From the Kitchen 1. Coffee grounds and filters

2. Tea bags

3. Paper napkins

4. Paper bags

5. Crumbs

6. Plain pasta

7. Plain rice

8. Stale/moldy bread

9. Stale crackers

10. Stale cereal

11. Paper plates

12. Egg shells

13. Nut shells Except walnut shells

14. Old herbs/spices

15. Stale pretzels

16. Pizza crusts

17. Wine corks

18. Melted ice cream

19. Jelly/jam/preserves

20. Stale beer & wine

21. Paper egg cartons

22. Toothpicks

23. Bamboo skewers

24. Paper cupcake or muffin

cups

25. Fruit & veg. scraps

26. Wax paper

From the Bathroom 1. Human hair

2. Nail clippings

3. Cotton balls

4. Cotton swabs (Q-Tips)

made from 100% cotton and

cardboard (no plastic)

From the Laundry Room

1. Dryer lint

2. Old/stained cotton cloth-

ing

3. Old wool clothing

Around the House

1. Contents of your vacuum

cleaner

2. Newspapers

3. Leaves

4. Dead houseplants

5. Flowers from floral

arrangements

6. Natural potpourri

7. Ashes from the

fireplace or fire pit

8. Leaves, grass, & yard

scraps

9. Pine needles

From the Office 1. Pencil shavings

2. Sticky notes

3. All non-glossy paper

Party and Holiday Supplies

1. Paper table cloths

2. Paper streamers

3. Pumpkins

4. Hay bales

5. Natural wreaths

6. Your Christmas tree. Chop

it up with some pruners first

Pet-Related

1. Fur from pets

2. Feathers

3. Alfalfa hay or

pellets

4. Rawhide dog chews

5. Fish food

6. Dry

dog or

cat food

Anything that was once living will compost, see

this list for suggestions.

Why is Styrofoam BAD?

Styrofoam does not breakdown easily.

However, when it gets wet, it releases

chemicals that contaminates the water

that it touches.

By 1986, styrene was found in 100 percent

of all samples of human fat tissue taken as

part of a U.S. Environmental Protection

Agency (EPA) Human Tissue Survey.

Researchers found that Styrofoam cups

lose weight when in use, meaning that

styrene is oozing into the foods and drinks

we consume. It then ends up stored in our

fatty tissue, where it can build up to levels

that can cause fatigue, nervousness,

difficulty sleeping, blood abnormalities,

and even carcinogenic effects. (source:

www.greenhome.com/info/ws/41.shtml)

Can Styrofoam cause cancer?

World Health Organization’s International

Agency for Research on Cancer has shown

that long-term exposure to small quantities

of styrene is suspected of causing:

• low platelet counts or hemoglobin values;

– chromosomal and lymphatic

abnormalities;

– neurotoxic effects due to accumulation

of styrene in the tissues of the brain, spinal

cord, and peripheral nerves, resulting in

fatigue, nervousness, difficulty sleeping,

and other acute or chronic health

problems associated with the nervous

system.

• Because many of these effects can be

more pronounced on developing bodies,

extra caution is advisable for women who

are pregnant (or considering becoming

so) and for prepubescent children.

Can Styrofoam be recycled?

Yes, BUT a lot of recycling plants do not

accept it because of the cost involved.

Here are some other facts about Styrofoam

recycling:

• Polystyrene recycling is not “closed loop”

– collected polystyrene cups are not

remanufactured into cups, but into other

products, such as packing filler and

cafeteria trays. This means that more

resources will have to be used, and more

pollution created, to produce more

polystyrene cups.

-”Plastics Industry Grasps for Straws,”

Everyone’s Backyard, Jan./Feb. 1990,

Citizen’s Clearing house for Hazardous

Waste, p. 6.

There are LOTS of ways to live a greener life and by

implementing just a few you can become an even better

steward of God’s Creation!

Foil vs. Styrofoam for leftovers. Styrofoam is not eco-friendly, but foil is

recyclable.

Buy in bulk to avoid packaging. If you are able to store items bought in bulk,

consider the cost savings and the

eco-friendliness of the packaging.

Clean everything with baking soda

and vinegar. Instead of using normal household cleaners

with hazardous chemicals, consider natural

cleaners.

