Words from the Woods

Words from the Woods ~ One half of the prairie in front of the Woods has been planted with over 100 native plants.  In October, when temperatures have cooled, we will plant the other half with a native prairie mix of flowers and grasses and we can observe the differences as they grow!

Please note the following activities that are coming up in Hamilton County are from the Carmel Green newsletter. We have just had two of the hottest months ever recorded and by scientific analysis, the hottest it has been in 120,000 years.  Learn about resilience with Dr. Gabe Filippelli, a delightful and internationally known earth scientist.  Our Creation Care team will change our meeting to attend this instead.  Come join us.  ~Mary Blackburn

·      Dr. Gabe Filippelli ~ Join us this Thurs, Sept. 14, 6 p.m. at the Carmel Clay Public Library to hear from Indiana’s top climate scientist about how to build sustainable and resilient communities.  Dr. Filippelli, Executive Director of Indiana University Environmental Resilience Institute, will be talking about the new book, “Climate Change and Resilience in Indiana and Beyond.” You’ll also have the opportunity to purchase an autographed copy, proceeds go to ERI. Learn more and RSVP  

·      Solar 101 ~Solar is the cleanest energy you can get and one of the best ways to fight climate change. Learn how the Hamilton County Solar Co-op makes it easy to go solar at a group price and with a vetted solar installer! Also learn how to take advantage of the 30% tax credit offered through the Inflation Reduction Act.  The last day to join the 2023 Solar Co-op is Oct. 30th. Click here to RSVP for the Sept 18, 6:30 p.m. webinar  Learn more.

·      Nature-Based Climate Solutions ~On Thurs, Sept 28, 7 p.m., join the Sycamore Land Trust and Citizens Climate Lobby for a free virtual lecture with Dr. Kimberly Novick, Professor, Paul H. O’Neil Chair, Fischer Faculty Fellow and Director of the Ph. D. Program in Environmental Sciences at Indiana University. Dr. Novick will discuss the opportunities and pitfalls surrounding nature-based climate solutions in Indiana and beyond, including reforestation, improved forest management and cover cropping. Learn more and register.

·      Are we prepared for extreme heat? ~ Extreme heat is a silent killer and heat waves are projected to get hotter and last longer. If we don’t stop burning fossil fuels, Indiana is projected to have as many as 2 months over 95oF by mid-century compared to the historical baseline of just 2 days.  Learn more about extreme heat preparedness, and how communities can prepare for extreme heat.

·      Easy Ways to Go Green ~ Make sustainability your top priority to protect the future for our kids and grandkids!  Everything we do impacts our earth in some way. Change habits that will improve our environment. We can do this together!  Here’s how to calculate your household carbon footprint and some easy ways to go green.

Creation Care in Indiana

Creation Care in Indiana

There are many ways to take small steps to honor God’s Creation, our paradise on earth. Dr. Katharine Hayhoe shares the Good News and Not So Good News and suggests for small steps. She often recommends talking about what we notice in our experiences. Trying this out, I had an interesting conversation the other day with a workman on the elevator. We talked about the hot weather we’ve been experiencing, and he shared, “This is nothing compared to being in Texas last week.” When I gently suggested that their heat has been rising above normal due to earth warming, he countered, “Oh, the people there said that this is nothing new.” While it is true that Texas experienced 120 degrees in 1936, the increase in average temperatures is rising, taxing the energy grid and putting low income residents at risk of heat related illness. How can we move toward energy efficiency and explore ways that the Inflation Reduction Act  can help homeowners and businesses access its benefits?

Make sure you are taking care of yourself and loved ones during this high heat and humidity. Give your trees a good watering when we are in a drought. Davey tree has helpful hints. https://blog.davey.com/how-often-to-water-trees-during-a-drought/

Here are some opportunities from the Marion County Soil and Water Conservation District to build up your soil health :https://marionswcd.org/wp-content/uploads/Summer-2023-Newsletter.pdf

Woods Words

Woods Words~ The original plan of the Meditational Woods included an area with native flowers and grasses next to the Woods. This spring we will try a non-chemical approach to preparing a pilot area near the transmission tower at the northwest end of the woods. We will use a technique called solarization, by putting down clear plastic to use sunlight to kill the grass and weed seeds underneath and prepare for a fall planting. We received a small grant from the Central Indiana Chapter of the Indiana Native Plant Society for this pilot.

