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Peggy’s Garden -by Rosemary Burris (June 2010)

Last year a small group of LUFers decided to convert the little patch of shrubs and flowers at the front of the Unitarian House to a more sustainable garden in honour of Peggy Tripp, a most remarkable member who had died in the fall of 2008. Peggy inspired us all with her unwavering commitment to our seventh principle: “Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.” Anyone who came in contact with her was struck with how she “walked the talk”.

Many years ago when I first took on the job of planting the floral borders outside our Unitarian House, I asked for help from Peggy, she suggested plants that would survive in 3 very different locations we have here, and generously gave us perennials to wean us from the wasteful practice of planting annuals each year. Each year, she would supplement our beds with plants from what her husband Wayne refers to as Peggy’s “Grow Op”. So after Peggy died, it occurred to me that the best way for me to honour her, would be to take the LUF gardens to the next level: plant more shrubs and perennials, continue to move away from annuals therefore reducing mowing, and mulch in order to keep watering to a minimum. I was inspired by some of our neighbours who were beautifying their public “faces” with lovely borders, and I hoped to bring more attention to this beloved old Unitarian House and the activities and beliefs within.

Since I am a rank amateur in this domain, I sought the counsel of the real gardeners in our midst, and in particular, a friend of Peggy’s from the Thunder Bay Master Gardeners, Louise Nadeau. With her help, we came up with a design, and then approached the nurseries for help selecting the first stage of planting. I asked the congregation for donations towards the purchase of shrubs and perennials. Wayne removed the straggly cedar that was closest to the stairs, and I dug up and stored the existing plants. That week, Melody Allaire and Mark Nadir very generously gave me a day of hard labour as we dug the front bed down about 18 inches, and with Wayne’s help, added in a wonderful loamy mix of Peggy’s compost to combine with the original soil. Heidi Wahl brought us manure from her friend’s farm to fertilize it.

This spring, I cleared away some of the dead leaves and see that most of the garden has survived and is starting to bud. I contacted Bill Martin’s and in a few weeks, will purchase the remaining two shrubs and a clematis. We still need ground cover such as periwinkle or other shade-loving plants, so if you or your friends are thinning out your beds, please let me know. Diane Gordon has procured an antique chair which will support a large planter of flowers in the focal point of the garden where we will place a small plaque identifying this as “Peggy’s Garden”. If you would like to purchase a plant to donate in Peggy’s honour, please leave a message at the LUF office. Your name will be added to the list on the framed dedication to be hung in the hall. Wishing you happy gardening!

UPDATING THE CUC 1999 ENVIRONMENT RESOLUTION

The CUC Environmental Principles were first adopted at the Canadian Unitarian Council Annual Meeting on May 23, 1999. It's been 10 years since adoption of these Environmental Principles and since then the CUC has endorsed the Earth Charter, submitted letters to our Federal Government leaders requesting action on meeting our Kyoto Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emission targets and issued a statement regarding genetic engineering of food. Many congregations across Canada have incorporated environmental education into their religious education curriculum, formed environmental justice committees and several congregations have received or are working toward Green Sanctuary Accreditation through the UU Ministry for Earth. This is still just a start.

At the CUC Annual Meeting in May 2008, a resolution was passed that the CUC Environmental Principles should be revisited and revised to address the continuing pressures on our environment. These pressures continue to have devastating effects not only on our natural world but also cultures and communities most unable to protect themselves from the effects to our environment brought on by consumerism and subsequent high energy demands.

Since May 2008, the Environmental Monitoring Committee has reviewed the original Environmental Principles. We feel they still reflect the concern UU's have for the environment. We also feel they still lend guidance for our daily lives. What mattered to us was that our statement reflects the concerns and language of today to ensure that the diversity of beliefs and attitudes that enrich our Unitarian Universalism was expressed. With this in mind, we made minor changes and· have submitted the following revised version for feedback and comments.

An updated version as detailed below is proposed for adoption. (19 Jan 09 Version)

CUC STATEMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY

Canadian Unitarian Universalists recognize that the ecological support systems upon which all life depends are threatened. A growing world population and the failure of our institutions to manage economic growth have created an environmental crisis. This is a profoundly moral issue; as a religious community, it is incumbent upon us to foster the ethics and values that will ensure the continued existence of a world as beautiful and productive as that which we know as our home.

Therefore:
We affirm the ethics implicit in the document Environmental Principles and Values of Canadian Unitarian Universalists.
We mandate our denomination at the national, regional and congregational levels to provide leadership through collective and individual actions, and to be a strong voice and presence in confronting environmental issues.

Adopted by the Canadian Unitarian Council Annual Meeting, May XX, 2009

ENVIRONMENTAL PRINCIPLES AND VALUES OF CANADIAN UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISTS

1. Interdependence: As Unitarian Universalists, we covenant to affirm and promote respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part. The values of individual responsibility, personal growth, democracy, and social justice that we also affirm are essential elements in the development of a sustainable relationship with nature.
2. Inherent worth: We acknowledge that we are but one species of many on earth; each has its own value that cannot be measured by its service to humankind. Viewing the earth merely as a resource for the satisfaction of human needs and desires has been destructive and imperilled our future.
3. Sustainability: Ensuring sustainability of the earth and all life upon it is our first responsibility to future generations and to all the species with which we share the planet. In a sustainable world, healthy human societies will live in harmony with the natural environment.
4. Religious Commitment: Since the environmental crisis is a result of human alienation from nature, we seek guidance from spiritual and/or humanist teachings, from which we draw inspiration to re-establish relationship with the earth.
5. Ethical Action: We must adopt practices not only appropriate to our time and place but also that address needs of the future. We must embrace a view that sees ourselves not as master of the land, but rather as an integral part of the earth's ecosystem where all life forms are both independent and yet dependent on one another.
6. Biodiversity: The health and quality of life on earth depends upon the preservation and restoration of biodiversity. Species are disappearing from the earth at a cataclysmic rate, weakening some ecosystems and causing the collapse of others. By fragmenting Earth's landscapes, we are creating conditions for even greater losses.
7. Precautionary principle: We can never be certain of the impact of our actions on nature; where knowledge is incomplete and irreversible harm is possible, we must err on the side of caution. Every decision is a choice about the future; application of the precautionary principle will reduce the possibility of undesirable consequence.
8. Natural Capital: The ecological support systems of planet earth are finite, imposing limits on the growth of populations and economies. Since the economy is totally dependent upon the environment, it cannot be allowed to undermine the integrity of ecological processes. A sustainable economy must limit consumption to the "interest" produced by the natural capital upon which it depends.

Adopted by the Canadian Unitarian Council Annual Meeting, May XX, 2009