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Sustainable Living
"A frequent entry point into a faith-based approach to caring for the Earth is through a recognition that a lifestyle of
endless consumption denies us of the very satisfactions of life the marketing industry tries to attract us with . . . Once
there is an understanding of the gravity of the crises, and a personal commitment to change, the next step is deciding just
what action is necessary and most likely to be effective. This is the path of compassion and connectedness to other beings
and is another critical link in developing a practice of environmental commitment. ~ Green Sanctuary
Program Manual
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Current Events
Two of the major focuses for the Green Sanctuary Program for this year will be centered on Food Security and
Energy Security. While we will be supporting, sponsoring and developing programs around other sustainable issues,
Food and Energy security issues are taking a prominent place both globally and locally.
Food Security Events
June Food Donations Go To The
Lummi Reservation Food Bank
August 2010
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The month of August has been designated to support the Lummi Reservation Food Bank which serves
all residents (both Indian & non-Indian) living on the reservation and on Lummi Island. It is
being stretched to the limit because of the huge demand it is experiencing. This is one of six
Whatcom County food banks. The demand for food is huge and growing daily. With our economy
faltering, more and more people who used to contribute to the food bank are now finding that
they are in need and are using these services. BUF has agreed to send our food donations to the
Lummi Food Bank one month every quarter. They need canned vegetables (green beans and corn),
canned fruits, dry cereals (corn flakes, cherrios, etc., they get oatmeal in bulk), any kind
of tomato products like sauces, canned tomatoes, flour, sugar, canned milk, beans, pasta, and
rice. Please go through your cupboards or pick up something extra for the blue tubs. They stand
ready to gather your gifts. It is critical that we, as a community, don't fail in our commitment
to feed the hungry and be generous to those struggling to get by. We need to be in this effort
for the long haul! The June 13th service will be the food donation blessing service.
Energy Security Events
Postponed -
Training For Transition
June 19-20, 2010
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BUF is currently working with Transition Whatcom to co-sponsor and host
their training
leaders for the next phase of the Transition movement. Workshop leaders will be Cindi
Landreth of the Transition Whatcom Initiating Group and David Johnson of Transition Portland.
This two-day workshop will better educate people about how to ease through the challenges
facing communities today such as peak oil, climate change, and the economic crisis. It is
a positive approach of focusing on solutions that lead to a more satisfying life. Anyone
wanting to know more and are considering initiating transition work in their lives and for
their community is welcome to participate. Advance Registration is required. Registration
fee of $150 for both days; a limited # of partial scholarships are available. To register
contact: Lynne Pendleton mlpendlet@gmail.com or 360 738-2785. For workshop and scholarship
information, contact Cindi Landreth cl@adaptations.ws or 360-734-5275 x 102
Currently, the workshops are scheduled to be held in BUF's new addition; however, this may
change if construction delays continue occuring. Please check back for updated venue information.
Other Events
Hold a Yard Sale for BUF!
July and August 2010
You can help to fill in BUF’s budget for 2010-11 by holding a Yard
Sale this summer and donating the proceeds to BUF! You know you have stuff that you need
to get rid of. Reduce & recycle by cleaning out your drawers, closets, shelves and garage.
It’s this easy…
- Choose a date between now and the end of September.
- Contact Coral Dudek and let her know date, time & location as soon as you can
(coraldudek@gmail.com or 303-7104). She will advertise it on craigslist.com AND she
will put together a list of ALL other BUF Yard Sales that are being held that weekend
which she will send to you to pass out to your customers. She will also advertise it
through BUF communication channels so that other BUFsters know where to shop.
- Hold it in your own garage or yard. Do you need tables for display? Check into borrowing
some from BUF. If you don’t have a good space or you don’t have quite enough stuff to hold
a sale, let Coral know. She can tell you who’s having a sale when and you can join in with
someone else at their place.
- Hold it in the BUF parking lot. On Saturday, July 24 or August 21, you can set up a
table and join in a group sale. It will be flea market style, as opposed to rummage sale,
i.e. you are responsible for set-up, sale and clean-up of your own stuff.
