Spring 2025 Green Tip
2025 GREEN SUNDAY IS APRIL 27!
Do you want to do something about preserving and restoring God’s creation?
CONSIDER JOINING OUR CHURCH GREEN TEAM!!
Reach out to the church office or Pastor to be connected to this team and its work and leaders.
Christ Our Anchor Presbyterian Church launched our Green Team the Sunday before Earth Day, April 18, 2021. A Steering Committee of about 8-10 members plans to do a full assessment of our property as well as processes around worship, education of all ages and day to day office business. Our Green Team leaders also have a relationship with the Watershed Stewards Academy and Interfaith Partners of the Chesapeake, which are offering us guidance on future projects that would be most impactful.
HELPFUL LINKS
- COA highlighted for its pledge signing event on the website of Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake
- Anne Arundel Watershed Stewards Academy
Congrats to our COA-sponsored Watershed Stewards Addison, Audrey, Emma and Stacy!
WSA’s Class 16 graduated Dec. 10 at the Village Commons Community Center in Gambrills. Their design and installation of native plants at the COA entrance sign – their capstone project – was a highlight of the video montage enjoyed by county and environmental officials and friends and family who attended. Well done, team! (Not pictured is their teacher, Stacy Roth, who also earned her steward status.)
Winter 2025 Green Tip
Autumn 2024 Green Tip
Spring 2024 Green Tip
Winter 2024 Green Tip
Even if you have a garage, you may still sometimes be parked at work or a friend’s house and come out to an icy windshield. There are a few ways to remove or even prevent that icy buildup. First, however, there are three ways you should not defrost your car:
- Chemical de-icer spray- These do work quickly but, unfortunately, these sprays are toxic to animals and humans and can be fatal, even in small quantities.
- Boiling or hot water poured on the windshield- The sudden change in temperature is very likely to crack the glass.
- Run the engine- Many people start the car, turn the heater up, and then leave it for 20 to 30 minutes, depending on the thickness of the ice/snow. More on this method below.
Now, for some ways to prevent or remove the frost from your car windows:
- Windshield cover- There are products sold specifically for this purpose (or you can reuse something you already have on hand). By securing a cover in place before you go to bed, it makes it simple in the morning because you can just lift off in the morning. Unfortunately, this option really only works for the windshield, but could still be worthwhile.
- Natural spray
- Option 1: Mix in a tablespoon of salt per cup of water.
- Option 2: Mix 2/3 cup rubbing alcohol with 1/3 cup tap water. The salt water spray can be used the night before to prevent/minimize frost. Either solution can be used to help soften up frost in the morning. Note that these are good for frost, but not thick icy build up that results from freezing rain.
- Ice scraper- Use a plastic ice scraper designed for this purpose. A nice ice scraper is easier to use and will not damage your windshield or windows.
- Run the engine- Yes, this was listed under the methods to avoid. However, if you have a thick buildup of ice, you can run the engine with the heat and fan settings on maximum, with the front and rear defrosters on. Set a 7-minute timer (this will vary based on your several factors; experiment to see what works best for you). When sufficient time has passed, the heat from inside will have melted the layer of ice closest to your windshield, making it easier to remove with your ice scraper. By setting a timer, this hybrid method can minimize the time your engine is running. There’s no one method that will work perfectly for everyone in every situation but think twice before using toxic commercial de-icer sprays!
Submitted by Jason Barbour
December 2023 Green Tip
November 2023 Green Tip
October 2023 Green Tip
September 2023 Green Tip
August 2023 Green Tip
July 2023 Green Tip
June 2023 Green Tip
Light pollution is the brightening of the sky by artificial light. Light pollution has many negative impacts, including wasting energy and money, disrupting the natural cycles that animal and plant life depend upon, and harming human health. The good news is that we can take some simple steps to make a difference……1) Familiarize yourself with the impacts2) For outdoor lighting, use lighting only as bright as needed, use shielded lights and direct them downward, and choose warm light bulbs3) For indoor lighting, make sure you have window coverings4) Advocate for smart lighting in your neighborhood and/or in your town/city/county.
*May 2023 Tip of the Month
https://www.almanac.com/video/how-reuse-amazon-boxes-and-cardboard-garden
*Green Sunday 4/23/2023
*April 2023 Tip of the Month
*March 2023 Tip of the Month
Visit https://extension.umd.edu/resource/vegetable-planting-calendar for the planting calendar.
*February 2023 Tip of the Month
Visit https://drivingpress.com/recommended-tire-pressure/ for more information.
*January 2023 Tip of the Month
*November & December 2022 Green Team Tip of the Month
*October 2022 Green Team Tip of the Month
*September 2022 Green Team Tip of the Month
A “top 10” list from a MD native-plant garden center: https://www.laurensgardenservice.com/our-top-10-favorite-maryland-native-pollinator-perennials/.
List of native plants from RePollinate Anne Arundel: https://extension.umd.edu/locations/anne-arundel-county/master-gardener-program/repollinate-anne-arundel
Native Trees of Maryland Guide from Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake: https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/ipc/pages/3238/attachments/original/1611768212/IPC_Native_Trees_of_MD.pdf?1611768212
Cape Conservation Corps Native Plant Sale, 9 a.m. – noon, Sept. 17: https://capeconservationcorps.org/events/event/fall-native-plant-fest-sale/
Join the Facebook group: Maryland Area Gardening for the Environmentally Conscious: https://www.facebook.com/groups/MDEcoGardening
*June 2022 Green Team Tip of the Month
This Green Team Tip is brought to you by Debbie Barbour, COA Christian Educator
*May 2022 Green Team Tip of the Month
This Green Team Tip is brought to you by Deborah Sweigart
Use old clothes and fabrics, rather than paper, for cleaning supplies: Clothes that are too old or stained to be donated, sheets, towels and other fabrics can all be recycled or re-used for cleaning supplies. There is no need to use paper towels or other paper products, when you likely have a slew of cleaning supplies clamoring to be used. Worn-out socks make for great cleaning “gloves.”
