………………….
From the archives:

September’s AH Moment
Active Hope at First United Church
(Virtual) Garden Harvest Sharing Circle – Thursday, September 17, 2020 at 7 PM

As a way to wrap up our Zoom webinar series on growing our own food, Active Hope at First United invited folks to a (Virtual) Garden Harvest Sharing Circle.  This was a chance to share the final results of everyones gardening efforts, no matter how big or small our gardens may have been this year!

Everyone in attendance had the opportunity to share their successes and questions that arose from their gardening adventures this year.  Everyone was invited to answer the following questions:
1.  Something in your garden that worked well this year
2.  Something in your garden that did not work this year as planned
3.  How you are choosing to make use of the food you have grown!

The purpose of this Garden Sharing Circle was to continue building a community of people in our church who are working to improve their skills for growing their own food.  We are here to cheer each other on and inspire each other with new ideas.  If you did not have a garden this year but are still interested to attend, you are most welcome!  Even those who have missed the other two sharing circles are welcome to join in.

May’s AH Moment
Webinar on May 13, 2020 at 7 PM
Sowing Seeds of Resilience

In this time of change and isolation and uncertainty
we find ourselves faced with,
we are learning a lot of new skills.

We are learning to connect virtually instead of in person,
and we are learning to plan ahead to avoid unnecessary trips to the store.
All over the world, there is evidence that our reduced movement
is giving the earth a chance to take a breath and begin a process of healing.

COVID-19 is also revealing a lot of the weaknesses in our current societal structure.
As we begin to notice items missing from grocery store shelves
and news of unprecedented need for food bank donations,
our thoughts turn to the topic of food security.

There are spring buds on the trees and the last frost date
for Swift Current is only a couple of weeks away.
How can we take this as an opportunity to improve our skills in growing our own food,
so that in this time, rather than facing scarcity, we may create a situation of abundance?

In the webinar, Dixie Green and Alanna Howell shared the actions they took
this spring to get a good start on growing productive gardens
to provide food for themselves and their communities.
They shared simple tips and strategies to begin growing food
even when you don’t have access to a yard or a large growing space.
There was also be time for open discussion, as there is a wealth of gardening experience
in the First United Church community and we can all learn from each other.

February’s AH Moment
An Invitation:

For the Sunday service on February 16, 2020,
everyone was invited to wear clothing that they had purchased
(or been gifted) second hand or clothing that is 10+ years old.

You could wear casual clothing or something dressy – it all works!
There was a little fashion show demonstrating how our clothing
can be both earth-friendly and fashionable (or functional).

Did you know…

– In Canada, each household throws away 46 kilograms of textiles per year on average,
making up around 8-12% of municipal landfills.
(Source: CBC, Passionate Eye, Aug 2019, https://www.cbc.ca/passionateeye/m_features/our-fast-fashion-habit-is-killing-the-planet)
– The fashion industry produces 20% of global wastewater and 10% of global carbon emissions –
more than all international flights and maritime shipping. Textile dyeing is the second largest
polluter of water globally and it takes around 2,000 gallons of water to make a typical pair of
jeans. (Source: UN Environment Programme, Nov 2018, https://www.unenvironment.org/news-
and-stories/story/putting-brakes-fast-fashion)
-Although we don’t grow cotton (one of the world’s thirstiest crops) in Canada, nor are we home
to the world’s most toxic textile factories, we’re still contributors to the global problem through
how much we buy and throw away. (Source: CBC, Passionate Eye, Aug 2019,
https://www.cbc.ca/passionateeye/m_features/our-fast-fashion-habit-is-killing-the-planet)

So What Can We Do?
-Buy less (this is the most impactful!!).
– Buy better quality so your clothing will last longer.
– Think twice before throwing out your clothing.
-Try to repair or redesign them.
– Donate your clothes to your friends, family, neighbours or to charity.
– Put them in the textile recycling bin.
– Buy second hand, swap and rent clothing.
-Buy clothes from sustainable brands.
– Pay attention to your washing.
-Wash your clothing less often.
-Wash full loads.
-Wash in cold water and line dry.