Green Team

Earth Day Wrap-up at 1U – EV’s, The Garden, and Goodfills

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1U’s Electric Vehicle Show – Sun, April 28, 2024 and Helping our Planet

To wrap up Earth Month 2024, the Green Team hosted an electric vehicle (EV) show with eight owners/vehicles and Goodfills, a refillery store, during coffee hour after worship in 1U’s garden.

The 1U Hospitality Team provided refreshments and the Garden Team provided garden tours and fresh vegetables to take home.

To learn more about the owners and their EVs, read their comments below.

To learn more about Goodfills, go to https://goodfills.co/ See their portable store that came to 1U to share their vision and offer their products.

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Electric Vehicles at 1U-Hearing from the Owners

1..Why did you decide to buy or lease an EV? For environmental reasons.

2. Why did you buy/lease this particular model? Good size and excellent reviews.

Debbie Reinhart, Owner of Hyundai Ionic 5

3.Did you buy or lease – which one did you choose and why? We bought because we never lease cars.4. What is your EV’s range? 330 miles
5. EV charging – where do you do it? How long does it take? Level 2 takes about 7 hours to go from 20 to 80 %, level 3 takes 18 minutes.6.What challenges have you faced? None so far, but we’ve only had it a month.

7. What are the benefits of your EV? Charge at home, no gas stations. Smooth ride. Nice car. Great for in town driving.8.Will your next car be an EV? I think so. So far, so good. What else? Thanks!

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THE PLEDGE Central Florida at 1U and Beyond

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Commit at 1U and online at the website below.

“Hate cannot drive out hate,
only love can do that.”
— Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Right here in Central Florida, many in our community are living in fear — fear for their own safety, fear for the well-being of their children, and fear of practicing their religion and identifying with their culture.

This IS who we are

We are committed to the promise that Central Florida is a safe community for all who live here and for all future generations. We pledge to protect and value each of our neighbors, especially those who are being threatened or feel unsafe. 

We are committed to the promise that Central Florida is a safe community for all who live here and for all future generations. We pledge to protect and value each of our neighbors, especially those who are being threatened or feel unsafe. 

I WILL lead by example, treating all people, especially those with whom I disagree, with kindness and respect.

I WILL refrain from inflammatory words and actions, and actively support those being attacked.

I WILL report threatening incidents of hate and violence to 800-423 TIPS (8477)

I WILL educate myself about antisemitism, Islamophobia, racism, homophobia, and all other forms of discrimination, and help others in my circle of influence to do the same. I WILL lead by example, treating all. See website and learn more.

Celebrating the Sacred Web with Food and Information – Sunday, April 14

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GReen Team worship announcement

The Green Mini-Fair after The Sacred Web service was bountiful. Tables sharing information: Go Solar, Gardener’s Corner, GO Energy Efficient, Zero Waste Lifestyle,Mystic Grove Corner and the Right Place, Right Plant table (with plants to take home). Furthering the message of green, no paper products and vegetarian foods. Thank you Green Team. And, remember Earth Day at Lake Eola on April 20.

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“We’re All Squatters — An Earth Day Reflection” Worship Service

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Sunday, April 14, 2024, at 10:30am

Worship Leaders: Rabbi David Kay / Judith Stein-Farrall / Aubrey Connelly-Candelario / Linnea Nelson

“We humans like to think of ourselves as stewards of the natural world, and those who count the Hebrew Bible as part of their faith tradition like to point to Genesis 1 as proof. But a closer — and perhaps more accurate — reading of the Creation narrative tells a surprisingly different story, and it gives us a very different perspective on our obligation to the earth and all it contains.”

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The Green Team guided the service with Lisa- Marie S. contributing a poem honoring the beauty of the world, Jackie S offering a Action Promise for Our World and Debra R. and Mary D. at the helm . Rev. Margalie ended the Worship with a Call to Action to sign THE PLEDGE of Central Florida after service at the Mini-Fair online here and in Gore Hall on our Pledge.

The following is part of the Responsive Reading that gave us all hope as we spoke the words:

We will take up the needs of the generations to come: clean water to drink, sweet air to breathe.

Acknowledging the earth most basically as our home, we must set about the task of restoration.

In this our congregational home, we will find small and large ways to remember the environment in our worshiping, our learning, our celebrating, and our justice-making.

Aware of the urgency and complexity of our environmental crisis, we end by promising simply this:

As people of faith, we pledge ourselves to work toward a planet transformed by our care.

Winged Wonders and Wildlife Day

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The Interfaith Environmental Alliance of Central Florida’s Day for Winged Wonders and Wildlife sponsored a guided walk at the Orlando Wetlands Park recently. More than 30 people attended-many from 1U, some from the Interfaith Alliance and some from the Orange County Audubon.  The Orange County Audubon supplied 4 guides and binoculars for all who needed one. See here for more information about birding  with the Orange Audubon Society.

