Hands-On Greening Subscribe
A collection of materials related to projects that are greening the Jewish community.
From the Blogs
Earth Etude for 12 Elul
- August 29, 2012
Dirt and Teshuvah by Rabbi Howard A. Cohen One of my favorite lessons to teach when I take a group on a wilderness trip is the dirt method of cleaning up after a meal. It is very simple and effective but invariably elicits chuckles of surprise. After removing all big chunks of left over food by either disposing it in a fire or trash bag people are then instructed to go to the edge of camp and wipe their utensils with dirt and other bits of natural debris. What happens is that the small remaining bits of food particles attach to dirt and ...
Liability issues around community sustainable agriculture
- July 6, 2012
I am trying to cover all bases as I prepare a proposal for a crowdsourcing/crowdfunding approach to land rehabilitation at a synagogue and community center in Thornhill, Ontario Canada Have any of you come across any insurance liability issues/objections to the creation of a food growing garden? Have you seen any liability differences If the garden is - on public property (behind a firehouse) or private property (synagogue, church, community land)? - fenced or unfenced If someone encounters a health problem due to consumption of the food ...
Eco-Friendly Dining Out
- June 5, 2012
It is probably easier to be eco-conscious when you cook your own food. You can better control the source and packaging of the food you buy. You can manage waste and energy use and you can recycle. However, there are some things you can do to be eco-friendly when eating out. Consider the source of the food: Try to patronize restaurants that use organic, local, and seasonal products. Consider that much of the food ordered in restaurants is wasted. Think about how much you really will eat before you order. You might also inquire about the kind of ...
My new book, “Who Stole My Religion?” is now freely available as an eBook
- June 4, 2012
Shalom, Because there is much denial and ignorance about the increasing evidence that the world is approaching a climate catastrophe, as well as major food, water, and energy scarcities, I, Richard Schwartz, have decided to make the eBook version of my controversial new book, Who Stole My Religion? Revitalizing Judaism and Applying Jewish Values to Help Heal Our Imperiled Planet, FREELY available! It can be read by visiting www.whostolemyreligion.com, and scrolling down to a link directly below a picture of the book’s cover on the left side of the ...
Two recipes for Homemade Household Cleaners
- May 27, 2012
Here are some recipes for household cleaners that I've tried out and recommend to anyone who would like to avoid the chemicals in commerical cleaners. My husband cannot tolerate cleaners with clorox or strong perfumes. 1. Bathtub cleaner. Recipe 2 cups baking soda 2 tsp liquid dish soap 2 tsp vinegar Add a small amount of water, just enough to make a soft paste. Directions: Use a sponge to apply the paste to the walls of your ceramic or fiberglass bathtub. Leave the paste on overnight. Rinse it off, and dirt is gone! ...
New COEJL Webinar on Funding and Creating an Energy Efficiency Project
- May 16, 2012
Join COEJL for the third in our series of webinars for Sustainability Liaisons. These briefings will enable your organization to take concrete actions toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions 14% by 2014. Get the practical information that you need to fulfill the commitment your organization made in signing the Jewish Energy Covenant Campaign Declaration. Our panelists have implemented energy efficiency projects of all sizes, from insulating pipes for a quick payback to building a brand new facility. What happens once you identify actions you can take to reduce energy ...
“Esh, Esh Medura” (Fire, Fire, Bonfire)
- May 8, 2012
by Einat Kramer, Director – Teva Ivri One of the most “Israeli” phenomena that I know is the bonfires of Lag B’Omer. Immediately after Pesach, even before the clean spring scent fades in the heat of the summer, the streets of our country are filled with children looking for firewood. They are everywhere; in forests, building sites, and among the garbage cans, they collect wood (or anything resembling wood), hauling it off in “borrowed” supermarket carts to their secret hiding place and guarding it fiercely until ...
Eco-friendly Summer
- May 7, 2012
Summer will be here before you know it. One way to be a better guardian of the Earth and to follow the Jewish imperative of bal tashchit (do not waste) is to take some simple steps to keep your home naturally cool in the summer months. Here are a few ways to make that happen: -- Close your curtains: During the heat of the day, close your curtains or blinds. This blocks the sun’s rays so that less air conditioning will be needed to cool your home. -- Keep the oven off: As much as possible on hot days, use the microwave, toaster oven and/or the outdoor ...
JEI Teen Group Native Plant Sale/Rain Barrel Raffle a Success
- May 4, 2012
The JEI Teen Group organized its second annual Native Plant Sale/Rain Barrel Raffle on April 29. Over 100 plants were sold. Those attending also learned about the benefits of rain barrels as a way to reduce runoff and water waste. Thanks to Robinson's Rain Barrels for its wonderful rain barrel demo and for donating a rain barrel. Congratulations ton Fran Cantor who won the rain barrel raffle.
