Green Corner: Let’s UU the Farm Bill!

The Farm Bill has a huge impact on agricultural practices, land management, and feeding our nation. Since agriculture is responsible for a big chunk of GHG emissions in the US, this bill also has a big impact on climate change.

Congress is currently negotiating the Farm Bill, which happens every five years. Michigan Senator Debbie Stabenow is very influential as chair of the Committee on Agriculture.

Let’s tell Sen. Stabenow and our other reps to advance a climate-smart Farm Bill that reduces GHG and promotes sustainable agricultural practices!

For letter templates/talking points: click on the following links: UUSJ, Tell Congress to Advance a Climate-Smart Farm Bill

Questions? Email greencorner@uuaa.org. 

Climate change is big news now, and solutions are hot topics. One has to be cautious, however, in evaluating solutions. Is there any real value in buying carbon offsets for your air travel? Is DTE’s MIGreen Power program actually reducing GHG emissions?

Consider the source; who’s offering the solution?

This article from NPR helps identify questions to ask. And to learn more about carbon offsets, click here. 

Questions? Email Greencorner@uuaa.org. 

Sunday April 30, 10:30am – 12:30pm, online only (the UUAA Building is closed on this day)

On Sunday, April 30 there will be a live streamed service at 10:30am followed by a Special Congregational Meeting at 11:00am (running through 12:30pm) All UUAA members and friends are invited to attend. Note that only UUAA members may vote at the meeting. (This is a special meeting, not our Annual Meeting, which will take place in June)

Register here to watch the service and participate in the meeting

Meeting check-in:  10:15 am (no later than 10:30 am, please!)
Abbreviated Sunday Service:  10:30 am
Congregational Meeting:  11:00 am

Purpose of this Meeting

There are two main new business agenda items to bring to the congregation

  1. A vote on an expenditure for solar panels, per our Capital Campaign.
  2. To share comments and thoughts about the proposed changes to Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) Bylaws Article II.

 

To register to attend the meeting click here.  

If you cannot attend and wish to vote absentee on the resolution to authorize the purchase of new solar panels,
please download the Absentee Ballot and follow the instructions on page 2 of the document.

Meeting Materials

Please review the following materials ahead of the meeting.

  1. Rules of procedure
  2. January’s UUAA Winter Meeting minutes (for congregational approval). 
  3. Information about the purchase of new solar panels (per the Capital Campaign) that will be presented and explained with time for questions at the meeting before voting on the expenditure.

    Article II Information
  4. Note from our Board President, Laura Johnstone, regarding Article II.
  5. You may want to watch this thoughtful informational YouTube video to fully understand the proposed Article II changes.  It was created by the Commission that proposed the changes.
  6. A side-by-side presentation of Article II, as it is now versus how it would read with the proposed changes.

Sunday April 23, 9:30am – 2:00pm

Celebrate Earth Day and our UUAA climate vision work at the All- Congregation-All-Ages Sunday services and gala celebrations of Our Place in the Web of Life.

Highlights

Vision 2050 Updates:

Click here for more information . Questions? Contact climate@uuaa.org

Services at 9:30 am and 11:30 am, in person in the sanctuary or online at https://uuaa.org/service

A PDF version of the order of service will be available by Saturday April 22 at https://uuaa.org/oos

Sunday April 23

Join the game! Fill in as many squares as you can, then bring it to church for display on Earth Sunday, April 23. Or email your completed bingo card to greencorner@uuaa.org, and we’ll display it at church for you.

Include things you already do, but try some new actions, too. Don’t forget to write your name at the top. Everyone’s a winner!

Click here for the bingo card for kids.

Click here for the bingo card for grown-ups. 

For kids: http://bit.ly/3GweKSr

For adults: http://bit.ly/3KOGLqT

Thursday April 13 and following three Thursdays, in person at Ann Arbor Pioneer High School

Ann Arbor Community Education and Recreation offers an in-person four-class series on the basics of growing your own vegetables. Topics include site design, what to plant, when to plant, pest and disease control, and watering. Enjoy the down-to-earth pleasure of growing vegetables and eating the bounty of your own garden.

