Creation Time blog - September 2011
In my first blog, I reported on how Creation Time events around the world are linked this year on issues concerning food. Today comes news to show how not only food, but food waste should be in our thoughts at this time.
A 'biotruck' powered by restaurant waste has just arrived back in the UK after a two year around-the-world journey fuelled by used cooking oil along its 30,000km planet-circling tour across Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the Americas. The truck was built in 2009 using an old school bus salvaged from a scrap yard, and used reclaimed materials to turn it into a cosy eco-home. It was obviously quite an adventure and as one of the organisers said "We couldn't have done it without the enthusiasm and help from the strangers we've met along the road. The random acts of kindness have given us an overwhelming faith in how great humankind is."
The figures for the amount of food wasted are huge at a time when others are suffering from hunger and starvation. Creation Time should make us think about how we use our food and the opportunities of using it even when cleared from our tables.
West London may not sound an obvious place for a harvest project, but this year's harvest of fruit has proved to be a bumper with schools and volunteer fruit pickers visiting a number of gardens in the Chiswick area to collect the crop. Anyone with surplus fruit which hasn't been collected is being encouraged to bring it to the Abundance Fruit Day which is being hosted at St Michael's and All Angels Church on 1 October.
From Oxford comes news that the Earthing Faith website, hosted by the Diocese of Oxford, will once again be marking Creation Time by running Inspired by Creation - a chance for people to share with others how creation inspires them and share photographs that captures the place and creates inspiration. It may be a little patch of earth, a quiet spot to reflect or a view that stops you in your tracks. Maybe to keep up with Creation Time's food theme this year there will be some views of allotments nominated. There are no prizes this year, just a warm glow for knowing that others will be inspired by what you share.
David Shreeve
David Shreeve is the Church of England's consultant on environmental matters. Find out more at Shrinking the Footprint
Activity
- What do you think about David's claim that we should think more about what we waste?
- What else could we do with surplus or left over food to make sure it isn't wasted?
- What inspires you in the natural world?