Month: February 2021

Miocene – Pliocene – Pleistocene – Holocene – (unofficially) Anthropocene These are the five most recent epochs according to the geologic time scale, which is the time scale system based on the composition of rock layers. In this system, the Miocene goes back 23 million years ago. The Anthropocene is an unofficial designation for our… Continue reading

“Remember you are dust and to dust you shall return.” On Ash Wednesday we have the chance to reflect on these words as we are marked (sprinkled on or virtually acknowledge ourselves) with ashes. Since I’ve been thinking about things through a creation care lens this year, I’ve been contemplating this statement that we are… Continue reading

Since today is Mardi Gras, I’ve been thinking of New Orleans. While Bourbon St might come to mind first for some folks, I was actually reminded of a swamp tour that Lynne took a few years ago outside of New Orleanss. From the pictures and stories, it sounded like a fun experience exploring this ecosystem… Continue reading

If this practice is new to you, composting is the controlled decomposition of organic materials, like food scraps and yard waste. Composting enables people (or composting services) to utilize this organic food waste and convert it into usable, nutrient-rich soil instead of sending it to a landfill where it takes up space and can release… Continue reading

Recently I played a board game called “Photosynthesis”. The idea behind the game is to plant seeds, grow trees, and eventually convert them to “victory points”. However, the twist is that the trees in the game compete for sunlight and trees can block other trees from gaining light. You have to determine the ideal placement… Continue reading

I think one of the most accessible aspects of Catholic teaching is the seven themes of Catholic Social Teaching (CST). These themes are focused on how we should build a just society and live out our universal call to holiness and they provide us framework for approaching the challenges of our world, both locally, nationally… Continue reading

Solar power systems for residential homes continue to expand across the US. Some factors driving this increase include the decreasing costs of installing solar systems and a growing number of folks who are aware of their own carbon footprint and who want to make a positive difference for the environment. I may cover home solar… Continue reading

My background is in engineering so I naturally approach problems from a technical mindset. This means asking questions like: How will it work? How might it fail? What ways can we mitigate risk? In an attempt to broaden my perspective and skill set, I took an online class last year called The Marketing Seminar. The… Continue reading

It’s a little hard to believe, but next Weds (Feb 17th) is Ash Wednesday and the start of the Lenten season. This means we should start thinking and praying about what we can do to make our season of Lent more fruitful. During Lent, we are called to pray, give alms, and fast; most folks… Continue reading

After working in the consumer goods industry the last few years, I am particularly cognizant about the amount of waste that our economy of mass consumerism generates each year. We live in the “take-make-waste” linear economy. We take materials from the earth, make goods, and discard them when they are no longer needed or wanted.… Continue reading