Laudato Sí

52 Ways To Care For Creation:
A New Call To Action will be added each week throughout 2022

21. Take some time this week to start or deepen an ecological conversion: “the transformation of hearts and minds toward greater love of God, each other and creation. It is a process of acknowledging our contribution to the social and ecological crisis and acting in ways that nurture communion: healing and renewing our common home.”
20. Get your bike tuned up and ride to work, around town on short errands or to enjoy the beauty of God’s creation. Cycling saves money on gas and car maintenance; and it is a great way to stay active and helps to put us on a path of sustainability!
19. Commit to pray that the Lord will make each one of us "artisans of peace" who will prioritize the care of our common home and help restore our damaged ecosystems by continuing to implement suggested climate actions.
18. We rely on pollinators to help produce at least one-third of our food.  Plan to plant some of these flowers to benefit your vegetable gardens and fruit trees:  dandelions, coneflowers, bee balm, calendula, catmint, daisies, lavender, marigold (also good for deterring fleas and ticks), snapdragons and sunflowers.  Not only will you help benefit our ecosystem, Mom will enjoy all those flowers too.  Happy Mother’s Day!
17. Continue advocating for growing our own food and reducing our consuption of manufacture dor processed goods shipped from far away.  It is now time to plant peas!
16. Search your property and/or neighborhood for small pieces of trash that can be cleaned up.
15. Happy Earth Day - April 22! Try making an all purpose cleaner: Fill a mason jar with pine, spruce or cedar needles, lemon /orange peels, thyme, rosemary or sage leaves, cinnamon sticks, whole cloves and white vinegar.  Let steep for 4-8 weeks. Strain using a cheesecloth and fill a spray bottle with ration of 1/2 concentrate, 1/2 water, + 2 drops of dish soap.
14. Plant seeds indoors that are "frost tender" i.e. lettuces, greens, cucumbers and flowers
13. When you wash laundry, make sure it is a full load.  Drying clothes on an outdoor clothesline will save many kilowatt hours of electricity. 
12. Make your own windshield washing fluid: Mix 3/4 gallon distilled water, 1/4 gallon white vinegar and 1 cup isopropyl alcohol (if used in cold climates like Maine!).  This also works well for washing windows in our homes.
11. Gather supplies to plant seeds indoors for those plants that need an early start.  Brassicas, tomatoes, and peppers need a 6-8 week indoor start, and then can be planted outside after our last frost date (May 21-31).
10. What can your family do to participate in this Global Catholic Call To Climate Action??
9.    Deepen your appreciation for creation by spending at least ten minutes outdoors every day, thanking God for all the surrounding beauty.
8.    "Adopt Meatless Mondays" in our homes.  Animal agriculture remains one of the leading causes of greenhouse gas emissions.  Try some new plant-based meals such as cauliflower tacos or try substitutions such as a can of garbanzo beans instead of hamburger in spaghetti suace or cashews instead of chicken in wok dishes.
7.     Every month, change the lights in one room to LED (light emitting diode) bulbs. To compare bulb features, brightness, efficiency, color, shape and base choices and to see a list of best prices on LED bulbs, click here. LED lighting products produce light up to 90% more efficiently than incandescent light bulbs.
6.     Try taking a shower in the time that it takes to enjoy your favorite song.  Being creative can make saving water a fun game!  Challenge your family and friends to do the same.
5.     How are your plans going? 
4.     Make plans to grow food this Spring - herbs, vegetables, on window sills, or in whole              gardens!  Some resources to get started:
        - Johnny's Seeds of Maine
        - Coast of Maine composts
        - Roots & Refuge Farm on YouTube - "The Big Seed Chat" Part 1 & 2
3.     Try out "pantrying"-The act of stocking, maintaining, and eating from a pantry.  Clean out and reorganize your refrigerator, freezer, food cupboards, and pantry with the goal of becoming more organized so that you throw away less food.  Click here for more tips
2.     Lower your thermostat at night to 60-67 degrees (homes with infants under 6 months old should wait to implement this suggestion). 
1.     Jesus teaches us to pray before we begin an important mission; therefore, our call to action this week is to offer Pope Francis' "A Prayer for our Earth".