#fast4earth

Herbs for Lent: Grow your own flavour

Fast for the Earth 2025 / /

“He makes grass grow for the cattle, and herbs for people to cultivate—bringing forth food from the earth:” – Psalm 104: 14 Growing herbs is a great way to connect with nature and appreciate God’s creation.” Herbs are one of these amazing gifts—they are easy to grow, useful for cooking, and even have health benefits! How to Grow Herbs Herbs like basil, mint, rosemary, and parsley can be grown in small spaces, even if you don’t have a garden. You can plant them in pots on a windowsill, balcony, or backyard. They need: Sunlight – At least 4-6 hours a day. Water – Keep the soil moist but not too wet. Good soil – Use well-draining soil with nutrients.Simply plant the seeds or seedlings, water them regularly, and watch them grow! What Can You Use Herbs For? Cooking – Fresh herbs make meals taste better and healthier. Basil is great for pasta, mint for tea, and rosemary for roasted veggies. Health – Many herbs have healing properties. Mint helps with digestion, and chamomile is calming. Helping Others – You can share your herbs with family, friends, or even your church community. By growing herbs, you care for God’s creation and reduce waste by using fresh ingredients instead of store-bought ones wrapped in plastic. It’s a simple way to live sustainably, be healthier, and honor God’s gifts. St Andrew’s Steenberg in the Diocese of Cape Town started a Gardening for Health Club which was birthed on 23rd September 2024 and sprouted from the Food Gardening Course, run by Soil for Life. The focus for 2025 is on Herbs and covers how to plant, grow & care for a variety of herbs, it’s benefits and medicinal properties. They meet once a month and share easy recipes pertaining to the herb of the month on the group chat. The participants also receive the herbs or seeds to continue the journey at home. The herb for March is Garlic. Chives Tumeric Rosemary Parsley Parishioner growing tomatoes Spinach Parishioner with the start of her herb and veggie garden

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Ditch the Junk: Donate the money

Fast for the Earth 2025 / /

“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” – 1 Corinthians 10: 31 Giving Up Junk Food: Honoring God with Healthy Choices As Christians, we are called to honor God with our bodies. But how often do we really think about what we eat? Junk food—fast food, sugary snacks, and processed meals—might be convenient, but it doesn’t nourish our bodies the way God intended. Too much junk food leads to low energy, weight gain, and even long-term health problems like diabetes and heart disease. It also affects our mental well-being, making us feel sluggish and unfocused. When we fuel our bodies with unhealthy food, we are not giving ourselves the best chance to serve God with strength and energy. Giving up junk food doesn’t mean never enjoying a treat, but it does mean being more intentional about what we eat. Choosing fresh, whole foods—fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains—gives our bodies the nutrients they need to thrive. Cooking at home instead of relying on fast food helps us appreciate God’s provision and avoid unnecessary waste. Jesus fed people with simple, nourishing food—bread, fish, and natural produce. We can follow His example by treating food as a blessing, not just as a quick fix for cravings. By making healthier choices, we respect the bodies God has given us and live with more energy to fulfill His purpose. Let’s honor God by fueling ourselves wisely!

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Local Love: Support local farmers

Fast for the Earth 2025 / /

Jesus asked Philip, “Where can we buy enough food to feed all these people?” –John 6:5 Buying Local: A Christian Way to Care for Creation As Christians, we are called to care for God’s creation and love our neighbors. One simple way to do both is by buying local food and reducing food miles—the distance food travels from farms to our plates. The farther food has to travel, the more fuel is burned, adding pollution to the air and harming the environment. Think about it: when we buy imported apples instead of locally grown ones, those apples may have traveled thousands of kilometers by plane, truck, or ship. That means more carbon emissions, more pollution, and more harm to God’s creation. But when we buy from local farmers and markets, we support our communities, reduce pollution, and enjoy fresher, healthier food. Jesus often used farming and food in His teachings. He understood the value of the land and the people who worked it. Supporting local farmers means valuing the hands that grow our food and making sure they earn a fair living. It’s also a way of showing gratitude for God’s provision. So how can we take action? Choose fresh, seasonal produce from nearby farms. Shop at farmers’ markets or support local food businesses. Every choice we make matters. You can help to support a local family by buying from them. By buying local, we reduce waste, protect the planet, and honor God’s gift of creation. It’s a simple but powerful way to live out our faith and make a real difference in the world around us.

