Undoing Global Warming / Sustainable Living Center

NCP now offers two very tangible initiatives for responsible living in our rapidly changing (for the worse) world. In an effort to enable churches to take the lead in combatting global warming, the Undoing Global Warming program offers congregations a chance to turn down the heat on the planet--and save money for use in ministry and mission! AND as a way for homeowners to explore ground-breaking environmental projects in their own backyard, NCP Undoing Global Warming staffperson Tom Benevento is leading an effort to create a sustainable living center in the heart of Harrisonburg, Virginia.

Sustainable Living Center

This initiative seeks to integrate agroforestry, fish farming, solar applications, an organic garden, transitional housing for the homeless, and other sustainable living features into a community urban homestead in Harrisonburg, VA. As the project advances, Tom will be inviting groups to come for visits, hands-on learning experiences, work projects, and more. Contact Tom for ways you, your congregation, youth group, or school group can be involved (contact info below).

The Sustainable Living Center is also serving as a model for other groups in the community seeking ways to mitigate the impacts of global warming. For instance, the Central Valley Habitat for Humanity board has invited NCP to collaborate in making the solar hot water system Tom has developed a main feature of all future building projects. Good news travels fast!

In addition, there will be a neighborhood garden on our sustainable living site and a market garden with people in "difficult life circumstances" (our most marginalized in Harrisonburg, generally people who are homeless or unemployable). These folks will be Creation Care Apprentices within our sustainable living center program. They will have a chance to gain job reference and experience, make a small amount of income (from sales at the farmers market along with a small initial amount of funds from one of our grants), and gain a healing experience with the earth. The market garden is local, organic, and the produce transported by bicycle trailers. Our goal is to create  healing and meaningful work for people in need, chemical/pollution free food, and zero emissions food production.

Click here to view more photos!

Undoing Global Warming campaign

Tom also gives leadership to our Undoing Global Warming campaign, bringing the expertise of a degree in Sustainable Systems, along with years of practical experience in the US and Central America.

The focus of Undoing Global Warming is to reduce the carbon footprint of the buildings in which we live and worship. Even more so than car use, heating and cooling homes and other structures is a leading consumer of energy in the United States. And, of course, with energy consumption comes a whole host of other outcomes, including:

• emissions that lead to global warming
• power plant pollutants such as mercury and particulates, along with the chemicals that cause acid rain
• mining and drilling practices that leave vast areas of our nation scarred, and other pristine areas under the constant threat of drilling

That's where the Undoing Global Warming project comes in! NCP offers congregations the opportunity to examine energy usage in their church facilities and homes, as well as to assess the environmental costs of lawncare practices. Plans for a weekend workshop are made in consultation with a congregation, depending on their needs and interests (see sample schedule below).

A modest honorarium is requested to offset NCP's expenses for this program. Groups are also invited to contribute a portion of the money they save from greater efficiencies toward helping heal God's creation and enhance human well-being in Central America, Africa and the US.

Contact information for Tom Benevento:
910 Collicello
Harrisonburg, VA 22802
540-433-2363
tbenevento@newcommunityproject .org

Here's how a weekend might go:

Saturday morning: Earth-Friendly Church
With church committees and/or building manager we assess the church buildings and grounds in regard to energy and water conservation, alternative energies, waste reduction, food preparation, transportation, and eco-landscaping. Together we explore cost effective and simple techniques that will reduce your church's energy and water consumption and reduce waste thus becoming better stewards of God's creation, reducing global warming gases, saving money, and inspiring others.

Saturday afternoon or Sunday after church: Hands-on Workshops
Congregation members learn about and discuss topics such as composting techniques and organic soil fertility; spiral herb gardens; home eco-cleaners; building a solar oven; deep mulch keyhole gardening (the no watering/no weeding garden); solar food dryer; forest gardening; organic pest control; season extender gardening; edible landscaping; political and institutional actions.

Saturday afternoon or evening: Earth-Friendly Home
In the home of a volunteer parishioner (and including up to 15 other church members) we will use activities and discussion to explore the many diverse and simple techniques for a more earth-friendly home that we can all begin implementing today. This workshop includes energy and water conservation, alternative energy, waste reduction and toxins, food, and transportation. We will also discuss connections between our lifestyles and people of the Third World.

Sunday morning service: The Sacredness of Life
Either during the Sunday service or Sunday school class we are available to give a presentation on faith-based, earth-friendly living.

In many ways our earth is sending out an emergency cry as humans continue to use it beyond its capacity. Christians can play a leading role in responding to the call for help by making simple yet important changes in their homes and church facilities. Plan for an SOS weekend in your church community soon!