Saturday, September 20 | 3-4pm | Phillips Beach

 

Please join us for a volunteer opportunity at low tide on Saturday, Sept 20th. This is an annual beach clean-up brought to us by our friends at SPUR. 
The UUCGL team will be led by our UUCGL member, Paula. To sign up, follow this link and use the passcode PaulaInnis.

We need at least 8 volunteers to sign up, but the more the merrier at the beach! Paula will have gloves and bags, and there will be a few grabbers provided by SPUR. This is a rain or shine event.

 
Phillips Beach is located on Phillips Beach Road off Puritan Road in Swampscott, just a few miles from UUCGL (see map here).  

 

Hope to see you there!

A Summer Resident's Remarkable Story

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Journey into the world of our iconic summer resident, the Monarch butterfly! Dr. Colleen Hitchcock unravels the fascinating natural history of these winged wonders and tells us how to enhance a Monarch habitat in our own backyard. Watch the video of this event here.

Hosted jointly by UUCGL and Swampscott Conservancy.

Saturday, May 11th | 10am-12pm |

193 Lynn Street, Peabody

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Newhall Fields Community Farm is an urban farming project that strengthens the community by creating access to healthy food through sustainable agriculture, volunteer-powered farming, and outdoor education.

Volunteer on the farm with us on May 11! Activities in the vegetable farming fields and herb garden might include: attention to soil health, seeding, watering, transplanting, weeding, thinning, mulching and harvesting. Volunteers of all ages are welcome!

How Rodenticides Are Harming Wildlife,
Pets, and People​

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Climate change, a construction boom, and increased human density have led to a dramatic rise in rats. Rat poison usually is the main method for dealing with the problem. But these poisons are killing our local wildlife, including sensitive species like bald eagles and snowy owls, as well as endangering pets and young children. At the same time, these poisons are not actually proving at all effective in reducing rodents. In this presentation, Laura Kiesel, wildlife biologist, naturalist, conservation advocate, environmental journalist, and founder of Save Arlington Wildlife partners with Raptors Are the Solution (RATS) to review facts about rodenticides and their effects on our health and the environment, while offering practical solutions people can undertake to protect their local communities from these dangerous poisons that will have positive ripple effects for the entire ecosystem. If you missed this enlightening presentation, you can watch it on our YouTube channel here.

Sponsored by UUCGL, Swampscott Conservancy, and the Clifton Improvement Association

Monday, April 3 | 6:30pm 

 

Introduction to Vernal Ponds with Cape Ann Vernal Pond Team — Presentation & Live Animal Exhibit!

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Ever wonder what is making all those "BLEEP-BLEEP-BLEEPS" and "CHIRP- CHIRPS" as you walk by the woods on a warm, wet, spring day or night? Is it birds? Bugs? Frogs?

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Join us for a free, family friendly event to learn about vernal ponds and the wildlife that depend on them. Vernal ponds are temporary, fishless wetlands that fill with rainfall and snow melt. They become the seasonal breeding and feeding grounds for many intriguing amphibians and insects, as well as the reptiles, birds, and mammals that depend on them for food. And they can be found right here in Swampscott!

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The program will include Cape Ann Vernal Pond Team's "Vernal Ponds," a 15 min video filmed entirely on Cape Ann, that will introduce vernal pond ecology. Rick Roth from the Team will then touch on the importance of the certification and protection process, offer a little time for Q & A, and a chance to view a few LIVE frogs, salamanders, and other critters.

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For more information, click HERE.

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Co-sponsored by The Swampscott Conservancy. The presentation will be held in UUCGL's Sanctuary. 

Wednesday, February 15 | 7pm 

 

*Sorry, registration is closed as we are at capacity for the workshop. Email mkgualtieri@uucgl.org to be added to the waiting list

 

Join us for a free, hands-on workshop to learn the basics of native plant gardening and winter sowing. Participants will learn about native plants, prepare seeds for overwintering, and help the Swampscott Conservancy sow seeds for our spring plant sale and the UUCGL Pollinator Garden. We will explore the relationship between native plants and wildlife, plant species for specific locations and native garden maintenance. Every attendee will be able to keep two native plants for their own garden in thanks for preparing native plants for these efforts!

Oct 12 | 7:00-8:00pm

UUCGL Sanctuary (and Facebook Live!)

 

Join us in hosting, in partnership with the Swampscott Conservancy, UUCGL member and Professor Stephen Young from the Geography and Sustainability department at Salem State University. He will discuss the science of why our climate is changing, and what to expect in the future. Professor Young will also discuss how New England’s climate is changing and the impacts that our coastal communities will face in the future.