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Compost Crew: Turn Scraps to Gold

Fast for the Earth 2025 / /

“The gardener said, ‘Let’s give it another year. I’ll dig around it and fertilize, and maybe it will produce next year;” – Luke 13:8-9 Composting crew: A Christian Way to Care for Creation As Christians, we are called to be good stewards of the earth. Genesis 2:15 says, “The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.” One simple way to care for God’s creation is through composting—turning food scraps and natural waste into rich soil instead of throwing it away. Every day, tons of food waste end up in landfills, where it rots and releases methane, a harmful greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. But composting transforms waste into something useful—it feeds the soil, reduces pollution, and helps plants grow naturally without chemical fertilizers. It’s a way of respecting the resources God has given us. Getting started is easy. Instead of tossing food scraps like fruit peels, vegetable leftovers, eggshells, and coffee grounds into the bin, collect them in a compost bin or pile. Over time, they break down into nutrient-rich soil that can be used for gardening. Even if you don’t have a garden, many communities have composting programs. Jesus used nature in His teachings—seeds, soil, and harvests all symbolize spiritual growth. Composting is a small but powerful way to live out our faith by restoring the earth, reducing waste, and giving back to creation. Let’s honor God’s gift of nature by using what He has provided wisely—because nothing He creates should go to waste. Roselyn Kareithi says: “I love gardening; it is one of my favourite ways to relax, yet be creative. I compost so as to reduce dustbin waste, enrich the soil, have healthier plants, and get higher yields. It makes me feel content to obey God’s command to take care of the earth.”

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Feast smarter, Waste less

Fast for the Earth 2025 / /

“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table.  – Luke 16: 19 – 21 The story of the rich man and Lazarus reminds us that some people can feast every day while others go hungry. Food Waste in South Africa – Why It’s a Big Deal Did you know that South Africa wastes about 10 million tons of food every year? That’s nearly a third of all the food produced! Meanwhile, millions of people go hungry every day. Food waste isn’t just about throwing away leftovers—it’s a serious issue that affects hunger, the environment, and the economy. Most food waste happens at farms, supermarkets, restaurants, and even in our homes. Perfectly good food is often thrown away because it doesn’t “look right” or expires before being used. But wasting food also wastes the water, land, and energy that went into producing it. When food rots in landfills, it releases methane gas, a major contributor to climate change. So, what can we do? Start by buying only what you need and storing food properly to make it last longer. Support food donation programs that give surplus food to those in need. If you have leftovers, get creative—repurpose them into new meals instead of tossing them out. Composting is also a great way to return nutrients to the soil instead of adding to landfills. We have the power to change how food is valued. Reducing food waste isn’t just about saving money—it’s about fighting hunger, protecting the environment, and respecting the resources God has given us. Every meal matters, so let’s make sure our food goes to people, not landfills. A few years ago there was a Taize international youth Conference in Cape Town where thousands of young people were fed everyday. Green anglicans was tasked with waste disposal which was challenging! We found a church in Langa with a pig farming project and they were able to come and take away the food waste

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Celebrate Water – World Water Day

Fast for the Earth 2025 / /

“From the breath of God ice is made, and the expanse of the waters is frozen” – Job 37:10 The theme for World Water day is Glaciers and icebergsSitting in Southern Africa we may wonder what has that got to do with me? Why Should Africans Care About Melting Icebergs and Glaciers? Icebergs and glaciers are thousands of kilometers away from most of Africa, so why should we care if they’re melting? The truth is, climate change knows no borders, and what happens at the poles directly affects Africa. As glaciers and icebergs melt, sea levels rise, leading to floods in coastal cities like Lagos, Dar es Salaam, and Cape Town. Small islands and communities near the ocean are at risk of being swallowed by water. At the same time, melting ice changes global weather patterns, making Africa’s climate more extreme. This means longer droughts, unpredictable rains, and deadly heatwaves—all of which threaten food security, water supply, and livelihoods. Africa is already feeling the effects. Farmers struggle with failed crops, water sources dry up, and extreme weather events are becoming more common. If we don’t act now, the situation will get worse. We can help by supporting green energy, planting trees, reducing waste, and pushing leaders to take climate action seriously. The fate of icebergs may seem distant, but their impact is close to home. The fight against climate change isn’t just about saving the Arctic—it’s about protecting Africa’s future. Let’s take action before it’s too late!

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