MISSION STATEMENT:
The purpose of the UUCC Ministry for Earth is to inspire our congregation to live in a
way that is environmentally responsible, just, and science-based so that our
congregation does its part to mitigate the effects of climate change on our community
and the world and serves as a model of resiliency and hope in facing the challenges of
the future.
WHAT WE DO:
- We educate ourselves about the climate crisis.
- We share environmentally responsible lifestyle ideas.
- We grow native plants organically in order to protect pollinators and other wildlife.
- We promote 100% renewable electricity and environmentally responsible choices
for our building and grounds. - We teach our congregational kids to grow food.
- We are affiliated with UUMFE the national organization, Faith Communities
Together (FaCT), and soon the Cleveland 2030 District.
We meet monthly, usually by Zoom on the 3rd Sunday of the month at 1 PM. We
review, advise, and help plan the projects that the sub-committees are working on. We
welcome new members and new projects. If you are interested, please contact us.
We are re-evaluating our meeting times in response to changes in the congregation.
For more information, contact Dell Salza at dell.salza@gmail.com
CURRENT SUB-COMMITTEES:
The Climate Urgency Sub-Committee is chaired by Nancy King Smith and meets as
needed on Zoom. We are strategizing on how to engage more of the congregation in
understanding and acting on the greatest moral and planetary challenge of our time.
The group is exploring how to use the new UUA Green Sanctuary 2030 framework to
work on the goals of mitigation, adaptation, resilience, and climate justice. As we craft a
more comprehensive strategy, we are continuing to provide education and opportunities
for activism in working toward climate justice.
The Gardening Sub-Committee maintains the pollinator garden in the parking lot and
the apple orchard on the southwest lawn. This is a stalwart group of hard-working, often
dirty volunteers who work on Wednesdays, 10 am – noon, and at other times of their
choosing. We weed, water, plant, rake, and replant in the spring, summer, and early fall,
weather permitting. The apples in the orchard are organically grown using permaculture
methods; e.g., planting native flowers and herbs that attract insects that eat the insects
that attack apple trees. These plants also enrich the soil which can then sequester more
carbon. Talk with or email Dell Salza at dell.salz@gmail.com or Debbie Wright at wrightdebbie@hotmail.com want to learn more, especially if you want to help.
The Recycling Sub-Committee manages recycling at UUCC and for our nearby
neighbors. Inside the building, we have bins for recycling paper, plastic tubs, bottles, and cans; and
in the kitchen, there are bins for food waste. The recycling bins get emptied into the two
large paper-retrieving bins in the parking lot, and the kitchen food waste bins get
emptied into the large food waste bins also in the parking lot. Rustbelt Riders, a small,
worker-owned cooperative composting service, collects and composts this food waste,
keeping it out of the landfill. It is a subscription service available to the congregation and
the community at large. To sign up: https://www.rustbeltriders.com/for-your-home
Messages from Ministry for Earth is a column appearing periodically in the UUCC
newsletter and on the UUCC website offering tips for living a more sustainable, healthy,
and spiritual lifestyle. We welcome feedback and submissions. Contact Debbie Wright at wrightdebbie@hotmail.com
UUCC’S OTHER ENVIRONMENTALLY-FRIENDLY ATTRACTIONS:
Solar Array – Our solar array supplies 70% of our electricity. With the renovation of
our building, it will be more fully and efficiently incorporated into the functioning of the
building.
Electric Vehicle Charging Stations – We have two charging stations for electric
vehicles, and they are often in use. Donation boxes are there for people to contribute to
the cost of them since the solar array does not completely cover our electricity use.
Cisterns in the parking lot collect rainwater and prevent stormwater run-off from
overwhelming the city’s water system and dumping untreated water into Lake Erie. The
water is then used to water the pollinator garden.
Miyawaki Forest – The Miyawaki Forest was planned by one of our young people,
Anya Ustin, as an Eagle Scout project. She organized a group of young people to plant
it in 2023. Miyawaki Forests grow ten times faster than conventional forests. They are
denser and more biodiverse.