- Donate your proceeds to BUF.
It’s easy, it’s cleansing, it’s green, it’s tax deductible, and it’s win-win! Choose your date
now and let the purging begin!
Local Harvest Dinner
September 25, 2010
Looking for a pleasant evening and good food? Check out the Local
Harvest Dinner being sponsored by BUF's Simple Sisters! We are still in the process of
deciding the menu and oh, do we have a list of possibilities since it will be harvest time!
All meals items will be prepared using local food products. We're looking at possibly a
five-course meal including soups, salads, entrees, drinks and deserts. There is still room
so if you are interested contact Linda Fels at gr8fels@msn.com or Deb Cruz at
dwcruz@comcast.net. Keep checking back, the menu will be posted as soon as it is
finalized.
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Green Power
Bellingham Unitarian Felloship is now a
Green Power Leadership Partner!
Click here for details PSE Green Power Program and other energy
alternatives.
Past Events
Click here to see past sustainable events
Sustainable Notes
Home Recipe Blossoms into Organic Chicken Feed Business
Diana Ambauen-Meade wanted a healthier product to feed her backyard chickens, so she came up
with her own recipe. When her friends and neighbors began asking about the product, it turned
into a great business idea. Last year Ambauen-Meade founded Scratch & Peck in the Bremerton
area. Business has gone so well she's now building a mill facility in Bellingham's Irongate
business park that should be ready in about six weeks and eventually will include other types
of feed products. Currently the company is focused on direct sales; customers can put in orders
at scratchandpeck.com or by calling (360) 981-8597. Local residents can either pick up orders
at 3883 Hammer Drive or have them delivered. Ambauen-Meade also plans on putting the product
in local stores.
The chicken feed is made from whole and cracked grains without the typical byproducts found in
pellet chicken feed. It's also not cooked, so it doesn't turn into a pellet, Ambauen-Meade said.
"You and the chickens can recognize it for what it is," she said. The feed is organic and soy-
free. She's of the opinion that "you are what your chicken eats," even if you're using the
chicken for its eggs. Her son Bryon Meade, a recent Western Washington University graduate,
will be operating the Bellingham mill. Eventually the company will be based in Bellingham; it
already has joined Sustainable Connections.
Ambauen-Meade has been surprised by the business growth in the first year. "It started as an
idea, and we just kept getting green lights throughout this process," she said. Article at
http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2010/04/21/1394489/two-whatcom-county-businesses.html#ixzz0lnhVSmjw
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Sustainable Notes cont.
Department of Ecology News Release
May 19, 2009
"Northwest Washington area schools earn cash awards for environmental stewardship and new green programs"
[The following] Northwest Washington area public and private schools will receive cash awards in Olympia on May 21, 2009, for their
outstanding environmental programs.
Custer Elementary – Custer -- Whatcom County. The school will start a food to flowers program; $250.
Sehome High – Bellingham -- Whatcom County. Students involved in this extensive recycling program gain confidence and skills
they can carry into adulthood. They also get to work with "Spirit," the therapy dog; $200.
Ten Mile Creek Elementary – Everson -- Whatcom County. This school emphasizes the reduction of food and paper waste through
composting; $300.
Nooksack Valley High – Everson -- Whatcom County. This successful recycling education program involves both students and faculty;
$500.
Lynden High – Lyndon -- Whatcom County. This school has built on its success by recycling more and more items. The program has
seen a major reduction in the amount of materials sent to the landfill; $200.
Mt. Baker School District's Sustainability Program – Deming -- Whatcom County. Mt. Baker’s schools set the standard for sustainability
in public schools. Students in this district graduate with 13 years of composting, waste reduction, reuse, and recycling experience. In Mt.