We are still waiting for an estimate of repairs for our recirculating fountain in the Meditational Circle. Hopefully, repairs will occur soon!

This week in the Woods: Join Mindy on Friday, May 12 from 9:30-10:30 am to cut back last season’s growth in the pollinator garden or Mary at 1:00 to tidy up near the fountain area. Bring gloves and wear long sleeves- all this rain is helping the poison ivy grow in a few places!

Not-So-Good-News (From Katharine Hayhoe’s newsletter): Warmer temperatures and higher carbon dioxide levels are causing plants to release more pollen into the air. Weedy plants thrive in high carbon dioxide levels — and in the case of some species, like the infamous ragweed, more carbon dioxide makes them actually produce more pollen. It’s a one-two punch that’s causing more people to develop seasonal allergies, and making conditions worse for those who already suffer from them.

So if it seems like your seasonal allergies are lasting longer and growing more intense, that’s because they probably are. In North America, pollen season now starts about 20 days earlier, lasts roughly eight days longer, and involves 21 percent more pollen, compared with three decades ago. Adults in places where spring starts earlier than the historical average have a 14 percent higher chance of developing seasonal allergies than adults in places where the onset of spring is within the normal range. In Europe, forecast studies suggest that people sensitized to ragweed will more than double by 2041 because of climate change. (From Katharine Hayhoe’s newsletter).

Please contact your legislators and utility companies and let them know how these warming temperatures are affecting you. Start a conversation now that the legislative session is over.

Evangelical Environmental Network’s Summer of Action kickoff webinar

Evangelical Environmental Network’s Summer of Action kickoff webinar ~ Each year, EEN's Summer of Action provides the opportunity for members of our community to take their advocacy and action for God's creation to the next level. Whether you're encouraging your senators to support a conservation-forward 2023 Farm Bill or testifying at an EPA public hearing in support of stronger pollution safeguards, this year will be no exception! You’re invited to join on Thursday, May 18 at 12:00 pm EDT for EEN’s Summer of Action kickoff webinar. You'll have the opportunity to hear from real Creation Care Champions, EEN Partners, and volunteers about how they're bringing positive change to their communities and learn how you can do the same. For more information and to register, visit https://creationcare.org/get-involved/summer-of-action.html.

Creation Care Update

Creation Care Update

God, what a joy it is to plant a tree,

And from the sallow earth to watch it rise,

Lifting its emerald branches to the skies

In silent adoration; and to see

It's strength and glory waxing with each spring.

Yes, it's a goodly and a gladsome thing

To plant a tree.

-----Ella Wheeler Wilcox

I recently visited Congaree National Park in South Carolina, one of the last remnants of old growth floodplain forests.  35 million acres of these forests, 99%, have been lost as a result of logging for industry and floodplains drained for pastures, farms and cities.  Per earth day.org since the start of civilization 45% of all trees have been cleared globally.

Trees are just one component in the fight against climate change, but they're a vital one.  Just one mature tree can absorb 48 pounds of carbon dioxide per year and provide a day's supply of oxygen for 4:people, proving that one small act like planting a tree either in your own backyard or in another's neighborhood through an organization such as Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, or donating to an organization for planting trees such as The Nature Conservancy, can really make a tremendous difference!

---- submitted by Kathy F on behalf of the Creation Care team

Electric Car Sales Growing Worldwide

From the Creation Care Team: Electric Car Sales Growing Worldwide ~ (From an article in Talking Climate by Katherine Hayhoe) According the International Energy Agency worldwide sales of electric cars in 2022 increased by an amazing 60%! That’s one out of every seven passenger cars sold.

In the US only about 6% of vehicles sold were EVs. However, there are proposals at the federal level that could restrict heat trapping gas emissions to be reduced in all new vehicles sold in the US. The goal is to have about 54% of all new vehicles to electric by 2030.

This of course will require major infrastructure investment, especially in charging stations as well as an overhaul of the electric grid and an increase in battery manufacturing.

The world’s largest retailer Walmart recently announced it would add fast charging stations at thousands of locations around the country. If accomplished, this could put a charging station within 90% of the US population. Similar plans are developing in other countries. Norway will ban the sale of gas vehicles by 2025. A similar ban will take place in Canada in 2035.

