Eco-Act 21-07: the “global” in global warming

eco not ego

global climate change

Today we begin to look at how and where we as individuals fit into the work of eliminating global warming. To do this, we’ll dig just a bit into agriculture, which accounts for 19% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions annually, according to Bill Gates in How to Avoid a Climate Disaster*. As we start, we should remember three points.

1. We truly are all connected. Atmospheric warming can’t be eliminated by or for Seattle, Washington state or the US alone. We can and should take steps that help local conditions, and we can be confident that these measures contribute to the bigger solutions needed. But despite our best efforts, we will feel some negative impacts of global warming in Seattle, the Northwest, the US—and in the northern hemisphere—until climate problems are addressed globally. It should also be stated that the global majority will face more severe consequences of global warming, first.

2. Global climate solutions must pair with global equity solutions. Effective, lasting climate solutions must be robust enough to work for a growing world population (the Pew Research Center estimates it at 10.9 billion in 2100), supporting higher living standards and expanding economies that enable increasing worldwide consumption of goods and energy. We have a mandate to act, from both a climate and a social justice perspective: no (social) justice, no (climate) peace.

3. Game-changing climate solutions will require global scale. Carbon taxes, solar and wind farms, transition to “clean” steel and cement, carbon capture technologies …. These and many other initiatives will be essential to the elimination of GHG emissions. And they will require investments, technology advances and legislative actions exceeding by orders of magnitude the contributions any one of us alone can make. Does this make our individual efforts pointless? Absolutely not! Our actions can help make a direct difference. Here, for example, are three actions we as individuals could take right now that have the potential to reduce GHG emissions in the agriculture sector:

   • Waste less food. Americans throw away something like 40%** of the food they buy—twice the percentage of Europeans and some other populations. As wasted food rots in the landfill, it releases GHGs—3.3 billion tons each year. So we can help reduce global warming simply by shopping for food more carefully and making sure we use everything we buy.

   • Modify our diets. Raising livestock for food is a major source of GHG emissions in the agriculture sector. Reducing the amount of meat we eat thus makes a direct, if gradual, contribution to GHG elimination. Consider also that our reduced consumption here will help compensate for other parts of the world where improving standards of living support increased meat consumption. Can our meal planning include a few meatless (or “engineered” meat) entrées each week?

   • Get smart about fertilizing our gardens. As they are used, fertilizers can release nitrogen, which ultimately leads to GHG emissions and water pollution. Yet plants—including those in our Union Gardens—benefit from fertilizing. The challenge is to fertilize just enough. A wealth of information on this topic can be found here and elsewhere online.

Intentional acts like the three noted above produce direct benefits and confirm the value our individual roles, in this case as consumers and savvy gardeners. But they do more: they signal the food industry, agribusinesses, corporate farmers and livestock producers, and other organizations that our requirements, and thus our shopping behaviors, are changing. And to continue to enjoy success in the marketplace, these major corporations and other businesses will have to change their behaviors as well, by changing product offerings or raising smaller herds, for example, or growing food grains instead of livestock feed.

Climate change is truly global. But even so, we do fit into the work of eliminating global warming—by our actions on a personal scale, and by our influence on regional, national and global-scale players.

* How to Avoid a Climate Disaster, Bill Gates, page 55. The formal title for this category is actually “agriculture, forestry and other land use.”

** How to Avoid a Climate Disaster, page 121.

Eco-Act 023: Stories from the fields

As we round out our waste series (for now), we thought we’d highlight a food waste story from our greater region that has local implications. Earlier this summer, Alysun Deckert — studio 3 elder and UWMC nutritionist — sent us an article about a former coworker who started a nonprofit (read: movement!) to redistribute food in our region at the onset of COVID-19. By partnering with farmers in Eastern WA who had surplus produce and community members all over the state, George Ahearn and co. began moving tons of produce, dairy, meat and other foods to create more food security in this time of need.

moving food

with community

Since its inception in late April, EastWest Food Rescue has diverted 8,000,000+ pounds of food and served 1,500,000+ meals. And it all started through serendipitous community connections. You can read more about their story and the heart behind this food movement in this UW Bothell article, or by visiting their website above. As our eco-act for this week, we challenge you to meditate on George’s words from the UW interview:

“It’s really just finding a way to connect the dots. I was amazed to see a potato give people hope and to bring tears to people on both sides — the donors and the recipients. A potato can give people purpose,” he said. “So, figure out what dots you have in your life and try to connect those and make it easier for someone.”