More info and registration can be found here.

Questions? Email greencorner@uuaa.org. 

Ann Arbor offers the following guidelines for pickup of branches that will be chipped for garden compost:

  • Do not put branches in the street or in bike lanes.
  • Put large branches (at least three inches in diameter and four feet long) facing in one direction on extensions between sidewalk and curb. 
  • Bundle together smaller twigs or branches (smaller than 3 inches in diameter and 4 feet long) and leave at curb. 
  • Break down large bundles of branches so they are easier to handle.
  • Smaller branches and twigs can also be placed in compost carts.
  • Root balls, stumps, tree trunks, or logs are not being collected during branch pick-up.

For more information, visit the city’s website.

Questions? Email greencorner@uuaa.org. 

Methane is a greenhouse gas, about 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide over its first 20 years in the atmosphere, and agriculture is responsible for roughly a quarter of methane emissions worldwide. Dairy production accounts for about 1.4 billion metric tons of CO2-equivalent greenhouse gas emissions every year, about 3 percent of all human-induced climate pollution; most of these emissions are methane.

Lowering production of dairy cattle would not only slash methane emissions but also limit animal cruelty and pollution of soil and water. But are proposed solutions really feasible? Read more here.

Greenwashing is misleading marketing/publicity by a company to present an environmentally responsible image. 

As public concern grows about climate change, businesses want to appear as green as possible. This can lead to greenwashing, such as mislabeling products or making invalid claims of the company’s environmental responsibility.

  • Be skeptical—look for documentation of green claims
  • Ignore vague labels on products, e.g. sustainable, Earth-friendly, green, natural
  • Look for regulated labels, e.g. EnergyStar, USDA Organic, Green Seal, Fair Trade Certified. See the guide to labels here. 

Questions? Email Greencorner@uuaa.org. 

“How do we do our part in helping our community and helping those Black-owned food businesses bring in some additional income, but also highlight the contributions of African Americans to the American political landscape?” says Ederique Goudia, a chef and co-founder of Taste the Diaspora Detroit, an annual initiative focusing on the historical role of food in the fight for Black liberation and resistance, and as a means of holding onto culture. Read more about their Black History Month events here.

Yes! Ultimately, we should all switch to electric appliances for a variety of reasons, including less green house gas emissions in production, leaks, and the limited supply of gas. However, the reduction in green house gas depends on who is supplying your energy.

DTE is considered the third dirtiest utility company in the country. Per DTE’s website, 57% of their electricity comes from coal, 23% nuclear, 10% (fracked) natural gas, and less than 10% from renewables such as solar and wind.

Learn about one alternative at the February 12 forum in the Fahs Chapel (see information above) or check out Ann Arbor for Public Power. Learn about a proposal for a Sustainable Energy Utility (SEU). Questions? Contact Greencorner@uuaa.org.

Register by Thursday, February 23

Recent footage of gushing, flooding water in California reminds us that major rain storms can be damaging, even in Michigan. Heavy rain runs off rooftops, driveways, and patios, causing flooding and dumping pollutants and sediments directly into sewers and rivers. Building a rain garden is a great way to slow the run-off so it can soak in and replenish groundwater supply, all while providing habitat for butterflies and songbirds.

Sign up for a five-session class here starting Thursday, February 23.

Or you can take it for free online here.

https://secure.qgiv.com/for/friothrou/event/855754/ https://www.washtenaw.org/2456/Online-Certification 

Open through Sunday February 5

“This new UMS [University Musical Society] custom-built public art installation and immersive film experience uses humor, craft, and a critical lens to question our culture of consumption and convenience—specifically the enduring effects of our single-use plastics.”

“The Plastic Bag Store—Part Installation. Part Film. All Bags,” the installation, will be open from January 17 through February 5, at the 777 Building, 777 East Eisenhower Parkway in Ann Arbor.