We are moving in an electric direction but there is much to be done to create a world of electric vehicles.

Remember the 3 Rs?

From the Creation Care team ~ Remember the 3Rs?  Reduce, Reuse and Recycle have been expanded to become a 7R guide to an eco-friendly lifestyle.  Follow the 7Rs to care for our environment.

1. RETHINK: Step back and think about the type of consumer you want to be and what this means for the environment.

2. REFUSE: Think before you buy and be prepared to not buy at all. Green consumers place themselves at the start of the buy-and-use cycle. They buy less and buy products that do the least harm to the environment.

3. REDUCE: Buy less, buy products that have little or no packaging and that last a long time, borrow instead of buy, and compost. Items that are no longer needed or used are donated or sold.

4. REUSE: Upcycle instead of throwing away. Examples: glass jars can be used to store dry goods, cereal liner bags can be used to wrap food for storage, and mesh produce bags can be used as scrubbers.

5. REPAIR: Try to fix items before disposing of them.  Before buying a product check to see that it’s repairable.

6. REGIFT: When you regift, you give someone a gift that you received from someone else. Don't feel guilty! Passing it on to someone who will enjoy it more than you is a good thing.

7. RECYCLE (Compost): Put things back into the waste stream to be used again for something else. Glass is used for roads, plastics are melted down to make new products, and the organic waste that we compost is used to fertilize our gardens.

It’s time to talk about climate! And keep talking about climate!

It’s time to talk about climate! And keep talking about climate! In this week’s “Talking Climate with Katharine Hayhoe” newsletter, Dr. Katharine Hayhoe summarizes some of the findings of the IPCC (an international consortium of scientists) in the 6th publication about climate change. The bad news is that we aren’t reducing our carbon output quickly enough and are heading toward a hotter and hotter earth. She emphasizes the importance of sharing what you have observed and find shared interests. And offer hopeful solutions after listening carefully. We can still stop the worst damage if we act quickly. To read the whole newsletter, click here. Katharine says:

“The best place to begin is with shared interests. If you’re unsure what those are, ask people about their life – and listen! Once you find a common concern, explain how climate change impacts it. Then, offer an uplifting solution that inspires hope.

For more advice on how to get started and what to say, check out my TED Talk, download the Talking Climate handbook from Climate Outreach, or grab the Let's Talk Climate handbook by The Nature Conservancy. Project Drawdown also has info on 100+ climate solutions to share.”

Indy Creation Fest

Words from the Woods

Words from the Woods ~ The next Wood’s Work Day will be Saturday, March 18 at 10 AM.  Bring your gloves and hand tools as we will be cutting down last year’s plants and weeding the beds.  We wait until the days are warmer so the native insects have a chance to hatch that may be in the flowers and shrubs.  Some of these insects will be the protein source for the bird babies in our Woods.  Let Mary and Mindy know if you’re coming, or just show up.  We can order pizza to share after working together.  Stay for the composting workshop at 1 PM, as well!

Do you have a weed free area of lawn? Consider having a NoMow May along areas of your yard to let the violets and other plants emerge. Here’s nice summary of ways to participate .

Dr. Katharine Hayhoe, climate scientist gave a presentation at the IUPUI Sustainability Conference to help you learn to talk about how climate change with others and the work at IU Environmental Resilience Institute. It last 3 minutes. Dr. Hayhoe talks about resilience

Mary B & Mindy S, Wood’s Co-Clerks

Celebrate Spring with these two opportunities!

Friends Woods Work Day on Saturday, March 18 from 10 AM-12 noon

We will cut down last year’s stalks, pull the early weeds and remove any emerging honeysuckle bushes. We may scatter some sedge seeds over an area that was recently cleared of euonymus by Spott’s Landscape.

Please let Mary or Mindy know if you’re able to come. We can provide pizza or a light lunch for our hungry volunteers. Or contact the office at office@indyfriends.org.

Compost 101 on March 18 from 1:00-2:30 PM

Brooke Alford from the Purdue Extension will have a hands-on workshop here at First Friends.