And isn’t that how it happens? We’ve seen the harvest and abundance of opportunity grow as we invest in relationships with those we live with, our neighbors, and community partners during this year. Acts of tending and keeping (our first vocation, according to Genesis) can be as simple as a potato — literally.

So what dots in your life can you connect around food security, waste, care for the earth, and ultimately, justice? Might there be an opportunity to cook an extra meal for a neighbor — on your street or from Compass House? Could you plant your garden this winter and coming warm season, planning to grow some excess produce to be used in Union’s various food ministries? Or maybe you might connect with EastWest Food Rescue by volunteering your time to let nothing go wasted.

Let us know what dots you connect and the ideas you might have that our community can help you grow.

Eco-Act 017: Food Waste to Security

This week, it’s no surprise that we circle back to food waste in our wider coverage of waste. Food is so much a part of our everyday, tangible existence — which for many of us in quarantine, has looked like equal cycles of delight and dread as we cook homemade sourdough everythings, and/or really nothing at all (ordering take-out does help our local food industry & workers!).

Food is literally the foundation of our bodies, the building blocks of our cells. In terms of our faith, Jesus uses such mundane, everyday items (bread and wine, fish and loaves) to help us re-member and heal the fractures in ourselves, our communities, and the world, and make evident the miraculous abundance of the Kingdom (more on our food ministry here)

Food waste

to food security

This week, we invite you to learn about food insecurity by chewing on the Truth & Justice reflection written by Alysun Deckert, Studio 3 Elder and registered UW Medical Center dietician. As Alysun highlights the very real statistics behind food security, especially in a pandemic and especially among Black and Brown folks, there are ways we can continue to redirect food away from waste and towards security (while also lowering carbon emissions!) In addition to resources shared on her post, here are some more ideas:

• Increase food access through the University Food Bank by rescuing excess food and funneling it to folks who could use it. Union goes weekly and sends food directly to LUV & Compass House, along with using produce rescued in our 300+ weekly burrito roll.

  You as an individual or family can also rescue food there; rescuing food has low barriers and it can go far for yourself or if you’re cooking for others (Compass House & LUV included!). Email Adrienne to get in touch with a Food Bank staff member.

• Check out Civil Eats for great reads, inspiring stories, and news updates on what is happening across the country in the ways of food and politics.

• See the FAO (UN Food & Agricultural Organization) for the global perspective on food security, with special attention to their food loss indicators, and affirmation on shifting excess food to those who are hungry.

• Shift your household’s food waste. Before food is wasted, cook some homemade meals for Compass House, LUV, or other neighbors in need. More info here, otherwise email Adrienne if you have any questions! And consider buying Imperfect produce for “ugly” food that has already been reclaimed.

• As Kitchen Table Conversations talked about this week after listening to the 2nd episode of the Chief Seattle podcast, consider some of the health conditions of folks you are cooking for. Providing balanced meals low in sugar and high in protein, full of veggies, and with attention to common sensitivities (gluten, soy, nuts, dairy) can make a huge difference for folks who are diabetic or who have other food requirements.

As Christ affirms with his incarnation, bodies are good and the tangible, accessible food that nourishes our bodies is also good. Because of this, we cannot ignore the food injustices present in our communities, especially among communities of color as related to environmental injustices, systemic racism, histories of colonization, capitalism, and immigration rights — the powers and principalities that be.

Let us continue tending to the work of justice in our neighborhoods by leveling our food systems. We leave you with such images from Scripture as Mary sings in the Magnificat,

“My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior…[God] has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; [God] has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty.”

