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The Dirty Dozen In recent years there has been
a growing demand for organic produce due to the pesticides and genetic-modification that come with conventional fruits and
vegetables. However, buying 100% organic is not feasible for many of us due to financial restrictions. The good
news is that some produce seems to be safer than others to buy conventionally, while with other items it’s really worth
it to go organic. It’s good to bear in mind that while many harsh chemicals have been outlawed in the US, they
are still being used in other countries, and especially in winter, a lot of our produce is imported from abroad (another reason
to eat locally & seasonally!). The following is a list of the “dirty dozen” as outlined by Environmental
Working Group (nonprofit, nonpartisan organization) from most to least contaminated (when evaluating conventional produce).
In other words, it is really worth buying these foods organic because of the fact that it may be difficult to remove
the residue even after thorough washing. The Dirty Dozen (buy these organic when possible!)- Peaches
- Apples
- Sweet
Bell Peppers
- Celery
- Nectarines
- Strawberries
- Cherries
- Kale
- Lettuce
- Grapes
(imported)
- Carrots
- Pears
A notecared with this list is available in the back of the
sanctuary for you to tuck in with your shopping list.*Please note that all produce should be soaked in water (or produce wash product) for 6-7
minutes to remove as many pesticides as possible. Any more and you begin to remove essential enzymes.
For a pocket shopping guide click here!
Resolve to Make a Difference – Resolutions for the Environment That Actually Make a Difference!
1. Give Up Plastic (and paper) Bags - Cost: $1 - Do you opt for paper
or plastic when at the grocery store? Neither is a good choice. Twelve million barrels of oil were used to make the 88.5 billion
plastic bags consumed in the United States last
year. And it takes four times more energy to make paper bags. The best choice is reusable shopping bags made of cotton, nylon
or durable, mesh like plastic. Put a few reusable shopping bags in your car so you have them handy on your next shopping trip.
And if you happen to forget your reusable bag (as we all do!), choose paper if you will recycle it or plastic if you will
reuse or recycle it.
2. Stop Buying Bottled Water
- Cost: $14.98 for aluminum water bottle. Did you know that it takes 26 bottles of water to
produce the plastic container for a one-liter bottle of water, and that doing so pollutes 25 liters of groundwater? Don’t
leave a trail of plastic water bottles in your wake! Stop buying bottled water. Use reusable water bottles instead made from
materials like stainless steel or aluminum that are not likely to degrade over time. If you choose a plastic water bottle,
check the number on the bottom first: Plastics numbered 3, 6 and 7 could pose a health threat to you, so look for plastics numbered 1, 2, 4 or 5.
3.
Stop Receiving Unwanted Catalogs - Cost: $0 - Each year, 19 billion catalogs
are mailed to American consumers. All those catalogs require more than 53 million trees and 56 billion gallons of wastewater
to produce - and many of us don't even know how we got on so many mailing lists! So grab that stack of catalogs piling up
on your coffee table and clear out the clutter. Visit CatalogChoice.org to put a stop to unwanted catalogs. Within 10 weeks, your mailbox will be empty of unwanted catalogs. A less cluttered mailbox
means less pollution, less waste and less of the pollution that cause global warming.
4.
Give Up Conventional Detergents - Cost: $10.25 for one 112-oz box. Many natural detergents today
are made to clean clothes just as effectively in cooler water temperatures. Choose detergents and other laundry products that
are plant-based, concentrated and biodegradable.
5.
Give Up Hot Water (at least in the washer) - Cost: $0. Did you know that only
10 percent of the energy used by a typical washing machine powers the motor? About 90 percent of the energy is used to heat
the water, and most clothes will come clean in cold water. So switch your washing machine's temperature setting. For heavily
soiled clothing, change it from hot to warm, but otherwise try to wash and rinse most of your clothing in cold water. In
the market for a new washer? Look for an energy-efficient front-loading clothes washer and other green laundry
gear.
6.
Give Up the Clothes Dryer - Cost: $0. The second
biggest household energy user, after the refrigerator, is the clothes dryer. Over drying your clothes can end up costing you
money as well. An electric dryer operating an extra 15 minutes a load can cost you up to $34 a year in wasted energy; a gas
dryer, $21 a year. When using the dryer, clear the lint filter after each load and dry only full loads of clothes. Dry heavy
fabrics separately from lighter ones, and don't add wet clothing in the middle of the drying cycle. And remember that hanging
clothing outside in the sun and air to dry is the most energy-efficient method - or use a folding indoor rack all year long.
7. Give up paper towels - Cost: $6.95. No matter how you look at it, paper towels create waste. During
your next trip to the grocery store, buy some reusable micro fiber towels, which grip dirt and dust like a magnet, even when
they get wet. When you are finished with them, toss the towels in the wash and reuse them again and again. They are even great
for countertops and mirrors. When you absolutely have to use disposable towels, look for recycled products. If every household
in the United States replaced just one roll of virgin fiber paper towels (70 sheets) with 100 percent recycled ones, we could save 544,000
trees.
8. Run a fully loaded
dishwasher - Cost: $0. If you have dishwasher, use it. Running a fully loaded dishwasher -- without
prerinsing the dishes -- can use a third less water than washing the dishes by hand, saving up to 10 to 20 gallons of water
a day. Simply scrape large pieces of food off your dishes and let the dishwasher handle the rest. And by using the air-dry
setting (instead of heat-dry), you will consume half the amount of electricity without spending a dime.
9. Check for leaks in your toilet - Cost:
$0. Most of us would be surprised to find out that one in every five toilets leak, and since the leaks are usually silent,
you probably have no idea if your toilet is leaking. A leaking toilet can waste anywhere between 30 and 500 gallons of water
every day, so any leak should be repaired. To see if your toilet is leaking, put a few drops of food coloring in the toilet
tank. If the dye shows up in the toilet bowl after 15 minutes or so, the toilet has a leak. Leaking is usually caused by an
old or poorly fitting flapper valve, which can be replaced by any amateur DIY-er!
* Weekly Tips are from www.thedailygreen.com
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What
is a Care Team?It is a group of concerned
persons, who assist when-ever possible, with care to those in our West Acton Baptist family during a crisis or ongoing need.
What services
are available?
¨ Transportation to church services, social events, and appointments
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Telephone contact
¨
Errands and grocery shopping
¨
Visitation
¨
Meal preparation and delivery
¨
Moving small furniture
¨
Light repairs
¨
2 hour respite care for caregivers
¨
Provision of household items
Our hope is to connect people living in the same vicinity.
The Care Team goal is to follow the scripture…
“So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work
for the good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith.”
––
Galatians 6:10
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