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New England Satsang Takes on the Indeed Challenge

Hearts

At the New England MA Center, people were asked to take the "InDeed Challenge". Embracing the World’s InDeed Campaign for Nature is an online framework built by volunteers to support people all over the world in putting practical suggestions - about the way to use the earth’s remaining resources, and the way to interact with the natural world - into practice in everyday life lives and in local communities. The InDeed Challenge is asking each person to choose one new action they could take to protect the environment - something that they weren't already doing. They were asked to then communicate what action they were committing to. Finally, they submitted a photo to document their action and wrote a note to describe their efforts.

Anyone can do this. Consider asking your friends to take the challenge of reducing waste at its source and then gather the results.  Send it to info@greenfriendsna.org

Here is what the New England satsang had to say about taking the InDeed challenge:

    "Amma, you have said that if we take one step toward God, God will take 100 steps toward us. You have also encouraged your children to treat Mother Nature with respect and care. We have each chosen one simple step to take, that will have a positive impact on the earth. We offer these humble 'First Steps' of sustainable living to you, with the prayer that you will help us do more over time.

    Aum Amriteshwaritai Namah
    !"

Download the full presentation as a PDF here
The New England Satsang pledges to:

Grow our own Veggies

Our Beloved Amma,

We are growing our own veggies and herbs on our deck and in our yard.

At Your Lotus Feet,

Babu and Bina

Herbs on the deck Tomato plants

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Reduce our Carbon Footprint

Dear Amma,

I felt so sad, throwing leftover vegetable scraps and avocado seeds, etc., into the trash. I feel like the scraps and seeds are much happier going into the compost bin and, eventually, back to the earth in a useful way.

Hrdaya

Compost holder

Compost bin Hrdaya

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Conserve Water

Amma,

I challenged myself to conserve water while I was doing dishes because I was letting the water run. By being more aware of this habit, my monthly water bill has gone down by $3 a month!!

Tulasi

Tulasi

Water drop Water running

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Plant a Tree

Amma,

We have planted ten trees in our yard. Pranams from our family.

Hema and Prashant Bhatt

Planting

Hema and Prashant Bhatt Newly planted trees

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Preserve Biodiversity

Beloved Amma, Mother of All,

I bought another bird feeder and keep it supplied year round. I also keep a wild space in my garden and encourage wild blackberries and other berry plants to grow for the birds.

In Your Love and Service,

Harriet

Harriet

Blackberries

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Grow Your Own Veggies

Beloved Amma,

I am growing my own wheatgrass, sprouts and veggies.

Thanks for the inspiration, Amma!!

Hridayesh

Wheat grass

Hridayesh

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Reducing Our Carbon Footprint

Beloved Amma,

Here's a photo of our laundry drying.  We've been drying everything this way all winter. 

We went from trying to do half of our laundry without the dryer to doing almost all of it!!!

Victoria and Rodney

Laundry drying

Victoria,  Rodney and son Carbon footprint

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Conserve Water

Amma,

I will monitor my water bill and try to reduce it wherever possible.

Vino

Vino

Water bill

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Plant a Tree

Dearest Amma,

I bought a cluster of white birch trees to plant at Shalini’s house, since there is no room on my own property to plant a tree.

Vimala

Hole for a tree

Planted tree Vimala

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Preserve Biodiversity

Amma,

I planted tulasi seeds from the Santa Fe MA Center at your Chicago MA Center. I will be back at the end of the tour to see if they have grown. My plan is to harvest and distribute tulasi seeds, so that others can also grow tulasi.

Srinath

Srinath

Planet butterfiles Tulasi

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Grow Our Own Veggies

Amma,

We have been growing our own veggies and flowers. In doing this, we have been feeding wildlife because many of our crops have been eaten by the chipmunks, squirrels and a rabbit family! We have also been feeding the birds.

Ajith, Meera and Ammu Menon

Menon's backyard

Ajith, Meera and Ammu Menon Tomatos

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Preserve Water

Amma,

I have cut my 45 minute shower to 20 minutes to conserve water!

Ammu

Shower head

Ammu World in water

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Grow My Own Veggies

Amma,

I am growing parsley and basil on my deck and used them in the tomato sauce we made for the tour staff!

Pranata

Pranata

Basil Parsely

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Carpool

Dearest Amma,

Our satsang at the New England MA Center has created a carpooling map so that people can find others who live near them. Some of us have carpooled more, as a result.

Your loving children

New England satsang homes

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