 

We have left a stable climate which our civilization developed in, a climate that fluctuated but would return to long-term temperature and precipitation averages. Our new, transitional climate will not return to long-term averages and will continue to warm and as it continues to heat up, droughts, floods, fires and sea-level rise will intensify for decades to come. We are just beginning to witness the punishing influences of climate change-induced impacts.

 

Joining Professor Young will be Yaroslava Shiryayeva, a senior at Swampscott High School and climate activist who will provide a youth voice to the urgency of action.

 

This event will be held in the UUCGL sanctuary and live on our Facebook page. The recording will be available to watch on our YouTube page.

Tuesday, November 9th | 7pm

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SOCIAL RESILIENCE IN THE REALMS OF CLIMATE CHANGE WITHIN THE MYSTIC RIVER WATERSHED

 

Join us to learn more about the intersections of climate change, heat, and health in the Greater Boston Area with Melanie Gárate from the Mystic River Watershed Association. The Mystic River watershed faces disproportionate impacts from climate change. Climate vulnerabilities are largely separated by the exposure, sensitivity and the ability to bounce back from an extreme weather event. How did we get there? What are the root causes? And how can we move forward in a just and equitable way? This talk is cosponsored by the Swampscott Conservancy, the Town of Swampscott Conservation Commission and the Swampscott Library.

 

Melanie Gárate is the Climate Resiliency Project Manager for the Mystic River Watershed Association (MyRWA). She started her career as a marine scientist examining how people impact climate change. At MyRWA, Melanie works with municipal CEOs, grassroots organizations, public health officials, and local residents in the Boston area to understand who the most vulnerable populations are during and after extreme weather and ways the municipalities within the watershed can work collectively to enhance climate equity and resilience.

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Register HERE

Thursday, September 30th | 7pm

Join us for this virtual workshop presented by the Communities Responding to Extreme Weather (CREW) as the Senior Program Manager Rev. Vernon K. Walker will present how extreme weather is impacting Swampscott and surrounding areas and what residents can do to prepare for it now and in the future. This event is part of CREW's Climate Prep Week and co-sponsored by the Swampscott Conservancy, Swampscott Library, Town of Swampscott Conservation Commission, and the Unitarian Universalist Church of Greater Lynn.

Rev. Walker is the Senior Program Manager for Communities Responding to Extreme Weather (CREW). CREW is a network of local leaders building grassroots climate resilience through inclusive & hands-on education, service, and planning. Learn more: climatecrew.org

 

More info HERE.

May 1st | 10am-12pm | UUCGL

UUCGL, supported by The Swampscott Conservancy, invites you to participate in a Native Wildflower Planting around our church!

Family groups and individuals are welcome to join in planting native wildflowers on church property on either side of a pathway in the woods.

Additional Information will be sent to participants after they register. People should register with their family group so we can group them together. Please register early as we are limiting the event to 30 people. ​

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[REGISTRATION CLOSED]

Walden Warming: The Effects of Climate Change on the Plants and Animals of Thoreau's Concord

 

JOIN US!

Tuesday, February 9 – 6:30pm

Richard Primack, Professor of Biology, Boston University

Virtual Webinar via Zoom - Co-sponsored by UUCGL

 

Henry David Thoreau was a climate change scientist! For the past 17 years, Professor Richard Primack and his team have been using Thoreau’s records from the 1850s and other Massachusetts data sources to document the earlier flowering and leafing out times of plants, the earlier flight times of butterflies, and the more variable response of migratory birds. Most noteworthy, plants in Concord are also changing in abundance due to a warming climate. This work has received extensive media coverage as an example of the biological effects of climate change, and is now being extended to the neglected autumn season. What would Thoreau tell us to do about global warming if he were alive today? Click here for more details and to register.

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April 22nd of this year marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. Big plans were in the works. There would be worldwide events with mass gatherings in the streets, parks, and public halls.  It was, after all, the Golden Anniversary of Earth Day. A day to commemorate 50 years of honoring this fragile spinning orb we call home. But a worldwide pandemic canceled all the grand plans.

 

There were still worldwide events but they were largely virtual (as with everything else in our lives these days). While we can be disappointed that we were unable to assemble together in the streets, parks, and public halls on the actual date as 20 million in the U.S. did on that first Earth Day in 1970, we should keep in mind, as the expression goes, that “Every Day is Earth Day.”  

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So, join in on the digital events celebrating this Earth Day 2020 but also consider coming up with a plan on how you and your family will continue celebrating Earth Day every day throughout the year. This isn’t hard to do given the many on-line suggestions and given that we all seem have a little extra time lately to browse the Internet.  Bring Earth Day into your home this year, and make it something personal.  We think Barney, the Purple Dinosaur, said it all in a song:

Think about the deep blue seas / Think about the plants and trees

Think about the things you see every day / Think about the way you live

Think about the things you give / and what if every day was Earth Day?