We will spend part of the time outdoors at the west side of the garage where the garden compost bin is located. Want to make your own worm compost bin? Bring two 27-gallon trash containers and Brooke will show you how to drill the holes for this composting method. Bring your questions and your curiosity!

Want to hear about environmental issues as we start the second half of the State General Assembly session? HEC will host an online update this Thursday March 2 and 2 PM. Sign up here to get the latest updates.

HEC Legislative Update March 2.

As we learned from the environmental disaster that occurred in Ohio, the toxic components required for plastics production, should give us all pause. Please consider how you can limit your participation the overuse of single use plastics. Reuse as much as you can. Buy fewer plastic products that end up in the waste stream.

Did you know that the contaminated earth from the Ohio accident is going to a hazardous waste landfill in Roachdale, Indiana? As we consider environmental justice, I hope that this site is truly protecting the people and water near this area.

A Sustainability Practice?

From the Creation Care Team: A Sustainability Practice? 

Lent begins next week and some of our Christian brothers and sisters will be giving up various things or taking on some kind of spiritual practice during this time leading up to Easter. As Quakers we don't generally observe this practice. We feel that our behavior should match our spirituality ALL of the time. But we might sometimes do something a little extra to bring some goodness to ourselves and others during this time of focusing on Jesus' ministry leading up to the crucifixion.

As Quakers we want to be good stewards of the creation that God has given us. We of the Creation Care Team suggest we might want to try a "sustainability practice", some small way to be a good steward of the creation.

Here's one simple, economical and environmentally friendly idea for all you coffee drinkers out there. Buy yourself a reusable travel or commuter mug. I have one that has lasted for years and even survived a couple of "mug on top of car" incidents. They are usually bigger than the typical cup you will get from the coffee shops. Starbucks, McDonalds and Dunkin' Donuts will put your Tall or Grande or whatever in your commuter mug and Starbucks will deduct 10 cents from the price. Viola! A simple way to reduce paper going into landfills or up in smoke. Try this simple practice and look for other possible suggestions for sustainable and environmentally friendly suggestions in the weeks to come.

Words from the Woods

Words from the Woods ~

Want to help Pick Up Sticks? Friends Woods Work Day on Thursday February 23 from 9:30 to 11:30.

Accelerate Climate Action - On Fri. Feb. 17, 8:30 a.m. join the IU Environmental Resilience Institute and IUPUI Office of Sustainability for an all-day conference aimed at accelerating climate action in Indiana. The goal is to move quickly and boldly from planning to action. Keynote speaker: Janet McCabe, US EPA Deputy Administrator.

Ask your State Senator to support SB 335 which will be heard on February 20th at the Statehouse. This bill is asking the state to create a climate solutions task force. Young people ages 16-24 have indicated that concern about the future of the environment is a top priority. Please support our youth that have worked hard to learn about legislation and bring this bill forward to our state government.

Save the date: Compost 101 on March 18 from 1:00-2:30 PM - Brooke Alford from the Purdue Extension will have a hands-on workshop here at First Friends. Shalom Zone churches are invited. Bring your questions and your curiosity!

Creation Care Update

Creation Care update:

Save the Date:

The next Woods Workday will be Thursday, February 16th. We will meet around 9:30am in the woods for cleanup, to pick up tree limbs and make a brush pile. We’ll stay until around 11am. Please let the office (office@indyfriends.org) know if you would like to help keep our Woods looking good. (Cancelled due to weather.)

The First Friends Creation Care Team is hosting a Composting 101 Workshop, Saturday, March 18, from 1-2:30 PM at the meetinghouse. We will learn about building an effective compost mixture as well as worm composting. Our special guest is Brooke Alford, from the Purdue University Extension.

From our colleagues in Carmel Green:

Legislative Update
Join Carmel Green this Thurs. Feb, 9, 6 p.m. to learn about environmental, climate and energy bills, and how you can make a positive impact! The guest speaker, Tim Maloney, Senior Policy Director of the Hoosier Environmental Council will provide an update on what’s happening at the statehouse. Learn more and RSVP

Support SB335 Climate Solutions Task Force Bill 
With this bill, our young people are advocating for climate protection, and we should help them! Senate Bill 335 would create a task force to study a range of climate solutions for Indiana. The bill will be heard in committee on Mon. Feb 13 and the chair needs to ask for a vote to get it out of committee. Kudos to Carmel High School student Ashlyn Walker for raising her voice at the statehouse climate rally! The best way to support the young people working on this bill (and ALL young people) is to contact YOUR STATE SENATOR to VOTE YES on SB335 - learn more (easier to see this on a computer).

