FUMC ECO Team

Sustainability Master Plan is what guides our work.  Check it out by clicking on the link.

2024 Eco Team Christmas giveaway!  Orange bags!!!

Weather permitting, ride your bike to church!  Look for the bike rack on the east side of the church near door #4!

Our FUMC children enjoyed learning more about God's good creation during Sunday School this past summer!  

Our rain garden is coming along!  Check out this 2024 project on the southwest corner of our property! 

 A rain garden is a shallow depression in the ground that collects and absorbs rainwater runoff from hard surfaces like roofs, driveways, and sidewalks: 

Rain gardens are planted with native plants and grasses that can tolerate waterlogging and are designed to filter pollutants from the runoff:

• Benefits
  Rain gardens can help reduce storm water runoff, improve water quality, and conserve water:

  • Reduce runoff: Rain gardens can reduce runoff by up to 90%.

  • Improve water quality: Rain gardens can remove up to 90% of nutrients and chemicals and up to 80% of sediments from runoff.

  • Conserve water: Rain gardens allow for more water to soak into the ground than a conventional lawn.

• Provide habitat
  Rain gardens can provide food and shelter for butterflies, songbirds, and other wildlife. 

Looking back to 2023!

Our daily habits make a difference!  The Eco Team played Santa Claus and gave FUMC families a cellulose cloth to discourage using single use paper towels.  There are several good products on the market; the ones we gave were from earthbreeze.com.

Feeding the soul!  We enjoyed a Mocktail Happy Hour with poetry readings about our beautiful planet!  Check out poems by Mary Oliver!

We're not in this alone!!  Here are a few resources and ally groups for you to explore!

nature.org 

The Nature Conservancy - We are dedicated staff, scientists and members advancing effective, lasting conservation in more than 70 countries and territories.

https://existgreen.com/  a zero waste market + eco-boutique.

Started by an environmental engineer to help you find sustainable swaps for every part of your body and every area of your home. Omaha’s first and only refill shop.

Here's a bit more information that may help you expand your sustainability practices!

•  Lowering your thermostat can save money and lessen carbon emissions. For every 1 degree lowered in the winter (or 1 degree raised in the summer) you can save about 3% in energy consumption.

•  Eco driving means using a “feather foot” on the gas and keeping a greater distance between you and the cars ahead of you.  This steady pace is safer for all and allows less wasted energy from repeated braking and acceleration, and can reduce carbon emissions by 25-30%.

•  A driving moratorium is a self prohibition from driving anywhere on a selected date in order to consume less gasoline. This may be difficult but if you think about it, there are many errands we drive for that could be combined into a series of stops on one planned route, rather than 3 or 4 separate trips.  The savings are dependent on how well-planned your “route” is.  Try it!

• Ditch your electric clothes dryer: https://www.greenamerica.org/green-living/ditch-your-dryer

• Ten Ways To Unpackage Your Lives:  https://www.epa.gov/trash-free-waters/ten-ways-unpackage-your-life

• Ecological consequences of bottled water:  https://green.harvard.edu/tools-resources/green-tip/reasons-avoid-bottled-water

Find "Garden Song (Inch by Inch)" at this link: https://youtu.be/u90qRE2F7CM. Which lines stood out to you? Why?

"Black Oaks" by Mary Oliver: https://www.poetseers.org/contemporary-poets/mary-oliver/mary-oliver-poems/black-oaks/. What feelings does this poem evoke in you?

Nebraska Statewide Arboretum website: https://plantnebraska.org/. You can find a map of public gardens in our state, a calendar of events, and a wide variety of educational materials specifically geared towards growing right here in Nebraska. Take some time today to explore!

GLASS RECYCLING

Did you know that in Omaha 22,701 tons of recyclables were diverted from landfill in 2022?

You can use your recycling bins for most things but not glass – soo….. THINK PURPLE

recycle glass in purple containers at Omaha recycling drop-off locations

Find your closest full service recycling drop-off location at:

https://www.wasteline.org/recycling-collection-information/recycling-drop-off-locations/

CROSS-TRAINING CENTER

Recycles and refurbishes out-of-service electronics and appliances.

Operates a retail store offering refurbished items like laptops, monitors, stereos, etc.

Accepts donated vehicles used for training purposes in diagnosing, repairing and reselling.

Provides vocational training and career counseling for underemployed and undereducated adults.

To access the website go to:  https://www.crosstc.com/

UNDER THE SINK

Don’t flush, bury or dump it: take your household hazardous waste to Under the Sink

Any resident of Douglas or Sarpy Count is eligible to use Under the Sink free of charge

Under the Sink also operates a Re-Store department that offers still usable products like paint to the public free of charge

For details go to:    http://www.underthesink.org/

ECONATURE DOCUMENTARIES:

Watch a nature documentary like “Kiss the Ground”, “Fantastic Fungi” or “Intelligent Trees” – Short trailers for these and other 2022 nature documentaries can be viewed at:

https://stewardsofpangea.com/must-see-nature-documentaries/

Other sources for nature films/documentaries are:

Public Television – Hang with the Meerkats and others on youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcBp_9YPyma4c3HTadmRJ3Q

Or find out what’s streaming on nature at:

https://www.pbs.org/show/nature/collections/whats-streaming-nature/

BBC Series including “The Green Planet” and others at:

https://www.bbcearth.com/shows