Hey!  Every day is Earth Day! / Wherever we roam / the earth is our home

(now that’s someone we never thought we’d be quoting)

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The Native Plant Gardening Group gathers periodically to discuss how to implement the vision of native gardening for wildlife found in Nature’s Best Hope by Douglas Tallamy—a compelling guide on how planting native species can transform our backyards into vital habitats for wildlife. We discuss insights from the book, share native plant gardening tips, visit local native plant gardens, and generally support one another in creating eco-friendly spaces at home. All are welcome, regardless of gardening experience.

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You may participate either in person or via Zoom. Please sign up here to join the email list, receive meeting information & Zoom links, and access group resources!

A Community Program
for Winter Storm Preparation

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Are you thinking more seriously about emergency preparedness? Let's join in community to share our knowledge and resources about getting as safely as possible through storm season.

 

Items to think about:

• go-bags for the whole family

• evacuation plans

• vehicle safety

• FEMA resources

• safety practices in the home

• protecting pets

...and more

 

We are not experts, we are neighbors in a coastal community who want to be intentional about climate resilience.

Check out our resource page HERE!

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An Evening of Learning and Advocacy​

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This forum, held on Earth Day, April 22, 2024, about the conditions at King's Beach, Fisherman's Beach, and other local North Shore beaches was organized by UUCGL.

Panelists for the evening were:
Elizabeth Smith — Save King's Beach and Swampscott Water & Sewer Infrastructure Advisory Committee
Michael Celona — Friends of Lynn & Nahant Beach and Lynn Water & Sewer Commission Executive Board
Andrea Amour — Save King's Beach 

Watch the video of the event and visit our accompanying resources page here.

Some UUCGL folks worked hard to plant the UUCGL pollinator garden last weekend! Organized by Trish Aldrich and Bruce Campbell, the group planted over 70 native plant seedlings in an area that was formerly lawn to left of the Church entrance. These plants, when mature, will support a diversity of pollinators, hummingbirds, bees and butterflies, by providing nectar and insects to feed on. Here's what's in the garden:

• Agastache foeniculum (Anise Hyssop)

• Asclepias incarnata (Rose Milkweed)

• Asclepias tuberosa (Butterfly Weed)

• Baptisia australis (Blue Wild Indigo)

• Eutrochium purpureum (Sweet Joe Pye Weed)

• Liatris pycnostachya (Prairie Blazing Star)

• Monarda fistulosa Wild Bergamot)

• Penstemon hirsutus (Hairy Beardtongue)

• Ratibida pinnata (Yellow Coneflower)

• Rudbeckia fulgida (Orange Coneflower)

• Solidago speciosa (Showy Goldenrod)

• Symphyotrichum oblongifolium (Aromatic Aster)

The UUCGL Winter Bird Walk on Saturday, March 11th, started off gray and damp. But seven hardy enthusiasts showed up and the group rode off to the usual sites around town. 

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"We stopped at Marginal Road, Forty Steps Beach, East Point, and the Town Wharf. Along the way we saw: Goldeneyes, Buffleheads Merganzers, Eiders, Brandt geese, Canada Geese, three species of Scoter (Black-winged, White Winged, and Surf), a large unidentified hawk, a Long-tailed Gull, and finally, at the last stop behind the Town Wharf, a magnificent Loon. We also watched incredulously as an unidentified senior citizen walked down the boat ramp at the wharf and confidently went in for a swim. Altogether a damp, windy, and chilly but quite satisfying outing. Looking forward to our spring outing in May...."

-John Benson

 

Jason Gatlin shared some photos from the event. Thanks, Jason!

Monday, December 12 | 6:30pm

 

Join Maria Sabrina Auclair, founder of Unpacked Living, Inc. and the facebook page Zero Waste Massachusetts, as she discusses how she helps everyday people take responsibility for the waste they produce, the products they use, and the impact they have on themselves and the environment, that can bring a change to the overwhelming pollution we have created. The event will be held at UUCGL in our sanctuary and live on our Facebook page. Click HERE for more information about this event and watch the recorded video HERE.

Saturday, June 4th | 10am-12pm

Come join us to dig in the soil and plant the seeds that will bear fruit to feed a community.  Arrive at Newhall Fields Community Farm in Peabody ready to share this experience with neighbors and friends while you explore and dig, plant and weed in the herb garden and vegetable rows on our two-acre plot at Tillie’s Farm. Please bring your own snacks, lunch, and lots of water to drink.

 

Location: Newhall Fields Community Farm, 193 Lynn Street, Peabody, MA 01960. Behind Tillie's Farm Stand - Walk down the path to the left of the large greenhouse.

 

Parking: Lynn Street is a good place to park.  Please do not park directly in front of the Farm Stand or in the Tillie’s Farmstand  parking lot. We will leave that open for Tillie’s customers who are coming and going.

