Using Nature’s Colors - Naturally Dyed Eggs

I’m excited to welcome Spring my favorite time of year, as well as Easter the sacred time for Christians. The tradition of egg dyes can be found throughout history, from the early practice of staining eggs red to signify the blood of Christ, to children dying eggs to resemble colored jelly beans.  I have been fascinated with eggs for years—growing up on a farm, coloring eggs as a child, and learning to cover blown out eggs with washi (Japanese rice paper) while in Japan. Several years ago Edie Pigg taught me natural egg dye thru her Herb Club and I have enjoyed experimenting with new concepts since. I will be offering natural egg dyes Wednesday evenings, March 29^th and April 5^th at Olivet at 6:00 p.m., as part of the Art as a Spiritual Practice education series.

Easter is a reminder of abundance and fertility so let’s make ourselves familiar with nature’s color and have some creative fun. The following are supplies you can be collecting now as well as an abundance of eggs-brown or white as each provides a variety of colors and textures.

Plan to join us - clean out cabinets/drawers for:

·         -Clean, plastic quart size yogurt/cottage cheese/ice cream containers

·        - Old panty hose/knee hi’s  (holds blossoms/leaves/rice around eggs to make unique designs)

·        - Yellow/red onion skins

·         -Check your freezers for old fruit-raspberries/blueberries/blackberries which are used as dyes

·         -Old silk ties (100% silk) – from the back of the closet or a thrift store – silk-dyed eggs produce beautifully colored patterns

-Bring from home or shop for the following items a few days before the 1^st session:

·         -New blossoms, baby leaves, etc., from plants that haven’t been frozen

·         -Herbs – such as cilantro, parsley, dill weed, or anything from the produce section that is light, wispy, dainty looking

·        - Eggs – white and brown – each provides a variety of colors and textures

Think Spring!  Karen Bradley

Embracing the Good News for Planet Earth: Sustainability in Ireland

Last month we commented on Irish Celtic Spirituality in regard to respect for the environment, which perhaps is one of the factors contributing to Ireland’s serious efforts to become a sustainable country.  Although Ireland is a relatively small country with a relatively uniform warm and moist climate, it has significant environmental diversity, a history of exploitation of resources, and a growing urban population all of which might offer other countries some models for sustainable development.  Ireland, like our own country, wishes to both maintain and share its beautiful landscapes.

For example, SEAI (Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland) provides resources and support for energy research, audits, and practical solutions for home and businesses.  SEAI identifies potential for bioenergy, wind, geothermal, hydropower, and heat demand.  Ireland, along with many other European countries is committed to making a transition to a resource-efficient, low-carbon, and environmentally-friendly economy.  They manage their progress through their own Environmental Protection Agency.

EcoTourism Ireland assists tourism entities to manage more sustainably by training businesses to understand the factors that contribute to environmental degradation and climate change, and adapt accordingly.  They know that marketing their positive environmental policies brings tourists that want to share in the protection of natural landscapes, historic sites, and leave that heritage for others.  They in turn work with such local organizations as the Irish Peatland Conservation Council, but also with the EcoTourism projects of other European Countries.

…Larry Brown, Sustainable Living Steering Committee