Practical eco-steps around the church
Written by Kathryn Thorne, Papanui Baptist Church.
The Papanui Baptist Earth Care Group wants to give a shout out of appreciation to Carol Aitken, our church administrator for the proactive and intentional things she is already implementing in the practical life and running of our church facility, that are at the core of what we are about – better stewardship, less waste and the promotion of beauty, in respect of God’s amazing creation! I had the privilege of chatting with Carol recently! Make sure to thank her yourself, too! Remember that a very large number of groups and individuals use our facilities, right across the week!
Here’s a growing list of items and strategies we can all be proud of:
All the beautiful, live, indoor plants, that welcome us and enhance the spaces and purify the air!
Photocopy paper made from wheat straw, a byproduct of food manufacture, which typically only uses the wheat grain; rather than the felling of trees!
Scrap paper from general office use is used for notetaking!
Shredded paper is given to the Wroths to take home for their daughter’s rabbit!
A compost caddy on the kitchen bench.
Coffee beans, La Mai Coffee, are sourced from Bright Hope World (Heather McLennan), the profits from which go towards helping communities who live in extreme poverty (earning less than $1 per day).
Coffee grounds are collected and put into compost!
Natural cleaning and hygiene products (e.g. air freshener and detergent) that are gentle on us and the environment!
New bright labels on kitchen bins, acquired from ‘recyclekiwi.co.nz’. Richard Guise, a member of our Papanui Baptist Earth Care Group, is also the co-convenor of one of our community ministries – a Social English. Last term, he headed up a session on ‘Recycling’ for our new New Zealanders who come. He said it was ‘hands-on’ and very well-received and that the ‘recyclekiwi’ team had provided him with some marvellous free resources and information, including these lovely bright bin stickers!
A big ‘Thank you’, too, to Steve Spillane, who faithfully does the heavier cleaning of our sanctuary and is moving progressively to the organic and easily bio-degradable options for cleaning products!
A large number of our dated books (our ex-library) have been rehomed or recycled!
Some photos of the practical eco-steps happening around the church are below.
