Green Film Series NEW SEASON!

Is access to clean drinking water a basic human right, or a commodity that should be bought and sold like any other article of commerce? 

TAPPED

Thursday, October 10 at 7pm

First Unitarian Society of Westchester 

25 Old Jackson Avenue, Hastings, NY 

Join us to view Stephanie Soechtig's debut feature TAPPED, an unflinching examination of the big business of bottled water. 

From the producers of Who Killed the Electric Car and I.O.U.S.A., this timely documentary is a behind the scenes look into the unregulated and unseen world of an industry that aims to privatize and sell back the one resource that ought ever to become a commodity: our water. 

From the plastic production to the ocean in which so many of these bottles end up this inspiring documentary trails the path of the bottled water industry and the communities which were the unwitting chips on the table.

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TAPPED is brought to you by Rivertowns Interfaith Green Film Series. We are a collaboration of South

Church’s Roots & Wings, The First Unitarian Society of Westchester, and Greenburgh Hebrew Center, offering film and conversation about sustainable living and environmental issues.  All programs are open to the public and admission is free (donations appreciated). See the whole season here.

Kitchen Garden Update

This week we stalked most of the tomatoes and planted some additional peppers, Asian eggplants, and marigolds.  

The peppers eggplants and marigolds were donated by Will Summers (one of the farmers that spoke at our Local Young Farmers discussion this spring) from the Stony Point Center who also offered us his tiller whenever we need it.  We were able to secure the greenhouse a bit more by digging it into the ground a few inches (it would stood the wind from this weeks storm).

Today we also turned the compost and began to create a new planting bed where we may want to plant some zucchinis. Mother Nature has taken care of the watering this week.

Next Steps

We need to continue planting additional seedlings, turning the compost, and mixing soil in our new bed.  We should also be thinking about how to create a sitting space by perhaps moving our stone bench.  

If anyone knows of an outdoor table that can be donated, please let us know since this would be great for our garden. 

Again please try to come on Saturdays at about 10 am or Wednesdays at 5 pm. As always stop by any time as you can help turn the compost, weed the vegetable beds, water, or just watch and enjoy how all of our plants are doing.

Have a great rest of the week.

Marc

Growth Project

--by Marcus Panozzo, member of South Church's 2013 Confirmation Class

Ever since I was a little boy I loved watching my dad work outside in the garden and I used to be fascinated with all the different plants in our backyard and I still am today.  So it is no surprise that for my confirmation project I chose something that would tie into justice through food –helping through learning to grow it yourself.

My project had a simple goal, which was to help spruce up the Labyrinth Garden in front of South Church.

As I worked on the labyrinth garden, I wondered if I could design and plant my own labyrinth at home someday.  

It was a lot of work moving mulch, which sort of gives me a glimpse of how tough this kind of work really is, but enjoyable at the same time. Especially when it’s sunny out and a little breezy. Learning about the different plants and herbs is interesting. My friend and mentor Chris helped me a lot understanding the ecology.

It was refreshing to spend some time outside instead of rushing home after church.  

Kitchen Garden Musings

presented by Robin Larkin, of Cabrini Immigrant Services--Roots & Wings partner in the Kitchen Garden, at South Church Celebrates Roots & Wings, April 2013

First Saturday in April.  

Clear.  Chilly.  

The gate opens to the dormant garden space.  

So many possibilities.  

Mark and Pablo are looking at drawings of raised beds.

A green house has been placed

where a tree once stood.

It's warm inside

Ready for new growth.

Doris, Virginia, Solange arrive.  

We stand there --  

Remembering what grew where, what didn’t, why?

Last year, the questioning, the newness.

Would it work?  It worked.  Would people come?  They came.

Would we understand each other? 

Yes.  Si. はい(hai). 예(ye). 是 (shì). جی ہاں (jee haan).

All speak, hear and teach the same language in the garden.

A shiver passes when the wind picks up.  The Spirit… 

English and Spanish warm today’s air

as Mark shows the blueprint.

“It’s beautiful,” Doris says,

“We need to clear the space,” Solange adds.

Virginia has already started.

The garden re-awakens.  Rakes scratch its surface.

Blankets of leaves are removed, then moved to the compost pile.

Uncovering the dirt to start over.

It too was waiting for this reconnection.

“I like the way this smells.”

The stirring of the earth continues, as memories also stir…

Of parents, grandparents, other countries, other backyards,

And their garden smells. 

“We did this at home…”

We are doing this now. 

This can be “home…”

“There’s room for a table now… A meditation space…

Maybe a grill... A mattress in the greenhouse?” 

Just kidding, Linda Jo!

But the talk is of being together in this place…

…This sacred space.

The strength of these women who came,

And then came back with their families.

Our own Easter messengers.

Waving goodbye for now.

“Te amo.  I love you all.  It’s beautiful.”

Cultures together.

Generations together.

Faiths together.

Neighbors together.

Community.  Sustainability. Prayer in Action. 

WE ARE Roots & Wings. 

“Te amo.  It’s beautiful!”

A Celebration of our 3rd Anniversary

Thank you Robin Larkin of Cabrini Immigrant Services, for preparing this beautiful recap of Roots & Wings' first three years!

South Church Celebrates Roots & Wings!

You're invited to a worship service featuring music, photos and stories

This Sunday, April 14, at 10 AM

at South Church, 343, Broadway, Dobbs Ferry. Directions.

All are welcome!

Roots & Wings' STORIES. Pictures of GARDENERS and journeyers. South Church VOICES on food, nourishment, and sustainability. "MOTHER EARTH" sung by the South Church CHOIR. Alex's CREPES. A chance to PLANT a seed. Robert SCHUMANN'S Novellette #1. . .   

Transition Training a Success

A group of 40 participants immersed themselves in Transition Training last weekend . . .  learning how to organize a movement for sustainable change in their community. One of the best parts was meeting new friends and being inspired by their stories! 

It was great meeting you this weekend. Nice to know Westchester/Putnam counties are seeded with people like you!

Lisa from Larchmont’s Committee on the Environment

It was great spending the weekend with you immersed in the very special world of Transition. I won't soon forget it, AND we will hopefully build upon it little by little, steadily expanding and putting to use what we learned. Again, thanks to everyone involved, and especially to our wonderful facilitators and to those in Roots and Wings who made it all possible, and to Transition Hastings for feeding us! 

Deb from KidsGrowGreener.com

This weekend was exceptional and I am deeply grateful to everyone who participated for sharing their time and their hope and their energy. 

Pauline from Transition Westchester

Thank you all. . . . What a fabulous experience South Church, Roots and Wings, Transition Westchester, The Rivertowns Transition towns and the participants that you magnitized to the training provided for us. We are basking in a Westchester glow that has me smiling from ear to ear as I type this.

We are deeply appreciative and grateful for the warmth and compassion that enveloped us all this past weekend.

Pamela , Certified Transition Trainer. Mid-Atlantic Regional Transition Hub, of Transition US

Thank you Roots and Wings for the wonderful Transition Training workshop. 

Jessica from GreenDrinksGreenwich