Green Team

What is the Green Team all about?
The mission of the UUFSA Green Team is to plan and organize activities and involve members of the congregation to bring about positive environmental changes in three areas:

• Personal lifestyle choices
• Congregational activities
• The broader community

In so doing, we achieved recognition as a Green Sanctuary Congregation in May 2011.

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Personal lifestyle choices 
As a result of our course in ethical eating, presented to the congregation several years ago, we encouraged making
lifestyle choices like:

• transitioning to eating a more plant-based diet;
• decreasing the amount of plastic products used in daily life such as water bottles and personal use products in plastic;
• regarding kitchen organic waste as a source of nourishment for compost piles to enhance our gardens;  reducing or eliminating the use of commercial fertilizer and pesticides;
• decreasing the use of fuel by combining automobile trips and for those able, increasing the use bicycles and walking;
• refusing, reducing, or recycling or repurposing items rather than creating more waste.

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Congregational activities have included:

• Encouraging more plant-based offerings for our potlucks and coffee gatherings;
• transitioning from paper to cloth napkins, and ceramic coffee cups and plates, eliminating as much as possible the use of plastic and Styrofoam;
• purchasing environmentally-friendly cleansers  in the kitchen and compostable paper products;
• eliminating the use of plastic water bottles;
• installing solar panels on our roof;
• changing out sanctuary windows for more energy efficient ones;
• adult education courses in environmental justice;
• field trips to  recycle facility in Jacksonville;
• field trips to nature preserves for hikes and nature appreciation, and river trips;
• engaging Sunday speakers who focus on our environment;
• Green Minute monthly on an issue of environmental significance;
• screening environmental films;
• ongoing restoration of our landscaping with Florida Friendly plants, with a pollinator garden.

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In the broader community:

• We have worked with groups such as Environmental Youth Council as an advocate for actions regarding climate change—films, marches, protests
• Earth Day events open to community
• Dining with Dignity monthly to serve the needs of the homeless community
• Several members serve in the Ecumenical Food Pantry, with other churches, providing food to those who need help.

It is now time for us to renew our certification for the  next phase of the Green Sanctuary Program, addressing the crisis of climate change and its greater effect on marginal communities:   Green Sanctuary 2030:  Mobilizing for Climate Justice.  To do so, we need your enthusiasm and assistance.    If you are willing to join our team, please communicate with Nana Royer or Robin Mahonen.