Cloth vs. disposable diapers. Cost savings over time (it will be a larger

up-front cost). A lot less waste.

Use shower water to flush toilet. Collect shower water in a small bucket while

it warms up to flush the toilet instead of

wasting.

Compost. If you do not compost at your home consider

trying it.

Use cloth napkins. Cloth napkins are eco-friendly and re-usable!

Drink tap, not bottled, water. No waste!

Reuse (or don’t use) produce bags. Less or no waste.

Use cloth shopping bags. Cloth shopping bags are great for gift-giving

occasions and a simple way to live greener.

Paperless billing. Go paperless to eliminate paper files and the

need to shred later.

Reuse plastic sandwich bags. Reuse, or better yet—consider using reusable

containers for packed lunches.

Use a travel coffee mug. No waste!

Bicycle places instead of driving. Save gasoline by bicycling places that are

realistic for you!

Eco-friendly appliances. Appliances that are eco-friendly often use

less soap and considerably less water and

energy. Money and resources will be saved

in the long run.

Monitor Bathroom Water Consumption. Bathrooms can be a mega water wasting

room.

• Consider a low flow nozzle or monitor

length of showers.

• Fix dripping faucets immediately to avoid

waste.

• Flush conservatively or get a dual flush

toilet.

• Turn off the sink while brushing your teeth!

There are LOTS of ways to live a greener

life and by implementing just a few you

can become an even better steward of

God’s Creation!

• Paper towel rolls

• Clean paper bags

• Cereal boxes

• Toilet paper rolls

• Phone books

• Outdated books

Library book sales also

love these!

• Newspapers

• Envelopes

• Sticky notes

• Business cards

• Wrapping Paper

• Wrapping paper rolls

• Broken down boxes

• Magazines

• All cardboard

• All paper

• Shredded paper

It is OK to place paper &

cardboard in plastic bags

for recycling.

What can be recycled in the River Valley bins?

PAPER & CARDBOARD

1) White vinegar:

An antifungal that also kills germs

and bacteria.

2) Baking soda:

Eliminates odors and works

as a gentle scouring powder.

3) Borax:

Eliminates odors, removes dirt,

and acts as an antifungal and

possible disinfectant. Use with

care around children and pets,

as it can be toxic if

swallowed.

4) Hydrogen peroxide: A great

nontoxic bleach and stain

remover, as well as a proven

disinfectant.

5) Club soda:

A stain remover and polisher.

6) Lemon juice:

A nontoxic bleach, grease-cutter,

and stain remover.

7) Liquid castile soap:

An all-purpose cleaner, grease-

cutter, and disinfectant.

8) Corn meal:

Great at picking up carpet spills.

9) Olive oil:

Makes a wonderful furniture

polish.

10) Pure essential oils:

Adding all-natural,

organic essential oils to your

cleaning solutions can add won-

derful scents to your housekeeping

endeavors (ex: lavender, pepper-

mint, eucalyptus, lemongrass, or

tea tree oils). To be safe, stick with

eucalyptus, lemongrass, and tea

tree oils for all recipes (on back) if

you’re pregnant.

10 key GREEN cleaning ingredients

Information found at www.greenamerica.org

All-purpose cleaners: Make “Wonder

Spray”: 2 Tbsp. white vinegar & 1 tsp.

borax in 16 oz. spray bottle. Fill rest with very

hot water & shake to blend until borax is

dissolved. Add 1/4 c. of liquid castile soap

to spray mix. To scent, add 10–15 drops of

essential oil. For easier solution, use 2 c.

club soda in spray bottle.

Hard floor cleaner: Do not use on floors

when supposed to avoid even mild

detergents. Combine 1/4 c. liquid castile

soap, up to 1/2 c. white vinegar or lemon

juice, & 2 gal. warm water in bucket. Use

mop or sponge to clean.

Carpet cleaner: To clean & disinfect, blend

1/2 c. baking soda, 1 c. borax, & 1 c. corn-

meal. Sprinkle mix over rug & rub with cloth.

Let rest for several hours, then vacuum.

