2854 Hunter Mill Road, Oakton,
VA 22124. Phone: 703-281-1767
EarthCare
Groups > EarthCare
EarthCare fosters awareness of our spiritual oneness with our Earth home and promotes active care of creation
What's New
DATELINE: April 21, 2013
EARTH DAY - Today all of the Sacred Service Ministries at Unity of Fairfax joined with the Unitarian Universalist Church of Fairfax and the Pinnacle Academy to celebrate Earth Day. After the 11:00 AM service, all set up tables on the grass lawn in front of the church and provided organic coffee and snacks as well as locally grown food items to come together in fellowship. SEE MORE IN RECENT PHOTOS: CLICK HERE>>
"Earth day is the first
completely international and
universal holiday that the world
has ever known.
Every other holiday was tied
to one place, or some political or
special event.
This day is tied to earth
itself, and to the place of earth
in the whole solar system."
Margaret Mead, 1977
PRAYER AND LITANY
We join with the Earth and with each other
To bring new life to the land, to restore the waters, to refresh the air
We join with the Earth and with each other
To renew the forests, to care for the plants, to protect the creatures
We join with the Earth and with each other
To celebrate the seas, to rejoice in the sunlight, to sing the song of the stars
We join with the Earth and with each other
To re-create the human community, to promote justice and peace, to remember our children
We join with the Earth and with each other
We join together as many and diverse expressions of one loving mystery: for the healing of the earth and the renewal of all life
DATELINE: February 17, 2013
Smart Markets is the newest arrival to the farmers’ market scene in Northern Virginia, providing guaranteed producer-only markets for the region’s discerning shoppers. Visit us for locally grown fruits and vegetables, locally raised meats and poultry, and local foods from breads and cheeses to salsa and sausage. Every Saturday in the church parking lot from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM (winter hours) and 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM (summer hours starting in April). CLICK HERE>>
DATELINE: september 9, 2012
Rick Hartley was honored on Sunday, September 9, for his long term stewardship of EarthCare. Pete Clifford recited Rick's long list of accomplishments in front of a new plaque by one of our new cherry trees along the entry driveway - Rev Sandy (minister, from 2005 through March, 2013) and a large group of congregants applauded and appreciated Rick for his good work over the years.
Afterwards, Lucy Perez honored Rick with an all-organic raw carrot cake shared by all in addition to an assortment of organic snacks provided by the EarthCare team. Pete assumes the lead of the EarthCare Ministry as Rick steps down. Rick, of course, is not retiring - he feels so grateful to continue serving our church and Mother Earth with his sacred service. Look for Rick & Pete. They will be in the garden, as usual.
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Ongoing Tasks
- Landscaping the many gardens
- Maintaining the grounds
- Recycling
- Encouraging use of green paper and cleaning products.
- Hospitality
- Preparing a church energy audit
- Completing the Unity of Fairfax Stormwater Management Project
Volunteers
Contact Pete Clifford plcliff@aol.com 703-273-8469
Photo Gallery
Take a photo album tour of our church grounds - CLICK HERE
History
The name EarthCare comes from the Association of Unity Churches International EarthCare Congregation Program. Our EarthCare Program is the outgrowth of a Unity of Fairfax iniative to replace the roof on the Mildred Park Center with a "Green Roof". EarthCare is one of the commitments we accept under the "Thriving Unity Churches" initiative of the Association of Unity Churches.
Our EarthCare Program increases our environmental consciousness, and educates us to act for the good of the planet. The core of the program asserts the connectedness of all life and our responsibility as a species. EarthCare begins in prayer and we transcend through six additional steps to become certified as an EarthCare Congregation by the Association.
Unity of Fairfax Riparian Buffer
A riparian buffer was formed in the swale that parallels Hunter Mill Road to your right as you drive onto our campus. A riparian buffer is a vegetative area near a stream. Its role is to help slow and channel rain water and clean it before it goes into the sewer and on to the Bay.
The landscape team of the EarthCare Ministry dug three vernal pools to capture stormwater coming from higher ground toward the Giant shopping center. Within the pools, 60 wetland perennials were planted and a large number of river jack and several boulders were placed to help slow and guide stormwater to the detention pond.
We are very proud to have qualified for a Chesapeake Bay Restoration Grant to fund this riparian buffer work. To download before and after photos included in our detailed application to receive the grant, CLICK HERE>>
Unity of Fairfax Detention Pond
Take an actual walk around our sacred Unity grounds and discover six different platforms that explain ways we’ve worked with the environment to improve stormwater runoff and increase wildlife habitat.
After you look at Smilebox, press the Escape key to return.
At the end of the slideshow, did you recognize the Meditation Garden and the garden outside the Sanctuary windows?
Our detention pond work has been going on for six years and has the attention of the Fairfax County Government, Division of Stormwater Management, local non-profits and a number of homeowners associations that are eager to replicate our techniques and strategies to ultimately help restore the Chesapeake Bay.
EarthCare Hospitality
Last updated on May 7, 2013