Baker, each school participates in the recycling program and promotes re-use and toxic-free practices. Recent additions to their programs
include: a food composting program they call Food to Flowers; and a district-wide energy awareness program that educates everyone on how
to save energy by making simple changes in their buildings and at home. The Mt. Baker Schools are doing an amazing job of promoting
sustainability for their students and the community. Students of Acme, Mt. Baker, Kendall, and Harmony are fortunate to have such a
vibrant and sustainable program of reuse and recycling; $2,000.
Timber Ridge Alternative High – Bellingham -- Whatcom County. In this interdisciplinary study of the ecology and economics of local,
national, and global food systems, students learn about the journey of food from photosynthesis through harvest, subsidies, export, resource
consumption, and human metabolism, as well as the importance of local food through creating a business plan for growing starts to sell at a
local farmer's market; $1,000.
Watch Sundance Channel's 'The Green'
THE GREEN is television's first regularly-scheduled programming destination dedicated entirely to the environment.
THE GREEN presents original series and documentary premieres about the earth's ecology and concepts of "green" living
that balance human needs with responsible care for the planet. Among other great programs, check out "Big Ideas for a Small
Planet", a documentary series presenting the forward thinking designers, products and processes that are on the leading edge
of the new green world. Watch THE GREEN, Tuesdays at 9pm on the Sundance Channel.
Click here for this week's schedule.
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Whatcom Community College offers classes in Sustainability
Sustainable Living is Here! Whatcom Community Education announces a new section in our schedule devoted to a more earth-friendly
lifestyle and practical ways to Go Green. Classes include Living a Greener Life at Home, Living Large in Smaller Spaces, and
Gardeners’ Road Trip: Sustainable Spaces—Beautiful Places and more. For the full list of Sustainable Living classes,
click here, then select "Sustainability" from
the Personal Enrichment section of the page.
City of Bellingham wins the 2008 Green Washington Award for Government!
"For a relatively small city, it has instituted sophisticated innovations in providing green power, improving the quality of storm water
run-off to its reservoir and has hired a director of sustainability to help guide the city's green-energy efforts. This city is really
pushing things, said our judges, including becoming an EPA Green Power partner, buying all of its electricity from renewable sources,
including wind and solar. As its mayor says, "We're on this planet for the long haul." The City of Bellingham will receive our Green
Washing Award for government. * Runner-Up in Government: The City of Seattle" Washington CEO Magazine. The ReStore won runner-up in
the Nonprofit Category. Congratulations Bellingham and ReSources!
Governor's Award for Pollution Prevention and Sustainable Practices: 2007
Winners
Lummi Island Wild_Lummi Island Wild, of Lummi Island, uses the ancient art of reefnet wild salmon fishing to help shape the future of the
Pacific Northwest salmon fishery. They use selective and sustainable methods, catching only targeted species while returning protected or
unwanted species to Puget Sound unharmed. The company's innovative live well system also helps protect vulnerable species while supplying
fresh, sustainably caught salmon to market. In 2007, the company mixed modern and traditional technology and became the world’s first
solar-powered fishery. They collaborated with Alpha Energy to install solar panels on the boats that charge the batteries for the net
winches. The salmon fishers are now "off the grid," and no longer have risk a spill from carrying auto batteries across Puget Sound waters.
They started a reef net festival as a fundraiser for the Lummi and Lopez island communities. The Coop’s Chef’s in Raingear program draws
hundreds of chefs and restauranteurs from across the country to “get involved with your ingredients” and experience the benefits of
sustainable fishing. More information, including where to find Lummi Island Wild-Reefnet Salmon, can be found at www.lummiislandwild.com/
"Planet Green"
Planet Green is the first and only 24-hour eco-lifestyle television network with a robust online presence and community. Launching in
June 2008, on-air content will reach 50 million homes with more than 250 hours of original green lifestyle programming. Both online and
on-air, Plant Green's content is entertaining, relevant, and accessible to people of all ages and backgrounds. By representing a broad
range of ideas and perspectives, Planet Green is taking an active role in generating conversation and motivating individuals to take
action when it comes to improving the environmental status of our planet. " Additional information and Green Planet activities can be
found on the Green Planet website.
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