For stain removal mix 1/4 c. liquid castile

soap & 1/3 c. water until foamy. Spread mix

on carpet and let sit for few min., then

scrub stain with brush or clean rag. Club

soda will remove many acidic stains

(coffee, wine, juice). To deal with big

carpet spills, pour cornmeal on spill, wait

15 min., then vacuum.

Glass cleaner: For shiny windows, use club

soda in spray bottle. Add 1 tsp. of lemon

juice to for degreaser.

Bathroom Surface Cleaner:

Use baking soda or borax as scouring

powder. For softer scrub, combine 1/2 c.

baking soda with enough liquid soap to

achieve a frosting-like consistency. You

may want to add 5-10 drops of essential

oil . Club soda works wonders on

plumbing fixtures.

Toilet Cleaner: Sprinkle baking soda or

borax, or pour white vinegar into toilet, and

let sit for a few min. before scrubbing.

Mold Remover: Combine 1/2 c. hydrogen

peroxide or white vinegar with 1 c. water.

Spray on mold, do not rinse. Alternative:

Spray mixture of 2 tsp. tea tree oil & 2 c.

water.

Oven cleaner: Cover oven floor with

baking soda, spray with water until very

damp, and let set. Spray with water

periodically to keep damp. In morning,

clean out baking soda, & stuck-on gunk will

be loosened and able to scrub off.

Wood polish: To polish wood furniture,

dab olive oil onto soft cloth and rub.

Germs & other Concerns: Soap and water

do the job well enough to keep our families

safe, barring someone with a compromised

immune system. Wash hands frequently.

Disinfect sponges weekly by boiling in

water for 3 min. and then microwaving

for 1 min. and launder dish rags every

week.

CLEANING GREEN

Information found at www.greenamerica.org

Top Ten Takeaways from 'Laudato Si'' By: James Martin, S.J. June 18, 2015

Pope Francis’ revolutionary new encyclical calls for a “broad cultural revolution” to confront the environmental crisis. “Laudato Si” is

also quite lengthy. Can it be summarized? In other words, what are the main messages, or “takeaways” of this encyclical?

1) The spiritual perspective is now part of the discussion on the environment.Advertisement

The greatest contribution of “Laudato Si” to the environmental dialogue is, to my mind, its systematic overview of the crisis from a

religious point of view. Until now, the environmental dialogue has been framed mainly with political, scientific and economic

language. With this new encyclical, the language of faith enters the discussion—clearly, decisively and systematically. This does not

mean that Pope Francis is imposing his beliefs on those concerned about the environment. “I am well aware,” he says, that not all are

believers (No. 62). Nonetheless, the encyclical firmly grounds the discussion in a spiritual perspective and invites others to listen to a

religious point of view, particularly its understanding of creation as a holy and precious gift from God to be reverenced by all men and

women. But the pope also hopes to offer “ample motivation” to Christians and other believers “to care for nature” (No. 64). This does

also not mean that other popes (and other parts of the church) have not spoken about the crisis—Francis highlights the teachings of his

predecessors, particularly St. John Paul II and Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. But in its systematic spiritual approach, this is a

groundbreaking document that expands the conversation by inviting believers into the dialogue and providing fresh insights for those

already involved.

2) The poor are disproportionately affected by climate change.

The disproportionate effect of environmental change on the poor and on the developing world is highlighted in almost every section of

the encyclical. Indeed, near the beginning of “Laudato Si,” the pope states that focus on the poor is one the central themes of the

encyclical, and he provides many baneful examples of the effects of climate change, whose “worse impacts” are felt by those living in

the developing countries. This is not simply the result of the power of the rich to make decisions that do not take the poor into account,

but because the poor themselves have fewer financial resources that enable them to adapt to climate change. Additionally, the natural

resources of those poorer countries “fuel” the development of the richer countries “at the cost of their own present and

future” (No. 52). Throughout the encyclical, the pope appeals to the Gospels, to Catholic social teaching and to the statements of

recent popes to critique the exclusion of anyone from benefits of the goods of creation. Overall, in decisions regarding the environment

and the use of the earth’s common resources, he repeatedly calls for an appreciation of the “immense dignity of the poor” (No. 158).

3) Less is more.

