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Engaged Organizations: General Board of Global Ministries General Board of Global Ministries discuss their vision and span of their work on their website. Their areas of impact run the gamut for a multitude of environmental and social justice issues: "Connection is at the core of our work. Global Ministries connects The United Methodist Church, its people and congregations to partner with others engaged in God’s global work, which takes place in a variety of settings, countries and cultures. Global Ministries works through missionaries and partners in more than 60 countries around the world. " -
Engaged Organizations: Saint Kateri Conservation Center Saint Kateri Conservation Center decribe their various ecological program offerings on their website: "The Saint Kateri Conservation Center offers a faith-based program to inspire Catholics and others to restore yards, gardens, schools, farms, parks, forests, rivers, and wetlands into healthy habitats for people and wildlife. We do this close to home, where we live and work. The Saint Kateri Habitat Program encourages individuals, parishes, schools, religious orders, and working landowners to restore their natural homes in a way that praises God and fosters a greater connection between people and nature. " -
Seminary Hill Farm Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) The Seminary Hill Farm website includes the following information on their community supported agriculture program: "Transforming the traditional model of a CSA program, our program follows a new model that allows you to choose what items you would like week to week without having to commit to the entire season. Once the season begins, simply choose the items you would like to enjoy in your kitchen that week by visiting our website and meet us at one of our convenient locations to pick up your honestly fresh ingredients. We will have the items properly washed, packed and ready for you to take home and celebrate." -
Engaged Organizations: Lutheran Outdoor Ministries in Ohio Lutheran Outdoor Ministries in Ohio discuss their camp facilities, their mission, and their vision on their website: "Lutheran Outdoor Ministries in Ohio owns and operates 2 camp facilities, Camp Luther and Lutheran, Memorial Camp with support and direction from the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America. Mission: Bringing people together to experience Christ through natural settings and programs. Vision: Connecting all people to faith and nature for a changing world." The 5th graders at St. Vincent de Paul in Mt. Vernon, OH participate annually in the summer camp program at Lutheran Memorial Camp. -
Profile: Todd Marti Todd Marti, a parishioner at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Columbus, serves as a “garden steward” for the community garden located on the grounds of the Upper Arlington Lutheran Church at Mill Run. Todd’s garden stewardship is a clear reflection of his care for creation and his fellow man. Each year vegetables are planted on two-thirds of the 12,500 square feet garden. When the tomatoes, beets, squash, lettuce and other vegetables are harvested they are donated to the Hilliard Free Lunch Summer Camp for Kids, and Mid-Ohio Food Bank partner pantries. On average 10,000 pounds of produce is harvested and donated annually. Over the life of the garden 130,000 plus pounds of produce have been donated. The recipient of the Franklin Park conservatory Growing to Green Gardener of the Year Award in 2012, Todd utilizes innovative gardening practices such as companion planting and sequencing of multiple crops to enhance output. The garden helps preserve God’s creation by composting food waste and coffee grounds from local coffee shops and restaurants. Yard waste is also composed including that generated by St. Francis of Assisi from its flower and vegetable gardens. When he is not working in the community garden—which he is every Saturday from spring until mid-November--or recruiting volunteers to help with weeding, planting and harvesting, Todd can be found at his day job as an Assistant Attorney General for State of Ohio. -
Engaged Organizations: 1,000 Days 1,000 Days non-profit organization for women and children discuss the work that they do on their website: "1,000 Days works to win support for investments in the nutrition and well-being of mothers, babies and toddlers in the U.S. and around the world. We make the case to policymakers, global leaders and those who influence them that brighter futures begin with ensuring mothers and children everywhere have a thriving first 1,000 days. From advocating for evidence-based dietary guidelines for pregnant women and young children to providing parents with educational resources and content on baby and toddler feeding, 1,000 Days is committed to nourishing healthy beginnings. " -