Support Sustainability and Community in Chicago
- April 28, 2012
Support Sustainability and Community: Purchase Your Organic and Heirloom Plant Starts at The Gan Project’s 2nd Annual Spring Plant Sale CHICAGO, Ill. -- Looking for locally grown, organic, heirloom plant starts for your garden or patio planter? The Gan Project will be having their 2nd Annual Spring Plant Sale with proceeds going to support the creation of a local, just, and sustainable food system in the Chicagoland region. Many varieties of vegetables and herbs will be available for purchase. The Gan Project grows ...
Clean the Land: Love It. Live It. Clean It.
- April 17, 2012
It’s happened to each and every one of us. You’re at the beach in Tel Aviv, surrounded by white sand, blue sea, shining sun…and, of course, bronzed bodies. With the enthusiasm of a kid in a candy store, you run to the water and jump in. “This is just too perfect! This has to be a dream!” you think to yourself. You dip your head, envisioning yourself recreating one of those movie scenes where you emerge from the water with your hair slicked, basking in the Mediterranean sun. Unfortunately, when you break the ...
Reduce Workplace Waste
- April 10, 2012
Whether you own your own business or work for someone else, it is a good practice to be mindful of your energy use and use of office supplies during your work day. There are many simple practices that will allow you to use less energy and produce less waste. This pays off by helping the environment and lowering costs as well. Shut down your computer. According to a recent study by the Harvard Green Campus Initiative, computersare responsible for about 40% of the energy consumed by office equipment in the United States. One desktop computer left in full ...
Earth Day Mitzvah Mania Cultivates Community in Chicago: This Earth Day, Slow Down and Dig In
- April 4, 2012
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CHICAGO, IL -- The Gan Project, a Jewish social and environmental justice organization, is pleased to announce their first annual Earth Day Mitzvah Mania. The Gan Project grows organic, heirloom produce on its quarter acre Homestead located in West Rogers Park, Chicago. Of that produce, half is gleaned by the community, in accordance with the ancient agricultural practices outlined in the Torah, and half is donated to the ARK food pantry. “We see the roots of Judaism grounded in the agricultural practices of our ancestors and believe that engaging in contemporary ...
Cleaning and Greening Our “House” for Passover
- March 27, 2012
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In the days before Passover, Jews around the world traditionally spend time cleaning and checking our homes for “chametz” – leavened foods forbidden during the holiday. It is also traditionally a time for soul searching, for clearing out old “stuff” and ways of doing things. During this season of renewal, we at Teva Ivri are finding ways to check not only our homes but also our “houses of prayer.” Along with the Council for a Beautiful Israeland Green Now, Teva Ivri has just announced the first “Greenest ...
Eco-Friendly Home
- March 12, 2012
Many people may not think about common purchases made at the grocery or home improvement store and their impact on the environment. However, as Jews commanded to till and tend the Earth and not to waste resources, we need to be mindful of the environmental and health effects of many products we routinely buy. Here’s a list of some commonly purchased items for the home, with an eye toward the more environmentally-conscious option when shopping in a store or online: • Paper goods—Items such as toilet paper, paper towels and tissues are a ...
Seeds Of Peace: Botanical Gardens To Connect Jews And Arabs
- March 4, 2012
Seeds Of Peace: Botanical Gardens To Connect Jews And Arabs By Hanna Szekeres The Botanical Gardens in Jerusalem, Israel is a 30-acre oasis where you can see, smell and even taste over 10,000 species of flowers from around the world. But the educational department of the gardens also focuses on another type of seed: “the seeds of peace.” Five years ago the department started a project called “Coexistence” that brings together nine- to 11-year-olds from the city’s Jewish and Muslim schools and teaches them about the production ...
Mysticism and Making a Difference: Tu b’Shevat in Silver Spring
- February 27, 2012
My local community group, the Kayamut Silver Spring Sustainability Circle, held our Tu b'Shevat Seder on February 7. It was the first time in a long time that I hosted a Tu b'Shevat Seder that was actually on Tu b'Shevat. So I wanted to make it special. Instead of being a mock seder or a model seder, it was a real seder and an opportunity to experience Tu b'Shevat for itself. I know that Tu b'Shevat has mystical meaning in addition to the more modern, environmental meaning we've given to it. For this seder, I wanted to blend a little of ...
Unwanted Old Things
- February 27, 2012
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(reposted from Rabbi Nina Beth Cardin's blog: http://blog.bjen.org/, dated February 22, 2012) When my son moved to NYC last summer, he took the furniture from his DC-sized area apartment to his Manhattan-sized apartment. And - unfortunately - discovered that it didn't all fit. So, like the native New Yorker he is, he put the excess furniture out on the curb. Three hours later, it was gone. I had earlier seen a man on the street stop, set his briefcase down beside my son's flotsam (or more properly, jetsam), call someone to describe his find to, all ...
Solar Project Completed and Dedicated at Temple Sinai of Glendale
- February 22, 2012
With donations from over 50% of our congregation, we were able to raise the down payment for our solar panel system by the time construction was completed! Panels are anticipated to produce from 35 to 50% or more of our power as we continue to take conservation measures. We hope it will be encouraging to congregants to consider doing the same for their own homes.