Indiana Sustainability & Resilience Conference (If anyone is interested from First Friends, contact Mary Blackburn)
On Fri. Feb. 17, 8:30 a.m. join the IU Environmental Resilience Institute and IUPUI Office of Sustainability for an all day conference aimed at accelerating climate action in Indiana. Keynote speaker: Janet McCabe, US EPA Deputy Administrator! Learn more and Register

Electric Vehicles 101 
On Tues, Feb 21, 6:30 p.m., learn the basics about Electric Vehicles from a panel of speakers from Tesco, Greater Indiana Clean Cities, Electron Charger and the City of Carmel Transportation Development. Learn more and register. 

Electrify Everything & IRA
The big climate solution is to electrify our homes and cars with clean energy. On Wednesday. Feb. 22, 5:30 p.m. our friends at Citizens Climate Lobby Indy are hosting guest speaker Brock Benefiel with Rewiring America to share his expertise on how the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) can help us save on electrification. Learn more and RSVP. 

The Marion County Soil & Water District 2022 Annual Report is out and has lots of helpful information, including a soil report and reports on their annual activities. https://marionswcd.org/wp-content/uploads/2022-SWCD-Annual-Report.pdf

From Your Creation Care Advocate:

Renewable Energy Day
On Thurs. Jan. 19, 7 p.m. attend the training webinar where you’ll get an overview of 2023 energy bills, guidance for meeting with your legislators, and tips for effective messaging on key renewable energy issues. Speakers: Zach Schalk from Solar United Neighbors, Sabra Northam from Hallowell Consulting, and Reed Davis from Indiana Conservative Alliance for Energy. Read more and RSVP.

On Thurs. Jan. 26, 9 a.m. attend Renewable Energy Day at the Statehouse to rally for your clean energy rights. Speakers will share key renewable energy priorities. And, you’ll have a chance to meet with your legislators to urge them to support clean energy. Lunch is provided. Read more and RSVP.(IFCL is sponsoring a table at this event )

Youth Climate Action

Young people are taking a stand to protect their climate future! On Wed. Feb. 1, 11 a.m. join the statewide youth-led organization, Confront the Climate Crisis, for a climate action rally and press conference. State Representative Carey Hamilton (D-Indianapolis) will bring a bipartisan coalition of youth, advocacy organizations, and legislators together to call on lawmakers to take common-sense action on climate change. And, you’ll have a chance to meet with your legislators to urge them to act now! Read more and RSVP. The youth have asked me to speak for 5 minutes about why I support taking positive action to begin healing the earth. 

Words from the Woods

Words from the Woods ~ Happy New Year! Now is the time to start planning for spring. Is there an area in your yard that would benefit from some native plants? Use this handy Native Plant Finder to choose some plants that will bring beauty and nourishment to our fellow creatures.

In the Woods this winter, Spott’s Landscaping will remove more euonymus. Euonymus (wintercreeper) prevents the emergence of native wildflowers which nurture the insects and birds. Let’s see what develops after these wildflower smothering plants are gone!

In mid-March, we will be cutting back the perennials before new growth begins to allow the insect eggs to hatch. Workdays will be posted if you’d like to help.

Creation Care News: Did you know that our habits can make a big difference in helping reduce our negative impact on creation?

“The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a report in 2021 on the environmental impacts of food waste . EPA estimated that each year, U.S. food loss and waste embodies 170 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (million MTCO2e) GHG emissions (excluding landfill emissions) – equal to the annual CO2 emissions of 42 coal-fired power plants. This estimate does not include the significant methane emissions from food waste rotting in landfills. EPA data show that food waste is the single most common material landfilled and incinerated in the U.S., comprising 24 and 22 percent of landfilled and combusted municipal solid waste, respectively.” Food Link to Greenhouse Gases

The World Wildlife Fund has a few suggestions to reduce food waste: Plan your menus and only buy what you need, freeze extras, become a creative cook with leftovers and find ways to use extra foods in baking and cooking.