Engaged Organizations: Scaling Up Nutrition Scaling Up Nutrition discuss their vision and goals on their website: "Since 2010, the SUN Movement has inspired a new way of working collaboratively to end malnutrition, in all its forms. With the governments of SUN Countries in the lead, it unites people—from civil society, the United Nations, donors, businesses and researchers—in a collective effort to improve nutrition. The SUN Movement Strategy and Roadmap (2016-2020) has helped illuminate the importance of nutrition as a universal agenda – and one which is integral to achieving the promise of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). To realise the vision of a world without hunger and malnutrition, the SUN Movement Principles of Engagement guide actors as they work in a multi-sectoral and multi-stakeholder space to effectively working together to end malnutrition, in all its forms. These principles ensure that the Movement is flexible while maintaining a common purpose and mutual accountability." -
Engaged Organizations: Wild Church Network The Wild Church Network website describes their focus on spiritually re-connecting to the outdoors: "We are a growing network of pastors and spiritual leaders, who have made bold moves to launch new expressions of church outside to re-acquaint, re-cover, and re-member our congregations as loving participants of a larger community. In this age of mass extinctions, we feel burdened by the love of Christ to invite people into direct relationship with some of the most vulnerable victims of our destructive culture: our land, our waters, the creatures with whom we share our homes. And, there, people remember that they belong to a larger beloved community. Along the way, we have remembered that our Christian tradition of spiritual transformation has always been rooted in the actual local wilderness." -
Low-Cost Construction Techniques for Earth Keepers Technology for the Poor, a non-profit charitable organization based in Westerville, Ohio, discuss their techniques for low cost construction from an excerpt from their manual: "The Construction Techniques described in this manual use straw as filler in wall sections. It further describes how one need not have to bale the straw to use it for wall construction. The author used the techniques described in this manual to build plastered straw structures in India and Pennsylvania. The pictures in the following pages should provide sufficient information for anyone to construct a low-cost, earth-friendly building using straw as building material for the walls." -
Wind Energy for Earthkeepers Technology for the Poor, a non-profit charitable organization based in Westerville, Ohio, discuss their design for low cost wind energy in this excerpt from their manual: "In recent decades due to the search for renewable energy, many efficient wind generators have been developed and tested. Today, we see enormous wind generators dotting the landscapes of many states. Wind generators, especially the recent ones, are quite sophisticated, costly and needs expertise to maintain and operate. The most appropriate wind machine for use in less income countries was found to be a simple machine invented by a Finnish Engineer, Savonius." -
Pedal Power Report Technology for the Poor, a non-profit charitable organization based in Westerville, Ohio, discuss their design and construction of their dual-purpose bicycle in this excerpt from their manual below: "This manual describes the design and construction of a device which, when attached to a standard bicycle, will permit it to be used as a pedal‑power machine. The resulting machine, known as a dual-purpose bicycle, can be used to power numerous small‑scale mechanical devices such as grain threshers, grinders, water pumps, electrical generators, and a variety of small machine tools. When desired, the dual-purpose bicycle can be converted from its transportation mode to its pedal‑power mode, or vice versa within a matter of minutes." -
The Yale Forum on Religion and Ecology at Yale The Forum on Religion and Ecology at Yale website provides an overview of the scope of the environmentally related topics covered on their forum: "The Forum on Religion and Ecology at Yale is an international multireligious project. With its conferences, publications, and website, it is engaged in exploring religious worldviews, texts, and ethics in order to broaden understanding of the complex nature of current environmental concerns. The Forum recognizes that religions need to be in dialogue with other disciplines (e.g., science, economics, policy, gender studies) in seeking comprehensive solutions to both global and local environmental problems." -
Engaged Organizations: Web of Creation The Web of Creation website discuss their organization aim and services that they provide: "The Web of Creation was established to foster the movement for personal and social transformation to a just and sustainable world from religious perspectives. To that end, the information at this site will: -Connect you with ideas, resources and strategies for doing eco-justice -Inform, inspire, encourage, educate you about eco-justice -Support you in your efforts to live, work and pray in ways that promote eco-justice The Web of Creation has also been developed to provide information and connections for theology students interested in environmental ministry." -
