Click here to read recent reflections on Advent season at the United Nations by Waterspirit’s Executive Director and UN Representative, Blair Nelsen.
Our Winter Newsletter Has Arrived!
Click here to view the pdf version of Waterspirit’s Winter 2019 Newsletter.
Inside you’ll find:
An eco-friendly gift guide to transform your holiday shopping,
Reflections on a world full of plastic and what we can do about it,
Photos from “Waves of Gratitude: a Celebration of Suzanne Golas, CSJP” and other recent Waterspirit events,
Updates on upcoming programs,
And more!
Our electronic newsletter is just like our printed one— only greener! If you currently receive our printed newsletter and would like to switch, please drop us a note at water@waterspirit.org.
Happy holidays!
Eco-Friendly Gift Guide
Plastic is everywhere—especially around the holidays. It seems like every item nowadays has at least some plastic component, and it leaves a lot to be desired for parents or loved ones who might want to avoid the material altogether. A sustainable holiday does not have to mean no presents and no fancy food but, when it comes to eco-gifting, usefulness and sustainability are the name of the game, and it’s great to support local businesses where you can. If you order online, it doesn’t hurt to ask for plastic-free shipping options in the comments of your order—you never know who might happily comply. Shopping secondhand is a great way to move towards plastic-free (and even zero waste) gifting, as is shopping for books and card games your family will love. Experience gifts, like tickets to a concert or membership to the zoo, can be a big hit. And of course, get creative! Crafting together using existing craft supplies is a fun way to bond.
So where do you look for plastic-free gifts? The suggestions below will guide you toward a plastic-free holiday full of items your friends and family will love!
· Make your own: Nothing is as thoughtful as a home-made gift. Cut back on waste and push back against the frenzied consumerism of festive buying. DIY ideas can range from cards to desserts, so let your imagination run wild and have fun being extra thoughtful this season.
Swap out the things you use regularly for eco-friendlier products like:
· Reusable Dryer Sheets and Dryer Balls: Eliminate static and soften your laundry without dryer sheets going straight into the garbage after a single cycle. Beautifully packaged. For a unique and fun laundry, baby showers, bridal showers, housewarming, mother’s day, for your best friends, or a college kid about to start his own laundry. Comes in a beautiful and handy BONUS organic cotton gift bag, with an instruction manual full of eco-conscious tips. https://www.amazon.com/Organic-Eco-Wool-Dryer-Balls/dp/B06XDKQ266/?creativeASIN=B06XDKQ266&linkCode=w50&tag=rf29amazon-20&imprToken=o0g-K2PpnyZTVB-B3kTsGw&slotNum=7
· Reseal-able Storage Bags: Save food for later or keep odds and ends organized with these reseal- able storage bags that are sturdy and easy to clean. https://www.amazon.com/Stasher-SiliconeReusableBagSandwich/dp/B01DZQT99I/?creativeASIN=B01DZQT99I&linkCode=w50&tag=rf29amazon-20&imprToken=o0g-K2PpnyZTVB-B3kTsGw&slotNum=8
· Reusable Bee's Wax Food Wraps: Replace single-use sandwich bags with bee's wax wraps to become a truly eco-conscious lunch-packer. https://www.amazon.com/Bees-Wrap-Assorted-SustainableAlternative/dp/B0126LMDFK/?creativeASIN=B0126LMDFK&linkCode=w50&tag=rf29amazon-20&imprToken=o0g-K2PpnyZTVB-B3kTsGw&slotNum=12
· Mason Jar Lids with Straw Set: It’s the ultimate starter kit for anyone who enjoys taking their coffee or tea on the go. Help your friends and loved ones avoid the wasteful plague of plastic, paper or Styrofoam to-go cups. This package includes two bamboo mason jar lids with straw holes, two food-grade silicone straws, and one straw cleaning brush. It comes with a cotton drawstring bag for easy carrying and cleanliness. https://www.amazon.com/Mason-Reusable-Bamboo-RegularSilicone/dp/B07W2YL3VV/ref=as_li_ss_tl?&hvadid=366384136223&hvpos=1o3&hvnetw=g&hvrand=2087786210371297587&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9004504&hvtargid=pla-845829299444&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=79036177111&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=366384136223&hvpos=1o3&hvnetw=g&hvrand=2087786210371297587&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9004504&hvtargid=pla-845829299444&linkCode=ll1&tag=sm-holiday-gifts-other-20&linkId=bc678ff87a46de86aa018fa35e703336&language=en_US
