Our Common Home

Hello! 

Welcome to my web page! My name is Paula and I am starting this page as part of a project to learn and share ways to do more to- you guessed it- care for Our Common Home, the Earth. I have been aware and concerned about pollution, the environment, global warming, and climate change for many decades. I have watched the documentaries and hoped and wondered when "someone" would do something about the problems that only seemed to get worse. I recently learned that Pope Francis had written his Encyclical- Laudato Si'- about climate change and how it's up to all of us do more to care for our common home. My parish had a showing of his beautiful film, "The Letter". I felt that it was a call to action for me. I have been looking for a way to get involved and do something to affect change since moving to Evanston, Illinois from New York State almost 2 years ago. I believe the climate crisis is the most urgent problem we face. 

So here's what I want to do : I like to cook and try new recipes, so I will post vegetarian and vegan recipes I have tried, and what brands of  ingredients are best to use in them. My husband has a community garden plot, so I will share ways to use the produce in season. I will research and share product and company info. This is something I have struggled with personally. We are all consumers, and although we should all cut back, there are times when we must make purchases, and we should do so wisely.

I will share links to websites and events locally and globally concerning climate activities.

I am an artist, so I will share some of my artwork of plants and animals, as well as photos taken of places I have been to that celebrate the beauty of our world. 

I would also like to share ideas, stories, and whatever I think (or you suggest) can help us to change our lifestyles and be better consumers. As consumers, our actions matter. On a personal level, we can change our lifestyles, and at the same time by not consuming from corporations that hurt our planet, affect those corporations to change their actions. We are all consumers, and through responsible consumerism we may be able to affect the change we need to see.