The leisurely one mile walk was a joy and informative due to the beautiful weather, the four knowledgeable guides, and the many questions  and comments from the attendees  about the habitat, the wildlife and the history of the Wetlands. Just some of the wildlife that we observed: roseate spoonbills, purple gallinule, sandhill cranes with newborns, some nesting egrets and great egrets and even a harrier hawk as well as many coots, ibis and blue teal, and, of course, a few alligators. Thank you Green Team for being a founding member of the Interfaith Alliance and organizing the sign ups and the binocular pick-up.

Orlando Landfill Field Trip scenic and overwhelming

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As we looked out over the Landfill’s huge hills, now covered with grass, it really brought it home to us how much we need to recycle. Our  planet should support as few as possible of these enormous trash dumps. It was helpful to me to have the information on recycling provided by our guide, as I am even more motivated to use products that can be recycled.

17 people attended and all seemed to enjoy themselves. Two facts that stuck with Shana were:

  • A large area of their property is dedicated to conservation land which provides habitat for numerous wildlife species including bald eagles, wood storks, sandhill cranes, gators (see picture!), tortoises, and wild boars.
  • The landfill will be filled to capacity in only 20 years.

All attending, including the children, left the Landfill understanding the huge need to reduce waste, recycle and reduce our forever wastes. Thank you Gaye and Shana for photos and comments.

Green Team shows up for EPA community meeting

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The purpose of the grant is to enhance air quality monitoring in communities across the United States with environmental and health outcome disparities stemming from pollution and the COVID-19 pandemic. Community-based nonprofit organizations, state and local governments, and Tribal governments will conduct air monitoring in communities, particularly in communities that are underserved and historically marginalized under these grants. 1U is in one of the 14 zipcodes that are being monitored. While data is being collected, community outreach at many levels has been planned. Expect to read and hear more. Thank you Joan E. for this submission.

The Green Team invites you to a tour of  the Orange County Landfill

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Landfill picture for blog

The Green Team invites you to a tour of  the Orange County Landfill on Friday, January 5 at 10:15 a.m. Check in time is 10:15am at the green Solid Waste Administration building located at 5901 Young Pine Road in east Orlando. Free parking is available in front of the building.

Van starts tour at 10:30am.
Optional lunch at Don Julio’s Mexican Kitchen, 551 S. Chickasaw Trl., Orlando 32825

o   Vegan and gluten-free options are available.

o   Located approximately 15 mins. /7.5 miles from the landfill 

RESERVATIONS NECESSARY – Space is limited. Register here.
PLEASE NOTE 2 Things:

*Children on this trip MUST BE 7 years or older. 

*There is limited room on tour vans. If we exceed the limit, we will let you know AND will maintain a waiting list. If you sign up and you cannot attend, please notify Green Team.

And, on Feb. 12 join the Green Team at 11:45 for a short discussion of “Zero Waste” in Gore Hall Room A.

Map for blog landfill

Restaurant is at 551 S. Chickasaw Trail., Orlando

VegFest was fun and packed with positivity

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The Green Team communicated the message of 1U at VegFest this last Saturday with joy and positivity. People who believe in a greener and more energy efficient world now and in the future were at the event and the food trucks offered delicious food and entertainment and education were ongoing during the day. It was also a time to visit with old and new friends. Lisa Marie from 1U asks people to consider fostering a bird. Of course, the League of Women Voters wants everyone to be ready to vote and then to sign petitions. And the Orange Public Library was there to encourage reading! Thank you volunteers for staffing the table. The 1U day at VegFest would not be possible without you.

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VegFest 2023, Saturday, Oct. 28 at 10:00 am-6:pm

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ORLANDO, FL-Central Florida Veg Fest, at Orlando Festival Park, 2911 East Robinson St. – near the local airport- now celebrating its 18th year, is an annual festival that educates attendees about a plant-based lifestyle and one of sustainability, encompassing health and wellness. The event provides a diverse cross-section of products and services from over 200 vendors and 100 contributors.

Veg Fest will feature healthy living and eco-friendly exhibitors, speakers, local non-profit organizations, fun and games for kids, humane education, dog and cat adoption, restaurant booths, food preparation demonstrations, community garden tours, and live entertainment. Visitors are encouraged to bring their children, dogs, and an appetite for the many delicious food vendors at this event.

Vegetarians of Central Florida (VegCF) is the founding organization behind Central Florida Veg Fest. This growing organization currently has over 6,000 members.

The goals of Veg Fest and of VegCF are to: support all vegans and people who are on the road to becoming vegans, regardless of their motivation; proactively promote veganism in a non- judgmental way; and help empower people to make positive changes in the way they eat and live. The themes of Veg Fest include health and wellness, vegan cuisine, the environment, animal welfare and rights, and community-building activism.

Parking $5.00 but you can Ride your Bike or you can walk. Festival Park is just 0.7 miles from 1U.