· Ballpoint Eco Pen Eco-friendly Pen Set Made from Biodegradable Recycled Cardboard, 0.5mm Medium Ballpoint, Black Ink, Great Gift Pens for School, Office And Home (16 Count) https://www.amazon.com/Eco-friendly-Biodegradable-Recycled-Cardboard-Ballpoint/dp/B07V35Y41T/ref=asc_df_B07V35Y41T/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=385265189720&hvpos=1o2&hvnetw=g&hvrand=394206153210137513&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9003697&hvtargid=aud-801738734305:pla-825401771030&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=80205194082&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=385265189720&hvpos=1o2&hvnetw=g&hvrand=394206153210137513&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9003697&hvtargid=aud-801738734305:pla-825401771030
· Do you have a not-so-sustainable friend who doesn’t know where to begin? Give them the gentle push they need with the ultimate starter kit from The Package Free Shop. To start their new trash-free life, they’ll get a 180z water bottle, 12oz insulated mug, bamboo utensils set, stainless steel straw, 100% organic cotton produce bag, 100% organic cotton net produce bag, two airtight stainless steel containers, a bamboo toothbrush, and a beeswax food wrap variety pack. It all comes in a double-sided tote bag that reads “Think Outside the Box,” so you can carry your zero-waste kit wherever you go.
https://packagefreeshop.com/collections/zero-waste-kits-1/products/zero-waste-starter-kit-the-works
· Waterspirit Gear –We have Recycled Cotton T-shirts, Canvas Tote bags (bye bye plastic bags!) and Water bottles to make your eco-friendly gift giving as easy as 1,2,3. Contact us today at 732-923-9788 or email water@waterspirit.org.
· Natural Body and Home products: Thistle Farms provides women survivors of trafficking, prostitution, and addiction a second chance at life. Every sale benefits the women survivors who make their products. https://thistlefarms.org/.
· Eco-friendly I-phone cases: Pela Case provides compostable phone cases and zero-waste screen protectors; Join the global community of earth heroes taking action towards a waste free future. https://pelacase.com/
· Love your Melon Knit Beanies and Headbands - Built on a brand mission of fighting against pediatric cancer, Love Your Melon donates 50% of its profit from sales of knit beanies and headbands to pediatric cancer research funds. With its latest line called Revitalize, Love Your Melon’s knit products are made from 100% recycled plastic bottles in an effort to reduce the 250+ billion plastic bottles that end up in our landfills, oceans, and forests yearly. Each knit item in the Revitalize collection is made from four plastic bottles and also supports the fight against pediatric cancer. Plus, kids love the bright colors and how warm it keeps your melon during cold winter months! https://loveyourmelon.com/collections/revitalize-release/products/salmon-pink-revitalize-knit-headband
· Natural Rubber Toys: Plastic is some of the worst stuff for the planet and for our health and yet, so many baby and kids’ toys are made from it. The mom in your life deserves some adorably sustainable baby toys for her little one. The Fruits & Veggies Set from Oli & Carol includes Arnold the Avocado, Wally the Watermelon, and Kendall the Kale. Like all of Oli & Carol’s toys, the Fruits & Veggie set is made from 100% sustainable rubber. They’re soft and easy for Baby to hold, and can be used as teethers, bath toys, and more
https://oliandcarol.us/catalog/fruits-veggies/fruit-veggie-gift-set.html
· Reusable Mesh Produce Bags: Bring these along to the grocery store to use for produce instead of the flimsy plastic bags on a roll that require you to lick your fingertips to actually get open. (#gross) This set includes 9 mesh bags, made up of 2 Small 12 x 8 inch, 5 medium or large 12 x 14 inch, and 2 extra large 12 x 17 inch to fit all kinds of items. They are double-stitched and can each hold up to 11 pounds. https://www.amazon.com/purifyou-Premium-Reusable-Unbleached-Double-Stitched/dp/B07MW5JMWN/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ac_md=3-2-QWJvdmUgJDI1-ac_d_pm&keywords=produce+bags&pd_rd_i=B07MW5JMWN&pd_rd_r=55aeb8b5-6f06-4242-8073-0521df3ba3b0&pd_rd_w=3W7BD&pd_rd_wg=EPYA8&pf_rd_p=be5d8dec-444e-4770-91df1e16a8c46da8&pf_rd_r=10F6ASD0H7XWT5K9KFF7&psc=1&qid=1565583094&s=gateway&linkCode=ll1&tag=scarymommy20&linkId=91f32831cd240bccc106ce913aede195&language=en_US
· Botanical Paper Works: Bio-degradable / plantable seed papers in wildflower/ vegetable + herb, seeded cards, plantable wedding invitations, etc. https://www.botanicalpaperworks.com/
· Using Amazon for all your gifts this season? Be sure to use ‘Amazon Green’ when shopping on their site by switching your search from “All Departments” to “Amazon Green” in the toolbar at the top of the page.