For tickets ($30 plus processing fee) and more info, contact UMS at (734) 764-2538 or order online here.(https://ums.org/performance/the-plastic-bag-store/)

Holding Community Together

As we prepare for UUAA’s congregational meeting this Sunday, please join us for an abbreviated, online only Sunday service at 10:30am, which flows directly into our congregational meeting.  All are welcome, both UUAA members and friends, though only members may vote at the congregational meeting.

The UUAA Winter Congregational Meeting will be 100% Zoom with a brief service at 10:30am and the business meeting immediately thereafter. Congregants will be emailed a link to the meeting after registering. Register here.

You can view meeting materials, including 2022 Spring Annual Meeting minutes, and the 2023 agenda and budget by clicking here. 

Other agenda items include:

  • Update on the Work of the Board
  • Special Meetings Notice
  • Vision 20/50 Update
  • Operations Update
  • 2023 Budget 

Thank you and hope to see you all there!

No social hours; our building will be closed.

The Order of Service is available here as a PDF File

All are invited to attend a series of free Zoom webinars on reducing your carbon footprint. Sponsored by UUAA and five area congregations, all webinars are third Wednesdays of the month at 7:30pm. Join, learn, and change the world!!

11/16/22 – Electric Vehicles

12/14/22 – Heating and Cooling

1/18/23 – Solar Energy Systems

2/15/23 – Locally Sourced Food

3/15/23 – Local Transportation Systems

4/19/23 – Individual Behavior Choices and Climate Anxiety

5/17/23 – Investments In Our Planet

Register before each webinar for the Zoom link: (http://climateherostories.com/events/upcoming-events/)

Food Justice: Michigan Holiday Gift Guide

Taste the Local Difference (https://www.localdifference.org/) is a Michigan-based local food consulting and marketing agency whose work involves educating consumers about the value of regional foods and how they can better support their community by promoting local food systems. With the goal of helping to sell more Michigan grown and produced food, they champion our farmers, makers, and food programs.Just in time for the holidays, Taste the Local Difference has published their annual Michigan food-themed gift guide (https://www.michiganlocalgiftguide.com/gifts). Shop Michigan this season!

Don’t blow them because leaf blowers are banes to the environment. Instead use leaves to enrich your own lawn and garden and woods. How? 

  • If you have a mulching mower, leaf bits enrich your lawn. 
  • No mulcher? Compost them, and in time you’ll have nutrient-rich soil for beds and pots. 
  • Insulate beds for winter and stifle weeds in spring with leaves. They’re cheaper than purchased mulch (they’re free!) and enrich soil faster.
  • Toss them in the woods to return nutrients to the earth.

Learn more:

Whether you love them or hate them, there’s no debate that leaf blowers are extremely harmful to the environment and to humans’ hearing. In half an hour of use, traditional gas-powered blowers pollute as much as a Ford F-150 pickup driven 3,900 miles. Electric blowers are better, but they are only as green as their power source, and they still damage the insect/leaf ecosystem.

Learn more:

Margaret Renkl Essay on Leaf Blowers in the New York Times

Jessica Stolzberg Essay on Lawn Care

City of Ann Arbor Tips on Dealing with Leaves and Yard Trimmings

Saturday, November 19, 3:00pm – 5:00pm

DTE is the nation’s third dirtiest utility company due to its reliance on coal. Ann Arbor for Public Power (A2P2) is working toward a city-owned power company in Ann Arbor, a movement actively supported by Sen. Jeff Irwin, Rep. Yousef Rabhi, and others. Michigan already has 40+ municipally owned companies, which are generally greener, cheaper, and more reliable than privately-owned, for-profit utilities.

Learn more: Ann Arbor for Public Power Meet and Greet (www.annarborpublicpower.org) at Journey of Faith Church, 1900 Manchester Rd., Ann Arbor 48104.