Luke 18:46-47, 52-53

And as Isaiah 40 proclaims:

A voice cries out:

“In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord,
    make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
4 Every valley shall be lifted up,
    and every mountain and hill be made low;
the uneven ground shall become level,
    and the rough places a plain.
5 Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed,
    and all people shall see it together,
    for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

Eco-Act 007: “eating local” vs. eating intentionally

“eating local” vs. eating intentionally

it’s the WHAT that matters

We describe local food fans or “locavores” as people who intentionally choose locally grown food whenever possible. Definitions of “local” vary, but let’s say it means within 100 miles of home. Locavores see a variety of benefits to intentionally eating local, including food that’s fresher, tastier, and healthier, and supporting local farmers and small businesses. Many of us probably agree.

Is “eating local” also kinder to the environment? Hmm…. We know that organic food, grown without chemical pesticides or fertilizers, doesn’t have to be grown nearby; we enjoy organic berries sourced in Mexico or South America, for example. Still, most of us are probably comfortable with the notion of some link between local and organic.

How about greenhouse gas emissions generated in transporting food? Does eating locally grown food help the environment by reducing “food miles?” It turns out that “…the share of emissions from transport … is generally pretty tiny; the distance our food travels to get to us actually accounts for less than 10 percent of most food products’ carbon footprint.”[1] So we can’t automatically take a carbon footprint victory lap just because we choose locally-grown food.

What matters more is WHAT we eat. Global data published in Science in 2018[2] deals with a variety of protein-rich foods and shows a range of carbon footprint impacts. The worst offenders? Beef and lamb. Better choices: poultry and pork. Better still: dairy and fish. And the most eco-friendly: plant-based protein sources.

So, at the end of the day, what might our eco-acts be? First, we can be intentional about what we choose to eat. Maybe we cut back on the beef and lamb, choosing options with a smaller carbon footprint. And second, we can happily eat locally grown food for its freshness, great taste, and health benefits; because we can relatively easily ensure we’re buying organic; because we love farmers’ markets; and so that we can continue to have a sense of where our food comes from—small farms, greenhouses and orchards located not too far from us.

Last, we encourage you to purchase food from local Black-owned farms, restaurants, and businesses. Here is a list of Black-owned Seattle food spots; see our post on farms here. Intentionally eating from these local businesses is one part of the greater movement toward creating a society where Black lives truly matter. And this seems like a way of caring for and connecting with the greenness and life of our local world.

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[1] “How to reduce your food’s carbon footprint, in 2 charts,” Sigal Samuel, February 20, 2020

[2] The Science study and “Our World in Data” were both cited in the Sigal Samuel Vox article referenced above.

Eco-Act 005: Center Black EJ activists

center Black EJ* activists

Black Lives Matter. *Environmental Justice

This week as we continue to lament, reflect, and act on police brutality and white supremacy in our communities and country, we want to amplify and share Black voices in the environmental justice field. We invite you to read “A Little Patch of Something” by Imani Perry (written 6/3/20), where she talks about the long history of Black planting and tending alongside racialized atrocity and grief. Closer to home, you can also read more about Seattle’s Black womxn farmers and support some of their work.

Here are other people to learn from and support in the Black environmental justice community…

In Seattle:

• Black Farmers Collective: Seattle-based YES Farm!! BFC is a group of urban food system activists dedicated to providing opportunities to improve the health of [Black] communities through all aspects of the food system. Donate!!

• FEEST: is an organization led by youth of color in South Seattle and South King County working to improve health in our schools. Youth leaders celebrate food and culture at community dinners and build power to win policy changes that increase food access for all students. Donate & volunteer!

• Feed The People: Chef Tarrik Abdullah & others in the Seattle Kitchen Collective have been providing AMAZING free meals in Seattle to any who need it.

• Nurturing Roots Farm: is a community farming program focused on educating youth & community members on healthy food choices. Creating community through gardening.

Elsewhere:

• Natl. Black Food & Justice Alliance: NBFJA organizes for Black food and land, by increasing the visibility of visionary Black leadership, advancing Black people’s struggle for just and sustainable communities, and building power in our food systems and land stewardship. On their Support page, you can donate and support other actions; check their resources on the Info page.

• Soul Fire Farm: Soul Fire Farm is committed to ending racism and injustice in the food system.

