John Andrew sent us this:
We are encouraging parishioners to opt for a more sustainable Christmas by including hints and tips in Intercession Prayers, back of the Pew Sheet and on the eco poster in the Parish Hall.
Ways to have a more sustainable Christmas
Climate Change is front of mind for so many this winter. More of us than ever before are looking to make truly sustainable changes to protect the planet in our daily lives.
Christmas is a brilliant time to be part of the movement towards a more sustainable future.
Eat with the seasons
Most of our beloved vegetables harvest at Christmas, including potatoes, sprouts, carrots, leeks, and parsnip.
Opting for Seasonal, Organic food means supporting Ireland’s nature-friendly farmers, who grow using fewer pesticides, on Irish farms that support diverse wildlife and healthy, living soils.
Christmas Waste
We might be doing some more online shopping this year which often has more Packaging than we want or need, please ensure to Recycle this by placing it clean, dry and loose into your recycle bin along with all of the other items such as rigid plastics, tins and cans. For some of the larger packaging you may have that will not fit in your bin at home it can be brought to your local civic amenity site.
Reuse
By reusing more, we can reduce our environmental impact. When it comes to decorating, deck the halls with less, use what you have or buy second hand. You can create a festive atmosphere at home by foraging foliage and displaying natural decorations like pine cones, holly, fruits and nuts. There are also great reusable plastic alternatives to tinsel, like colourful paper bunting/decorations.
Planting A Tree Gift
Planting a tree in someone’s name is the perfect present. The planting of a tree to celebrate an occasion is an incredibly unique and thoughtful gift that will be more appreciated with every passing year.
Trees planted will also provide a vast array of essential benefits to the local environment, helping to keep the air fresh and clean, improve the soil and provide food and shelter to various wildlife. There are a host of Irish companies offering this service in Ireland which can be searched for on the internet.