Creation Care with FMC 

The Climate Concerns Adult Education Class has been meeting monthly via Zoom. Our goal has been to discuss and discover what we can do to mitigate climate change. We meet to share information and encourage each other. The following are examples of actions various members of the class have been inspired to take, or in some cases actions we have recommitted to take.


Governor Polis just recently signed the "Turf Replacement Bill". Now the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) is in the process of developing a program to incentivize the conversion from lawn to water wise plants. The logistics for individual homeowners has been unclear so we are adding a link here with helpful FAQ and answers.

Food: 

  • Reduce/eliminate consumption of red meat and other animal-based foods

  • Emphasize a plant-rich diet

  • Reduce food waste: buy only what we need, use what we buy, improve food storage to reduce food spoilage

  • Buy at farmers' markets (less packaging waste, fewer food miles)

  • Grow hydroponic crops at home

  • Refuse single use packaging (bring your own coffee mug)

  • Subscribe to Imperfect Foods (a company that rescues and provides home delivery of foods that are cosmetically less than perfect), or other similar companies

In/around our homes:

  • Reduce use of non-renewable energy

  • Enhance home insulation

  • Use solar panels on homes or subscribe to solar or wind farms

  • Replace gas-powered lawn mower with electric or push mower

  • Use energy efficient (LED) light bulbs (Xcel has a discount finder tool at this link)

  • Find ways to reuse, donate, recycle responsibly (Happy Beetle provides subscription door-to-door pickups of "hard to recycle" items. SustainAbility is another company that accepts hard-to-recycle items and also accepts items for reuse by its partner organizations. Participate in community recycling events)

  • Xeriscape where possible

  • Mow and water lawns less frequently

  • Use water conserving shower heads, faucets, washers, and dishwashers and low-flow toilets

  • Use earth friendly detergents

  • Use a clothesline

  • Keep the house cooler in winter, warmer in summer 

  • Donate to and shop at thrift stores, garage sales

  • Participate in community sharing, for example through the Buy Nothing Project (which allows neighbors to request, give, and receive items at no cost)

  • Buy products with less disposable packaging: buy in bulk, bring our own containers/bags, shop at businesses that facilitate this (Zero Market is one example)

Transportation:

  • Drive and fly less; combine trips; carpool; walk; use bicycles; use public transportation

  • Use phone, email, zoom, telehealth instead of traveling

  • Switch to electric vehicles

Community:

  • Talk to people about climate concerns--open the conversation

  • Learn about incentives and rebates for "Going Green"

  • Vote in support of climate initiatives

  • Write to political representatives to encourage them to support climate bills 

  • Divest funds from oil and gas (from pensions, banks that invest in fossil fuels)

  • Request institutions we are members of to be climate responsible and sustainable

  • Join and support organizations already doing great collective work with climate concerns (such as the organizations: Nature Conservancy, Sierra Club and National Geographic)

  • Share knowledge and trusted sources of climate information and actions with others

  • Encourage climate-consciousness

  • Discuss the pros and cons of potential solutions with others

  • Encourage hope: take action and join with others in expanding those actions

 

Coming soon: website links and more ideas!