Pope Francis takes aim at what he calls the “technocratic” mindset, in which technology is seen as the “principal key” to human

existence (No. 110). He critiques an unthinking reliance on market forces, in which every technological, scientific or industrial

advancement is embraced before considering how it will affect the environment and “without concern for its potential negative impact

on human beings” (No. 109). This is not the view of a Luddite—in fact, Francis goes out of his way to praise technological advances—

but of a believer who resists the idea that every increase in technology is good for the earth and for humanity. “Laudato Si” also diag-

noses a society of “extreme consumerism” in which people are unable to resist what the market places before them, the earth is

despoiled and billions are left impoverished (No. 203). That is why it is the time, he says, to accept “decreased growth in some part of

the world, in order to provide recourse for other places to experience healthy growth” (No. 193). In contrast with the consumerist

mindset, Christian spirituality offers a growth marked by “moderation and the capacity to be happy with little” (No. 222). It is a matter

of nothing less than a redefinition of our notion of progress.

4) Catholic social teaching now includes teaching on the environment.

Against those who argue that a papal encyclical on the environment has no real authority, Pope Francis explicitly states that “Laudato

Si” "is now added to the body of the Church’s social teaching" (No. 15). By the way, an encyclical is a type of teaching that enjoys the

highest level of authority in the church, second only to the Gospels and church councils like Vatican II. As such, it continues the kind

of reflection on modern-day problems that began with Leo XIII’s “Rerum Novarum,” on capital and labor, in 1891. Pope Francis uses

some of the traditional foundations of Catholic Social Teaching, particularly the idea of the “common good,” to frame his discussion.

In keeping with the practices of Catholic social teaching, the pope combines the riches of the church’s theology with the findings of

experts in a variety of fields, to reflect on modern-day problems. To that end, he explicitly links St. John XXIII’s “Pacem in Terris,”

which addressed the crisis of nuclear war, with “Laudato Si,” which addresses this newer crisis.

5) Discussions about ecology can be grounded in the Bible and church tradition.

Wisely, Pope Francis begins the encyclical not with a reflection on Scripture and tradition (the two pillars of Catholic teaching), which

might tempt nonbelievers to set aside the letter, but with an overview of the crisis—including issues of water, biodiversity and so on.

Only in Chapter Two does he turn towards “The Gospel of Creation,” in which he leads readers, step by step, through the call to care

for creation that extends as far back as the Book of Genesis, when humankind was called to “till and keep” the earth. But we have

done, to summarize his approach, too much tilling and not enough keeping. In a masterful overview, Pope Francis traces the theme of

love for creation through both the Old and New Testaments. He reminds us, for example, that God, in Jesus Christ, became not only

human, but part of the natural world.

Moreover, Jesus himself appreciated the natural world, as is evident in the Gospel passages in which he praises creation. The insights

of the saints are also recalled, most especially St. Francis of Assisi, the spiritual lodestar of the document. In addition to helping

nonbelievers understand the Scripture and the church’s traditions, he explicitly tries to inspire believers to care for nature and the

environment.

6) Everything is connected—including the economy.

One of the greatest contributions of “Laudato Si” is that it offers what theologians call a “systematic” approach to an issue. First, he

links all of us to creation: “We are part of nature, included in it, and thus in constant interaction with it” (No. 139). But our decisions,

particularly about production and consumption, have an inevitable effect on the environment. Pope Francis links a “magical

conception of the market,” which privileges profit over the impact on the poor, with the abuse of the environment (No. 190).

Needless to say, a heedless pursuit of money that sets aside the interests of the marginalized and leads to the ruination of the planet

are connected. Early on, he points to St. Francis of Assisi, who shows how “inseparable the bond is between concern for nature,

justice for the poor, commitment to society and interior peace” (No. 10). Far from offering a naïve condemnation of capitalism, Pope

Francis provides an intelligent critique of the limits of the market, especially where it fails to provide for the poor. “Profit,” he says,

“cannot be the sole criterion” of our decisions (No. 187).

7) Scientific research on the environment is to be praised and used.

