take-out. 

7. Partner with faith formation classes to provide information on caring for creation topics or to work on projects together. 

8. Partnered with the Garden Ministry to clean up outside compost and dumping area in 2014. 

9. Created and maintain the Caring for Creation bulletin board inside entrance 2, since 2014. 

10.   Caring for Creation Group read and discussed two books:  “On Care for our Common Home”  by Pope Francis and “Caring for Creation”by Mitch Hescox and Paul Douglas. 

11.  Applied for and won a grant from Hennepin County to begin an organic recycling program at St. Joe’s in 2015. 

If these activities sound interesting to you and you are concerned about climate change and caring for our planet we invite you to join our group which meets once a month, except over the summer, at 7:00 PM in the church library.