 

Mission: Newhall Fields Community Farm strengthens the community by creating access to healthy food through sustainable agriculture, volunteer-powered farming, and outdoor education. 

 

Website:  http://newhallfieldscommunityfarm.org/

Tuesday, October 26th | 7pm

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You are invited to a virtual webinar on Tree Equity, co-sponsored by UUCGL! Please  join us for this important and interesting topic which touches on climate change and environmental justice issues.  

 

In an era of climate change, trees are a critical component of building healthy and resilient communities. At Speak for the Trees, Boston, they care about trees because trees care for us. Join us as we host David Meshoulam from Speak for the Trees (SFTT). SFTT works at the intersection of environmental justice, racial and social equity, public health, and climate change to advocate for a healthy and equitable urban forest in Boston. They recognize the inequities of tree canopy coverage and believe that trees are a vital component of developing, building, and maintaining healthy and vibrant communities. This talk is cosponsored by the Swampscott Conservancy, Town of Swampscott Conservation Commission, Swampscott Library, and the Unitarian Universalist Church of Greater Lynn.

 

Registration is required. 

 

More info HERE.

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Register HERE

UUCGL is going wild! — with wildflowers that is. With the help of the Swampscott Conservancy, church members planted 136 seedlings of native Canada Windflower (Anemone canadensis), Eastern Red Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis), and Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum) in a wooded area on the church’s property.

 

Suzanne Hale, Conservancy member and native plant enthusiast, assisted in the selection and placement of the plants. Jeannette McGinn and Jim Olivetti, church members, organized the May 1st event, which brought 14 people out, trowels in hand, ready to start planting. With everyone wearing masks and socially distancing, the seedlings were gently transplanted from pot to soil, ready to root and grow in their new woodland home.

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What are native plants? Native plants are those that occur naturally in the region in which they evolved as opposed to exotic species brought in from other countries.  Compare our Northeast Trumpet honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) that attracts butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators, and with invasive Oriental Bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus) that smoothers and strangles shrubs and trees.

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Why plant natives? The simple answer is that they protect biodiversity – in short, they benefit the birds and bees. Native wildlife typically only feeds on plants native to the area. The proliferation of exotic non-native plants creates in essence an ecological desert for many birds and pollinating insects. Another reason is that the trees, shrubs, and flowers native to an area are hardier and generally require less water and care than more exotic plants.

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To discover New England native plants that will thrive in your garden, visit the Native Plant Trust (formally Garden in the Woods) website at Native Plant Trust

 

For more info on invasives, visit the Conservancy’s short videos on YouTube entitled “Nature Notes on Invasive Plants” Swampscott Conservancy - YouTube​

Interfaith Climate Crisis Presentations​

March 31 & April 7 | 7-8pm | Online

 

Learn about the ways you can be empowered to help

 

Moderated by Dick Prouty, Chair of TownGreen2025​

Co-sponsored by First Congregational Church of Rockport; Gloucester Unitarian Universalist Church; Temple Ahavat Achim, Gloucester; Temple B’nai Abraham, Beverly; Unitarian Universalist Church of Greater Lynn; Unitarian Universalist Society of Rockport

 

Register for One Session or Both:

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Session 1

Climate Justice: Climate Crisis & Its Impact on Health 

with Peter Digre

Wednesday, March 31, 7-8 pm

 

Pete Digre is a member of Al Gore's Climate Reality Leadership Corps

REGISTER FOR SESSION 1

 

Session 2

How I Reduced My Carbon Footprint in 20 Steps 

with Denny Dart

Wednesday, April 7, 7-8 pm

 

Denny Dart is an Environmental Engineer and Climate Activist 

REGISTER FOR SESSION 2

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Questions? Please contact Sam Silverman or Ruth Budelmann.

 

The Story of More — How We Got to Climate Change and Where to Go from Here by Hope Jahren

Join us in a church-wide book read related to the theme of climate change. We’ll read The Story of More — How We Got to Climate Change and Where to Go from Here, by Hope Jahren (author of Lab Girl). We’ll discuss in person or via Zoom on Friday, August 7, at 7 pm. It is the essential pocket primer on climate change that will leave an indelible impact on everyone who reads it.

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In The Story of More, Jahren illuminates the link between human habits and our imperiled planet. In concise, highly readable chapters, she takes us through the science behind the key inventions – from electric power to large-scale farming to automobiles – that, even as they help us, release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere like never before. She explains the current and projected consequences of global warming – from superstorms to rising sea levels – and the actions that we all can take to fight back.

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WEDNESDAY SPEAKER SERIES

Join us as we explore how our faith calls us to respond to the climate emergency. Sponsored by the Unitarian Universalist Church of Greater Lynn in conjunction with the Swampscott Conservancy.

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Download the flyer here.

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