Waterspirit's Climate Anxiety Support Group Interviewed by Reuters.
Reuters TV recently contacted Waterspirit to interview our Climate Anxiety Support Group. This is a new weekly program we offer created by the Good Grief Network. Their “10-Steps to Personal Resilience & Empowerment in a Chaotic Climate” is designed to empower action, inspire hope, and increase the awareness of the responsibility we all carry to protect our planet.
Grief is never pleasant, however it helps us recognize that it comes from a place of connection, and in knowing that we gain invaluable perspective. There is a lot of hope and insight that comes forward when talking about environmental grief. The idea of holding space for fear and the unknown is foreign to most, but it allows us to dive deeper into what is causing that uncertainty. When we mourn the loss of something we love — whether it be a place, a person, a species or habitat — it puts into perspective what really matters in our lives.
The Good Grief Network’s unique program helps build personal resilience & empowerment while strengthening community ties to combat despair, inaction, and eco-anxiety on the collective level.
To learn more about the Support Group email water@waterspirit.com or call 732-923-9788.
Climate strikes have been growing in popularity all across the globe. In 2019, a series of strikes and protests led by young people and adults demanded action be taken to address climate change.
Waterspirit Welcomes New Program Manager Abbey Koshak
Changes in season also bring changes to Waterspirit, and we are very pleased to announce our new Program Manager, Abbey Koshak! Abbey joins us from the Big Island of Hawai’i, where she worked as the Social Media Director for the television show, Everything Hawai’i – Adventures with Kawika Singson. She has also served as a naturalist on board various tourist vessels and as an environmental educator focusing on ocean conservation. She has contributed to a number of conservation projects, including most recently the Global Micro Plastics Initiative. Abbey has also worked as a producer, production coordinator and set photographer for various films, where she emphasized the importance of ‘eco-friendly’ atmospheres on set and encouraged the elimination of single-use plastics.
“I am a child of the Earth, and grew up on a campground in Southern Colorado surrounded by nature. The desert will always hold a special place in my heart, but it is the ocean and water that ignite my spirit. I was delighted when I discovered the Waterspirit community, and I am excited to join this dynamic team.”
Exploring with her underwater camera in Kealakekua Bay along the Kona coast of the island of Hawai'i. Photo by Devin Hume
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Summer 2019 Newsletter
Take a peek at our summer newsletter by clicking here!
Inside, you’ll find:
information on upcoming activities;
ways to get involved with the Waterspirit community;
photos from recent events;
reports on advocacy efforts and a call to action;
reflections on contemplative ecology, community, and more!
Waterspirit Welcomes New Executive Director Blair Nelsen
Please join us in welcoming Waterspirit’s new Executive Director! Blair Nelsen officially started work at Waterspirit on July 1. She joins us from Yale Divinity School, where she recently completed her Master of Arts in Religion. Prior to attending Yale, Blair lived and worked in the Amazon and Atlantic forests of Brazil for 11 years, where she was engaged in grassroots ecological and spirituality work. Blair believes in the potential of a strong spiritual foundation to fuel effective social justice work, and she is thrilled to be joining the Waterspirit community.
After more than 20 years at the helm of Waterspirit, Sister Suzanne Golas is transitioning into retirement later this year. Stay tuned for more information regarding a celebration of Suzanne!
Rally for the Rivers Eco-Fest Saturday, June 8, 2019
A big thank you to local artist Lisa Bagwell for bringing her assemblage art Seahorse to WATERSPIRIT’s table at the Rally for the Rivers Eco-Fest this past Saturday. The Seahorse was enjoyed by all !
