Category: Caring for Creation

Blog posts from the Nativity Environmental stewardship activities

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Caring for Creation Glad Tidings

New Creation Care Leadership

Steve Dearth and Sherry Hedrick

Recently Carl Sigel, the inspiration and main driver of Nativity’s Creation Care initiatives, decided to move to a mentorship role in this mission, one that, under his leadership, has been impactful throughout the diocese and beyond.

Enter Steve Dearth and Sherry Hedrick, longtime Raleigh residents who have been attending Nativity for about a year and a half. According to Steve, “We feel strongly that proper stewardship of all God’s creation and His gifts to us are of utmost importance. When Carl, Emilie [Sigel] and Jill [Bullard] asked us if we’d be interested in helping, we jumped at the opportunity.” Adds Carl, “We are so thankful for this new leadership to carry on with this work. It is a crucial time to take action on so many important ecological challenges.”

Thank you to Carl, Steve, and Sherry for all you have done and will do for Creation Care at Church of the Nativity.

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Caring for Creation Social Justice Uncategorized

Nativity Supports Haiti Reforestation Project

(left to right: Becky Christian, Becky Showalter, Michael Anello, Jill Staton-Bullard)

Last Sunday, April 28, Nativity presented a $1,000 check to Michael Anello, Executive Director of Haiti Reforestation Partnership. Three of our members (pictured here) are or have been leaders with this unique and successful economic development project in one of the poorest, most unstable countries in the world. During this year’s Week of Giving, individuals in the church community contributed an additional $2,545 to the Partnership.

Categories
Caring for Creation Social Justice

Spring 2024 CSA

by Carl Sigel

Since Nativity’s earliest days, one of the cornerstones of our mission has been to explore how we grow, eat, and share food.

In 2021, Nativity partnered with nine other Raleigh congregations in a program to support our local Black farmers. The program, called Farm to Church Community Supported Agriculture or CSA, was launched by the Rural Advancement Foundation International-USA (RAFI-USA).  CSAs have become a popular way for consumers (CSA members) to buy local, seasonal food directly from a farmer and to build a caring relationship with that farmer.  The members buy a share of a farmer’s production up-front that helps the farm’s cash flow and allows the farmer to plan their crop production in a way that limits food waste and farm expenses. The members benefit by receiving weekly fresh and nutritious farm products.    

The Spring signup period for the churches that are served by Singing Stream Farm is now open and runs through April 12. The Spring deliveries to Nativity will begin Saturday, April 20 and run through June 8. Members must pick up their produce on Saturday mornings during the delivery period. One does not need to be a member of Nativity to participate. As in the past, the online ordering system is there for your convenience. All orders can be placed through the online store by accessing the following link  https://app.barn2door.com/51vo9. Payments can also be made via check, credit or debit card. Share costs remain at $125 for a half share and $250 for a full share. If paying by check, at the payment type click on the drop-down arrow and select check as the payment type. If paying by check, please make them payable to Singing Stream Farm, and mail to the following address:

Singing Stream Farm
2693 Horseshoe Rd.
Creedmoor, NC 27522
Attn: Ken Daniel

For any questions: Email Carl Sigel

Categories
Caring for Creation

Update on Environmental Stewardship at Nativity

by The Rev. Stephanie Allen

We gathered after church on Sunday, September 24 to reflect on what has been done, to hear what is going on in the wider diocese, and to brainstorm what Nativity might do in regards to environmental stewardship going forward. After the discussion, two potential projects emerged that we could begin immediately.

  1. Holding another energy audit. The last energy audit was held about 8 years ago, and there are potentially more things we might do to lower our energy costs and be better stewards.
  2. Creating a tree seedling garden using the same methods as our partners in the Haiti Reforestation Project and giving the trees away. 

Some of the potential project ideas included:

  • Creating a checklist or point system for other churches to use in their creation care and goal to have zero waste.
  • Findings ways to continue to advocate for environmental stewardship and environmental justice.
  • Discussing a second solar panel array.
  • Considering installation of E.V. chargers in the parking lot. Especially given that we have solar energy, this would be both hospitable and low-cost project for members and visitors to the campus who have electric vehicles.
  • Contemplating partnerships with other churches and the Interfaith Creation Care of the Triangle group.