Prevent Food Waste

Mary B, Woods Co-clerk

Woods Update

The Meditational Woods team is exploring ways to expand our native habitat to further love on God’s incredible creation. Over twenty years ago, the original plan included a prairie under the powerlines. Amy P, Mindy S and Mary B are investigating how they could install a test area under the high voltage electrical tower and extend it further north and whether it would be feasible. Indiana Native Plant Society has small grants to help with projects like this. We will keep you all posted about our progress!

AES Indiana, formerly known as Indianapolis Power & Light, is planning to reveal its next 20 year plan and it seems likely that they are not including any of the benefits offered by the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act. See Katharine Hayhoe’s newsletter and click on the link to the Sierra Club report on utilities' slow walk to convert to clean energy. AES IN gets a D grade for relying on fossil fuels for most of its energy. Our collective future is at stake. The effects of climate change are real and they are happening now and quickly. Call or write AES and urge them to go to clean energy by 2030.

You can sign up to participate in the final public meeting here: https://www.aesindiana.com/integrated-resource-plan

From the Woods

From the Woods: Happy Anniversary to the Clean Water Act, signed October 18, 1972. The Clean Water Act was created in response to increased public concern for the environment and for the condition of the nation’s waters. 

Before the CWA, rivers and streams were choked with pollution and were toxic to fish and not fit for recreation. One of the most famous triggers was the repeated fire and pollution of the Cuyahoga River near Lake Erie. Industry and people thought of our rivers and streams as trash pits, or “Dilution is the solution to pollution” For a visual story, read https://www.history.com/news/epa-earth-day-cleveland-cuyahoga-river-fire-clean-water-act.

The Sierra Club is concerned that parts of the Clean Water Act are threatened. To learn more, read this notice from The Sierra Club.

Words from the Woods

From the Woods: Find a spot on your property to rake and store your leaves. Our bird and pollinator friends will thank you! https://www.birdnote.org/listen/shows/leave-leaves?fbclid=IwAR2EVglA3BdCLqI-rQAQzo0U30ykqaO16rpiZI1AzO4f0sTgGcmVpxflA2c

Protect migrating birds this fall. Turn off your house lights at night, put decals on the windows to make your windows obvious and speak up for birds and become an advocate. https://www.audubon.org/news/what-does-bird-safe-glass-even-mean

October 22, 2022: Want to learn more about native plants and why we humans need to live in harmony with them? Come either virtually or in-person to the Indiana Native Plant Society annual conference. Learn more here: https://indiananativeplants.org/inps-sponsored-events/annual-conference/

From the Woods

From the Woods Committee:  Buy your pollinator plants from reliable sources recommended by the Indiana Native Plant Society, Grow Natives.  Or try to grow them from seed.  Mary Blackburn has butterfly milkweed seeds( Aesclepsia tuberosa, a low growing yellow milkweed that thrives in sunny, dry locations).  Let her know if you would like some!

Harmful Pesticides Found in Milkweeds from Retail Nurseries

Article from Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation

A new study released in Biological Conservation found harmful levels of pesticides in milkweed plants purchased from retail nurseries across the United States. Pesticides were found in all plants tested, raising alarms for monarch conservation efforts that rely on planting milkweed sourced from commercial nurseries. (PORTLAND, Ore.; August 31, 2022). 38% of the samples had residue levels that could harm monarchs’ ability to migrate and forage, primarily due to high levels of fungicides. Fungicides have generally been overlooked as an issue for insect conservation efforts. Plants labeled “wildlife-friendly” from stores and nurseries included in the study did not have fewer pesticides in or on the leaves of the milkweed plants. In some cases, plants with wildlife labels had more harmful pesticide residues.

“This study provides a great starting point to help ensure the growing number of pollinator-gardens are of the highest quality possible,” said Aimee Code, Pesticide Program Director at the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.  Consumers can let their nurseries know they want plants that are free from harmful pesticides.

“It’s important to keep gardening for pollinators for the long term," said Code. "Just take steps to reduce pesticide exposure: cover new plants the first year, water heavily, discard the soil before planting, as it may be contaminated, and avoid pesticide use.”

 The study’s findings highlight the need for nurseries to ensure that plants being sold as pollinator-friendly are also pollinator-safe.

Read the full article here.