From Interfaith Power and Light (http://interfaithpowerandlight.org):
Autumn is upon us! As the nights get longer and the days fill with fall color, we return to a season of reflection and celebration. Two religious 
holidays this week, Rosh Hashanah and the Feast of St. Francis, are the season’s first opportunities to gather with friends and family and to share a meal. Why not make it a Cool Harvest celebration with your faith community? It is a meal featuring food choices that are healthier for people, the planet, and the climate.
Go to http://salsa4.salsalabs.com/o/50836/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=11858 to get your free Cool Harvest Kit and host a potluck with friends and family.
The Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah is a time to think about our actions and how they affect the state of our planet and the environment we live in and to set goals for the next year. It is taught that on Rosh Hashanah the world was first created. Planning actions we can take to protect this world for future generations to thrive is a way to honor the day.
Today at IPL we consider how our food systems in this country impact our environment. Reducing our food waste is one way we can make a difference in our climate and for people who are food insecure. It’s estimated that nearly half of food produced in the U.S. is eventually thrown away. That means all the energy used to grow, transport, prepare, and package that food was wasted, too. With too many people in our country still hungry or food insecure, this is another unjust consequence of our modern industrial food system.
On October 4th, Catholics and many other Christians celebrate The Feast of St Francis, honoring the patron saint of animals and the environment. It is the time to think about how our food system and our food choices affect the climate. Factory farms are not only terrible places for animals, they create a huge amount of pollution. From cattle methane emissions to hog waste “lagoons” that foul waterways, the way we produce meat contributes significantly to global warming pollution. One of the first and simplest things we can do to reduce our carbon “foodprints” is to eat less meat. The Cool Harvest Potluck Kit will help you find delicious, sustainable dishes with limited meat and animal products.
This fall is a time for celebration, gathering close those who are important to you and sharing a meal together. Food that’s healthier for the planet doesn’t need to be complicated or hard to find — often it’s in our own backyards. Make organic seasonal vegetables the centerpiece of your meal and get produce from local organic farms when possible. You can follow the posts at Cool Harvest during our fall food week to learn about all you can do and be inspired by other congregation’s stories. Finding new ways to connect with and support your community through food can be very rewarding.
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