Are you interested in helping with the two projects mentioned above? Or would like to take the lead on any of the other projects that were identified? Email The Rev. Stephanie Allen

Categories
Caring for Creation Social Justice

New Season of Farm to Church CSA

by Carl Sigel

Win, win, win: Support local black farmers, obtain nutritious produce, help build the Beloved Community, and save the planet by joining the Farm to Church CSA.

Since Nativity’s earliest days, one of the cornerstones of our mission has been to explore how we grow, eat, and share food.

In 2021, Nativity partnered with nine other Raleigh congregations in a program to support our local black farmers. The program, called Farm to Church Community Supported Agriculture or CSA, was launched by the Rural Advancement Foundation International-USA (RAFI-USA). CSAs have become a popular way for consumers (CSA members) to buy local, seasonal food directly from a farmer and to build a caring relationship with that farmer. The members buy a share of a farmer’s production up-front which helps the farm’s cash flow and allows the farmer to plan their crop production in a way that limits food waste and farm expenses. The members benefit by receiving weekly fresh and nutritious farm products.   

The Fall sign-up will begin on Wednesday, August 30 and run through Wednesday, September 20. Fall deliveries will begin on Saturday, September 23. Eight weekly deliveries to Church of the Nativity will be at about 11:30 am. The prices for a half share will be $125 (produce for two for about a week) and $250 for a full share.

The online store will be setup for orders via credit/debit card or check. Checks should be made out to Singing Stream Farm, and mailed to 2693 Horseshoe Rd, Creedmoor NC 27522. For those placing orders via the online store use the following link: https://app.barn2door.com/51vo9, Once you select the share type and get to the checkout. the default is debit/credit. If paying by check, click the drop down arrow and select cash/check.

For any questions: Email Carl Sigel

Categories
Caring for Creation Social Justice

Join the Farm to Church CSA

Becoming the Beloved Community: Join the Farm to Church CSA
by Carl Sigel

Since Nativity’s earliest days, one of the cornerstones of our mission has been to explore how we grow, eat, and share food.

In 2021, Nativity partnered with nine other Raleigh congregations in a program to support our local Black farmers. The program, called Farm to Church Community Supported Agriculture or CSA, was launched by the Rural Advancement Foundation International-USA (RAFI-USA).  CSAs have become a popular way for consumers (CSA members) to buy local, seasonal food directly from a farmer and to build a caring relationship with that farmer.  The members buy a share of a farmer’s production up-front that helps the farm’s cash flow and allows the farmer to plan their crop production in a way that limits food waste and farm expenses. The members benefit by receiving weekly fresh and nutritious farm products.    

The summer signup period for the churches that are served by Singing Stream Farm runs through July 3rd, the summer deliveries to Nativity will begin July 8th and run through August 26th. All orders are placed through our online store. Share costs remain at $125 for a half share and $250 for a full share. Payments may be done via debit/credit cards or by check, the default payment type is debit/credit card. If paying by check, at the payment type click on the drop-down arrow and select check as the payment type. If paying by check, please make them payable to Singing Stream Farm, and mail to the following address:

Singing Stream Farm
Attn: Ken Daniel
2693 Horseshoe Rd.
Creedmoor, NC 27522

If you need more information, please contact Carl. Email Carl Sigel

Categories
Caring for Creation

The Pentagon, Climate Change and War

Creation Care webinar: The Pentagon, Climate Change and War
A Zoom Forum on January 17 at 12 noon
Carl Sigel

As people of faith, we glimpse the peace of heaven and seek a new world of peace here on earth.  Please join Interfaith Creation Care of the Triangle and other sponsors for this Zoom forum with Neta Crawford, Professor of International Relations at the University of Oxford in the U.K., discussing her new book on the Pentagon, the world’s largest single greenhouse gas emitter.  Tracing the U.S. military’s growing consumption of energy, Prof. Crawford calls for a re-conceptualization of foreign policy and military doctrine.  Only such a rethinking, she argues, will break the link between national security and fossil fuels.  Co-sponsored by Highland United Methodist Church Micah 6:8 Team, NC Peace Action and Interfaith Creation Care of the Triangle, Campaign Nonviolence, and Veterans for Peace.