Pope Francis does not try to “prove” anything about climate change in this document. He frankly admits that the church does not

“presume to settle scientific questions” (No. 188). And while he clearly states that there are disputes over current science, his

encyclical accepts the “best scientific research available today” and builds on it, rather than entering into a specialist’s

debate (No. 15). Speaking of the great forests of the Amazon and Congo, and of glaciers and aquifers, for example, he simply says,

“We know how important these are for the earth…” (No. 38: my italics.) As the other great Catholic social encyclicals analyzed such

questions as capitalism, unions and fair wages, “Laudato Si” draws upon both church teaching and contemporary findings from other

fields—particularly science, in this case—to help modern-day people reflect on these questions.

8) Widespread indifference and selfishness worsen environmental problems.

Pope Francis reserves his strongest criticism for the wealthy who ignore the problem of climate change, and especially its effect on

the poor. “Many of those who possess more resources seem mostly to be concerned with masking the problems or concealing their

symptoms…" (No. 26). Why, he asks, are so many of the wealthy turning away from the poor? Not only because “some view

themselves as more worthy than others,” but because frequently decisions makers are “far removed from the poor,” physically, with

no real contact to their brothers and sisters (No. 90, 49). Selfishness also leads to the evaporation of the notion of the common good.

This affects not simply those in the developing world, but also in the inner cities of our more developed countries, where he calls for

what might be termed an “urban ecology.” In the world of “Laudato Si” there is no room for selfishness or indifference. One cannot

care for the rest of nature “if our hearts lack tenderness, compassion and concern for our fellow human beings” (No. 91).

9) Global dialogue and solidarity are needed.

Perhaps more than any encyclical, Pope Francis draws from the experiences of people around the world, using the insights of

bishops’ conferences from Brazil, New Zealand, Southern Africa, Bolivia, Portugal, Germany, Argentina, the Dominican Republic,

the Philippines, Australia and the United States, among other places. (In this way, he also embodies the Catholic principle of

subsidiarity, which, in part, looks to local experience and local solutions.) Moreover, the “new dialogue” and “honest debate” he calls

for is not simply one within the Catholic Church (No. 14, 16). Patriarch Bartholomew, the leader of the Eastern Orthodox Church,

enters into the encyclical, as does a Sufi poet. In fact, the pope calls into dialogue and debate “all people” about our “common

home” (No. 62, 155). A global dialogue is also needed because there are “no uniform recipes.” What works in one region may not in

another (No. 180). The encyclical’s worldwide scope (as opposed to a more Eurocentric cast) makes it an easier invitation for a

worldwide community.

10) A change of heart is required

At heart, this document, addressed to “every person on the planet” is a call for a new way of looking at things, a “bold cultural

revolution” (No. 3, 114). We face an urgent crisis, when, thanks to our actions, the earth has begun to look more and more like, in

Francis’ vivid language, “an immense pile of filth” (No. 21). Still, the document is hopeful, reminding us that because God is with us,

we can strive both individually and corporately to change course. We can awaken our hearts and move towards an “ecological

conversion” in which we see the intimate connection between God and all beings, and more readily listen to the “cry of the earth and

the cry of the poor” (No. 49).

To use religious language, what the pope is calling for is conversion.

Taken from: https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2015/06/18/top-ten-takeaways-laudato-si

Making your own monster feet!

You will need:

• 2 empty tissue boxes

• Paints (acrylic ) & paint brushes

• Scissors

• Glue

• Optional: black felt, for claws

1. To make monster feet paint the top and

sides of the

tissue boxes (you can also elect to reuse

tissue paper and use watered down glue

to collage over it).

2. Let paint or tissue paper

creation dry.

3. If you wish, cut out

embellishments from felt, foam, sponges,

etc. (claws, stripes…)and attach.

4. Slip feet in after dry and

enjoy pretending!

Making your own Backpack tags!

You will need:

• Reused lid (size of your choice)

• Colored paper

• Pencil

• Scissors

• Glue

• Craft foam

• Glitter glue

• Paper clip or a metal ring

• Hole punch (optional)

• Permanent markers

1. Draw around the jar lid onto card-

board and cut out two identical

circles.

2. Glue one circle inside the lid.

3. Cut out a letter (maybe your ini-

tial), shape or design to decorate

your tag (make sure it will fit in-

side the lid).

4. If you wish, embellish with glitter

glue or colored

markers.

5. You may punch a hole or unbend

a paper clip and glue the second

cardboard circle over it.

6. When all glue is dry, feel free to

hang on your backpack!