Skip to main content
October 6 - October 27, 2021

MetroVan Unitarians Feed

BACK TO TEAM PAGE

  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food
    Michael Pollan states that “it is better to pay the grocer (our edit: or the farmer!) than the doctor.” What are your thoughts on this assertion?

    Fay Ferris's avatar
    Fay Ferris 10/22/2021 11:56 PM
    Michael Pollan also said food cooked by a human in a kitchen is much healthier than food cooked by a corporation in a factory.  That changed the way I think about food, 

  • Mary Peterson Bennett's avatar
    Mary Peterson Bennett 10/21/2021 8:55 AM
    I joined ecochallenge because of Teresa, and because I like teamwork. I mainly chose food and being outdoors as they're things I'm working on anyways and seem to enhance my life especially during covid. I make most food from scratch (not much in the way of prepackaged, processed food) but even so it's made me aware of how hard it is to cook a zero-waste meal. I've started "interpreting" that to mean if I didn't buy NEW bread in a plastic bag, using the bread that came in a bag was OK.  I literally got a free 20 lb turkey from my Buy Nothing Group (in plastic) and 4 ciabatta buns (in plastic). I decided to give myself "zero waste" points for those, as both might have wound up in the landfill otherwise.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Nature
    Kathleen Dean Moore says that a sense of gratitude leads to a sense of moral obligation. Do you agree? How can we cultivate a sense of gratitude as individuals, and as a society?

    Mary Peterson Bennett's avatar
    Mary Peterson Bennett 10/21/2021 8:51 AM
    Having this goal has made me more mindful when I'm out. Even when I'm just walking to the grocery store or library, I can feel gratitude--if I remember to!

  • Joan  Morris's avatar
    Joan Morris 10/17/2021 9:48 PM
    It was good to check in with our Beacon Team at Teresa's Eco Challenge Chat at the after service coffee hour!  Shared some accomplishments and challenges.

    • Mary Peterson Bennett's avatar
      Mary Peterson Bennett 10/21/2021 8:56 AM
      I'd like to build in some "chats" for UCV folk next year, maybe a 5-minute add-on to some other Enviro team event, to keep the support going.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Action Track: Healing and Renewal
    What's your favorite activity(ies) in which you experience joy while being active and moving?

    Rev. Meg Roberts's avatar
    Rev. Meg Roberts 10/15/2021 10:59 PM
    Listening to world chants that are spiritually focused - it's uplifting and inspiring, as well as good for the body and soul!

  • Fay Ferris's avatar
    Fay Ferris 10/14/2021 10:50 PM
    Eco challenge keeping me motivated!

  • Glenn Wootton's avatar
    Glenn Wootton 10/14/2021 9:34 AM
    Today: I am grateful for having a reliable job to provide an income,  my family who cares about me,  and my ability to be creative. 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food
    In North America, up to 65% of food waste happens at the consumer level. Chef Steven Satterfield advocates for using every part of a vegetable. How can you incorporate using an entire vegetable (including the skins, tops, stalks, etc.) during your next meal prep?

    Mary Peterson Bennett's avatar
    Mary Peterson Bennett 10/13/2021 9:08 AM
    This zero-waste cooking goal is a challenge for me. I don't want to cheat, but... well I got a 20-lb turkey wrapped in plastic (I'll recycle) do the subsequent leftover meals count as zero-waste or once any ingredient came wrapped in plastic whether recycled or not elimiate the whole meal.  Anyhow I'm doing a ton of gifting of turkey leftovers including bone broth so I'm a good person.

  • Karen Bartlett's avatar
    Karen Bartlett 10/12/2021 8:48 AM
    I have set up bins in my building for people to bring in their soft plastics, which I will then gather and take out to our local Zero waste centre.

    • Mary Peterson Bennett's avatar
      Mary Peterson Bennett 10/21/2021 8:58 AM
      I will propose this (again) for adding to our laundry room. Perhaps our new families might help me make it so. 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food
    How can you use Ecochallenge.org's programs to help mobilize your community to take action toward a sustainable future?

    Mary Peterson Bennett's avatar
    Mary Peterson Bennett 10/11/2021 9:25 AM
    I'd love to get interest in my housing co-op but some people are HIGHLY resistant to any efforts I make. I'll try to work one-on-one with the new families to see what can happen there. e.g. offering to take recyclables to London Drugs.