Learn more and register here

This webinar is sponsored by Interfaith Creation Care of the Triangle (ICCT).

Categories
Caring for Creation

Nativity is Carbon Offsetting Its 2021 Energy Usage!

Becky Showalter

Thanks to much work and gnashing of teeth by Nancy Reed and Rene Garces, Nativity has calculated its energy usage for 2021 and thereby our own carbon footprint!  Even with our solar panels, we used half again more electricity than we produced – over 13,000 kWh.  Based on that value, our carbon footprint is approximately 100,000 lbs of CO2 per year. 

We are happy to announce that, with the help of the diocese, we will fully offset Nativity’s carbon footprint through a donation ($3500) to Haiti Reforestation Partnership to plant 3500 trees!  Those trees will pull carbon out of the atmosphere AND will increase the quality of life for vulnerable mountain communities in Haiti for years to come.  It is a win for us all!

If you are able, we welcome you to join the church and offset part or all of your footprint as well!  Haiti Reforestation Partnership plants over half a million trees per year and is only limited by funding – offset your 2021 usage or make a monthly donation to offset your current carbon footprint!  Visit www.haitireforest.org to learn more or to calculate the carbon footprint for your family.

We all have our part to play in making this world a better place, and in protecting creation for current and future generations. We hope you will find where you fit in this effort.  Together, we can make a difference.  <3

Categories
Caring for Creation

Reduce your Carbon Footprint

So now that you know your carbon footprint (see previous blog post), what now? Before we think about how to offset our effect on the environment, we should brainstorm on ways to reduce it!
There are so many things that can be done:
1. On an individual level, there are big ideas like adding solar to your home, purchasing an electric or plug-in hybrid car, or switching out older, less energy-efficient appliances.
2. Then there are smaller ideas like imagining how a carpool could work for you, using less plastic overall (there are so many plastic-free alternatives these days for shampoo, conditioner, cleaners, Ziploc bags and more), washing clothes on the cold setting (or at least colder), and using a programmable thermostat in your home.
3. What you eat and what you wear can make a huge difference in reducing your carbon footprint – eating lower on the food chain (vegetables), eating local, reducing food waste, composting, and going thrifting instead of taking part in the fast-fashion industry all make a difference.
4. As part of our larger community (but still on an individual action level), you could sign up for programs that will source your electricity from green sources, such programs include Arcadia or Duke Energy’s Renewable Advantage.
5. You can also contact your local municipalities and simply ask if they have climate change goals – if so, express interest in what they are and if not, push for them.
6. At your place of employment, are there changes that they could make, such as changing from Styrofoam to paper, adding water bottle filling stations, adding EV charging stations, or adding solar.
We can’t do all the things we think of, at least not right away, so pick a couple on this list, or other ideas you might have, and add them slowly so that they become habits. Then pick a couple more, and then a couple more. I saw a quote the other day by author Rob Hopkins that said, “If we wait for the government, it will be too late . . . if we act as individuals, it will be too little . . . if we act as communities, it might just be enough . . .” Individually, we can’t change it all, but as communities we are powerful. Go out and be the change. Let’s do this as the community of God!  

Categories
Caring for Creation

What you need to calculate your footprint

Becky Showalter

Last week, we talked about what environmental footprints* and carbon footprints are. This week we are going to concentrate on how you calculate your carbon footprint? Here’s what you’ll need for a basic estimate – annual electricity and gas bills (average monthly usage) and vehicle(s) annual mileage and average mpg for your vehicle(s). Not so hard! Got to www.haitireforest.org/calculator and calculate it now!

A typical U.S. household of four has a carbon footprint of 48 metric tons CO2e per year. By state, New York has the lowest average at 32 metric tons per year per household, while Wyoming and North Dakota average 300 to 400 metric tons per household. North Carolina comes in near the average at 44 metric tons per year. Have you done your calculation yet? How do you compare? No guilt! Just information. Knowledge is power!

Nativity is also working on calculating our own Carbon Footprint too! Stay tuned.

*If you’re interested in calculating your global environmental footprint as well (how much land does it take to support you), check out this website.  https://www.footprintcalculator.org/home/en