• Aja Barber: is a writer and fashion consultant. “[Her] expertise is in race, intersectional feminism and ... fashion (focusing mostly on sustainable and ethical fashion)”. (Patreon)

• Amber Tamm: farmer, horticulturalist, floral designer

• Black With Plants: D’Real learns from plants and works in concert with communities to make strategic gains towards Indigenous Sovereignty and Black Liberation. Donate (Venmo, Paypal, Patreon, Cash App) @blackwithplants.

• Leah Thomas: intersectional environmentalist, activist, eco-communicator. She has a helpful article on the Good Trade, created the text graphics shared in this post, and is the subject of the other illustration by Alja Horvat. She also has a great list of other intersectional environmentalists on her Instagram feed!

These are a few of MANY Black folks doing this work (and admittedly, many here are young)! Who else do you follow and support? Drop their info in the comments below! To close, we share this list from Leah Thomas and commit to a more intersectional environmental justice. #blacklivesmatter

Eco-Act 004: Worm Bins!

start a worm bin

& cultivate great soil!

This week, we have our first eco-act of hope + purpose to share from the Union community! We hope you enjoy this tip from Bob Tissell:

“I have been sending my kitchen scraps to the worms for years in my home worm bin. I bought the first set of worms from a nursery, and I have been so successful that I now have 3 bins, and plenty of worms to share with others.

I use old insulated coolers I found at yard sales, often for free. These keep my worms warm in winter and cool in summer. Sawdust, shavings, or wood chips make up the bedding. ”

Bob says he would like to share his worms with anyone interested in starting their own worm bin. Message him at bertdonsell@gmail.com if you want free worms!

There are many different ways to build or buy your own worm bin (see below). The worms will eat up your food scraps and produce castings, or nutrient-dense compost. Sprinkle that (and any worm tea that you collect!) on your garden, add it to your potted plants, etc.

Here are a few more worm bin resources to get you going:

• WSU’s Cheap & Easy Worm Bin — great tips, troubleshooting for a multi-bin system

• Cornell’s “6 Easy Steps…” — very simple read for one bin

• Mother Jones’ take — longer read but very informative, especially the part on harvesting the nutrient-dense worm castings

We hope your worms and food scraps flourish and transform your dirt into soil full of vitality and life! As Adrienne’s mom says, “Soil is a living ecosystem full of nutrients. Dirt is a four letter word”. (Yes, we know soil is also a four letter word…)

Eco-Act 003: Tending a Garden

Tend your own garden

& share your bounty!

Gardening is a great opportunity to get your hands dirty, reconnect with the earth, and tend to life (our first vocation according to the Creation story). Often this sense of rootedness can inspire feelings of wonder, gratitude, and connectedness to the land — not to mention, provide delicious, accessible food that you grew yourself! It is the most local you can eat, and inevitably becomes more neighborhoodly as “you will have produce to give away and the need to borrow [your neighbors’] tools.”*

Short on space? Plant in pots, window boxes, or go vertical! Join a local P-patch or community garden (COVID-19 P-Patch tips here) or work the space you got. In the vein of creative use of space, we are excited to report that Afsaneh Rahimian, who lives nearby 415, has adopted our parking lot planter boxes as the home for an herb garden! One of our longtime friends from the Women’s Shelter still visits 415 and has helped tend the plants too. She donated enough soil for Union’s garden, and to share with our friends at LUV who are working on their own boxes. We love planting food, tending to life, and sharing resources #fortheneighborhood!

So, what will you plant? Are you excited about a particular garden project you’ve been working on while at home? Feel free to use this gardening resource list compiled by Seattle Tilth and share any other gardening tips with us (link on our Eco-faith page). We’ll leave you with some words from Michael Pollan (we recommend his article about the importance of gardening, link below!):

The single greatest lesson the garden teaches is that our relationship to the planet need not be zero-sum, and that as long as the sun still shines and people still can plan and plant, think and do, we can, if we bother to try, find ways to provide for ourselves without diminishing the world.

-Michael Pollan*

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*Michael Pollan’s NY Times article “Why Bother?” from 2008