Wanna hear something really scary? Each year, thousands of tons of Halloween stuff—costumes, decorations, candy wrappers, and more are sent to landfills. Most of these, including polyester fabric costumes, are made from petroleum-based plastics. From the landfills, they emit methane, which is a powerful greenhouse gas (GHG). And the trash takes up space that could be used in better, greener ways.

This year, think hard about how to avoid creating plastic trash. Can you aim for zero waste? Check these out for great ideas:

You’ve probably heard of Ann Arbor’s goal of carbon neutrality by 2030, known as A2ZERO. Proposal #1 on Ann Arbor’s November 8 ballot is a proposed millage to pay for the actions the City must take to achieve this goal. The truth is … getting control of climate change is going to cost money!

Visit the A2 Climate Action website for more information about the millage.

To support this proposal by handing out literature or displaying a yard sign, go to the above website, click “Take Action,” then “Volunteer.”

Did you know that reducing your intake of meat and dairy by 25% can have a significant benefit to the planet? Recent studies have found that meat production worldwide causes twice the pollution of plant-based foods. And while meat and dairy production accounts for 83% of global farmland, it provides only 18% of the world’s calories—affecting both climate and food insecurity.

For those new to a reduced meat diet, VegMichigan offers a program to get started. The 30-Day Pledge provides free samples of plant-based foods, other resources, and a mentor to help you along the way. Or jump right in with these Insanely Good meatless recipes. Contact the Food Justice Team at foodjustice@uuaa.org with questions or for additional support.

(https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/eating-less-red-meat-is-something-individuals-can-do-to-help-the-climate-crisis/#:~:text=About%2040%20percent%20of%20greenhouse,are%20converted%20to%20grazing%20land

Meat Consumption and Climate Change: Western Countries Must Cut by 75%
VegMichigan Home
30-Day Pledge
25 Easy Meatless Recipes to Try

Save our Huron River by choosing ecological lawn fertilizer and reducing fertilizer use. 

Q: What do lawn fertilizers have to do with the health of the Huron River and its adjacent waterways?  

A: Phosphorus-based fertilizers promote the growth of harmful algae, and fertilizer runoff finds its way into waterways. You can help our river by choosing fertilizers with little or no phosphorus. Every bag uses numbers to designate the amount of the main nutrients: nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). So an N-P-K of 27-0-3 would be a wise choice.

Learn more about lawn care at www.hrwc.org/lawncare.

The work of anti-racism and anti-oppression can begin by supporting BIPOC-owned businesses, and the Food Justice Team encourages everyone to make an effort where their food is concerned.

The Ypsilanti Farmers Markets are a great place to start. There you may purchase food from local Black farmers Norris Stephens of Good Medicine Farm  or Alex Ball of Old City Acres among others. This short video featuring Norris Stephens provides some insight into the importance of farmers markets for our local Black farmers. Fresh, delicious food that supports our community’s people of color—what could be better?Earlier this year, Current magazine did a piece on Supporting Black Owned Businesses in Washtenaw County, with the first section entitled “Good Eats.” You’ll find a listing of restaurants and specialty food shops in Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor that you can support. It’s another great way to get started!

If you’re looking for ways to limit plastic use, add BYOC (Bring Your Own Containers) to your list. Located at 255 E. Liberty in Ann Arbor, this locally-owned store sells environment-friendly cleaning and personal care products, refilling containers you bring and use again. A second BYOC store will soon open in Plymouth. Check www.BYOCco.com for hours and more information.Do you have ideas for replacing single-use plastics in your life? Email them to greencorner@uuaa.org, and we will compile the list for our website and future publication.

Did you know Detroit is home to nearly 1,400 farms and community gardens? There’s potential for additional agriculture, with more than 100,000 vacant lots – an area roughly the size of Manhattan!

It’s no wonder that the USDA has announced plans to open its first service center for urban agriculture in Detroit. Although USDA has historically discriminated against poor, non-white or immigrant farmers, focusing only on programs benefiting rural farmers, the new office is seen as a first step in bridging the relationship with Detroit’s urban growers.