Engaged Organizations: National Council of Churches Eco-Justice Programs The National Council of Churches (NCC) discuss their work through their eco-justice programs on their website: "The National Council of Churches has been a prophetic voice for justice and peace for its entire existence. In recent years, the NCC has been involved in a diverse range of issues such as poverty alleviation, protecting the environment, racial justice, and responding to the particular concerns of women. The NCC continues to remain engaged in these areas; however the primary program work in some cases has been spun off to new organizations that continue to bring the ecumenical community together to struggle for justice." -
Toledo Grows: Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Community Supported Agriculture is run by grassroots organization Toledo Grows. Benefits of being a CSA shareholder include receiving weekly shares of quality, fresh farm products. Shareholders also can choose between a full share (portioned for a family of 3-4 for the week) or a half share (portioned for 1 or 2). Members support local farmers using sustainable growing methods—no harmful chemicals; receive a variety of vegetables and herbs, including many “staples” such as carrots, lettuce, peppers, onions, etc.—whatever is ready that week; experience new vegetables; and receive recipes and tips on cooking them. -
Engaged Organizations: Black Church Food Security Network The Black Church Food Security Network strives to provide fresh produce to historically Africa American churches within the Baltimore Metro area. Their popup farm stands provide convenience to the public as they are able to set up during times when congregation members typically gather. Ideally, members will either start their own gardens on site or expand ones that they currently maintain. Often, the farmers or urban growers will offer to lead bible studies and include food security issues as part of the sessions. -
Engaged Organizations: Orita's Cross Freedom School The mission of Orita's Cross Freedom School is to cultivate student's natural sense of curiosity and skills to become agents of change within their community. They are a solution-oriented group, addressing pressing societal issues such as racism, gentrification, gender inequality, and the prison industrial complex. Some ways that the school promotes learning through doing includes civic engagement demonstrations, mentoring, and cultural awareness programs. -
Bishop Hartley High School Care 4 Creation student association Bishop Hartley High School Care 4 Creation student association is a student-led organization that promotes and carries out creation care related projects at Bishop Hartley High School. One example includes the student led climate strike at the school. -
Bishop Hartley High School Care 4 Creation faculty committee Bishop Hartley High School has created a Care 4 Creation faculty committee to plan for long-term school initiatives. The committee is open to instructors from any academic discipline there. -
Bishop Hartley High School vermi-composting bins Bishop Hartley instructors Ann Hawk and Rick Kohut maintain vermi-composting bins in each of their classrooms. They enjoy having it to teach their students the science behind the eco-friendly decomposition process. Maintenance is relatively low - occasionally needing to add shredded paper to soak up some of the moistness. -
Engaged Organizations: Green Tree Plastics - A Bench for Caps Program Green Tree Plastics offers a children's program, ABC Cap and Lid program, for any children's organization. Children have the opportunity to collect, sort, and weigh caps and lids as part of their program contract. The children then receive a bench in which they are designated as the owner. St. Vincent de Paul School in Mt. Vernon, Ohio has participated in the program and received three benches from students' effort with the program. -
Engaged Organizations: Kenyon College Brown Family Environmental Center The Brown Environmental Center at Kenyon College offers both self-guided and educational sessions that showcase their diverse range of natural habitats that are maintained at the center. St. Vincent de Paul in Mt. Vernon, Ohio makes annual trips for their K-6 students. -
Engaged Organizations: Habitat for Humanity Restore Habitat MidOhio Restores aims to reduce costs associated with affordable housing construction as well as reduce the amount of waste going into landfills. Restores accepts new or used household items and materials from individuals or businesses. The proceeds then assist with Habitat MidOhio's administrative costs in building affordable housing. Recycling Inc. often donates there following their building deconstruction projects. -
Engaged Organizations: Stratford Ecological Center The Stratford Ecological Center is an organic farm and nature preserve that provides education sessions, tours, and hiking trails to the public. They also offer various workshops and classes on an ongoing basis. Trinity Catholic Elementary School 4th and 5th graders participation each year in a 5-day environmental camp "Messages of the Earth" at the Stratford Ecological Center. -
Creation Care Tips Winter 2020 This Creation Care bulletin insert provides a message from Pope Francis on how even small actions on a daily basis can impact the earth and fellow humans in great ways. It focuses on reducing waste by composting, cutting back on purchases, and recycling.
