Author: Judith Russenberger

Environmentalist and theologian, with husband and three grown up children plus one cat, living in London SW14. I enjoy running and drinking coffee - ideally with a friend or a book.

Falling in Love 16

This is fern is a ‘male fern’ or dryopteris filix-mas and is native to Britain. Each leaf unfurls from a tightly wound coil known as a fiddlehead or crosier. The latter also being the name of the staff carried by a bishop which has a curled top similar to that of a shepherd’s crook. Whilst still young and small these fiddleheads can be cooked and eaten and are rich in omega fatty acids and iron. But left in situ each fiddlehead uncurls and stretches out into a tall arching frond. Oh that our spines were as flexible!

The world around us is full of curious, beautiful and amazing things. As small children our curiosity and our amazement knew no bounds. Every day would produce novelties- things to see, things to chew or eat, things to grab and hold, things to poke and explore. 

As we have grow older we have often lost that sense of wonder. Things that were new have become mundane. In the rush to be busy, small things flop below the radar. Decorum dictates that we shouldn’t prod or lick things and, unless we’re wine tasters, swirling stuff around our mouth and spitting are frowned upon. Stopping suddenly just to look is discouraged – it interrupts the flow of traffic. Daily routines take over. 

And our love for the world wains and falters. 

The season of creation-tide runs from 1st September till 4th October, the Feast of St Francis. Let’s fall in love again with creation. 

Count Down

 Action 55: Nature has a tendency to be over abundant in its fruits, and this year, having had plenty of rain, there is a lovely crop of black berries. Whilst these will feed various creatures, there will be enough for us to garner a few too. Sweet chestnuts are another fruit people forage – but if you go into Richmond Park, please don’t collect them as the resident deer do rely on these for their food.

Lord, who controls my life?

The Sun that wakes me in the morning, 

or the dark that lets me sleep at night?

The seasons that provide times for growing and harvesting, 

food to eat and food to store?

The cycle of the years that moves me from infant vulnerability 

to mature accountability – and back?

Shop windows, supermarket displays and the internet browser 

that urge me to ‘Buy! Buy! Buy!’?

Businesses who use my money to fund their profits 

yet cheat on wages and despoil the earth?

Financiers who see only the £ sign 

and neither the beauty nor the poverty of the world?

Governments who make the rules they then bend, 

who promise a future they won’t deliver?

Is it me – sometimes misguided, sometimes mistaken – 

with the choices I can make?

Or could it be you Lord God, 

if I would trust, if I would open my heart to you?

Falling in Love 15


A woodland path in the Yorkshire Dales, spring time. What can be more relaxing than to wander beneath a lacy canopy of lime green leaves, over a carpet of dappled shade and bluebells? Weather worn stones and ageing tree trunks alongside fresh grass and spring growth: both old and new are intrinsically part of life.

The world around us is full of curious, beautiful and amazing things. As small children our curiosity and our amazement knew no bounds. Every day would produce novelties- things to see, things to chew or eat, things to grab and hold, things to poke and explore. 

As we have grow older we have often lost that sense of wonder. Things that were new have become mundane. In the rush to be busy, small things flop below the radar. Decorum dictates that we shouldn’t prod or lick things and, unless we’re wine tasters, swirling stuff around our mouth and spitting are frowned upon. Stopping suddenly just to look is discouraged – it interrupts the flow of traffic. Daily routines take over. 

And our love for the world wains and falters. 

The season of creation-tide runs from 1st September till 4th October, the Feast of St Francis. Let’s fall in love again with creation. 

Count Down

Action 54: Give your bike a thorough service so it is ready for the colder months ahead. Or book it in  with a bike shop for a service. 

With warm and water proof clothing you can enjoy cycling throughout the months ahead. Sustrans offers advice and tips on cycling and its benefits – https://www.sustrans.org.uk/our-blog/get-active/2020/everyday-walking-and-cycling/how-to-cycle-in-the-rain-look-after-your-bike-and-keep-yourself-dry/

Energy saving in the home

Reducing our carbon footprint in the home is essentially about reducing the amount of energy we use – whether that is for lighting, cooking a meal or having a wash. Here are some tips.

  • Turn off lights when they are not needed.
  • If you have an emersion heater, make sure it is well insulated. 
  • Have a shower rather than a bath. Limit the length of your shower time especially if it is a high pressure shower – a 9 minute pressure shower uses more energy than a bath!
  • Instead of a daily shower, wash with a flannel. We are seldom as dirty as we might think!
  • Dishwashers are meant to be efficient but are not always the most ecological way of washing up. A dishwasher uses 1KWh for a 70-100 minute programme. Heating 2 litres of water to fill a washing up bowl uses 0.2KW.
  • Boil only as much water as you need when making hot drinks.
  • When boiling with a pan on a stove use a lid to keep the heat in (except when cooking pasta as the water will boil over).
  • Limit how many pans you need to cook a meal. Try and reuse a hot plates whilst they are still hot.
  • Turn off the hot plate (if electric) before the cooking time is over so as to make good use of the heat in the hot plate.
  • If you are using the oven, plan to cook several things at once to make full use of the energy you are consuming.
  • Use a microwave for steaming vegetables, stewing fruit, making porridge/ custard etc.
  • Run your washing machine on its coldest setting and choose the shortest programme time.  
  • Only run the washing machine when it is full.
  • Don’t wash clothes until they need it: ie they smell sweaty, have a tide mark or spots. We have grown used to the idea of washing everything all the time!
  • Hang washing outside to dry. Ideally wash things in the morning to allow plenty of drying time, especially in the winter.
  • When it’s raining, hang wet washing inside on a clothes dryer. 
  • Many kitchen appliances are labour saving but doing things by hand is good for arm muscles – and arm muscles can be applied for different  purposes obviating the need for lots of small appliances.
  • Similarly in the garden, manual appliances such as lawn mowers and brooms are good for exercise and fitness.
  • Turn off appliances when not in use as they will still be drawing a small amount of electricity. 
  • If you have solar panels choose to run electrical appliances when the sun is shining. The electricity will power these directly without any loss via the distribution system. 
  • Don’t buy new appliances until you need them. Do some research, which are ecological; which energy efficient; which have a long life; which are easily repaired if they break down? Check out Ethical Consumer’s advice: https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/ 
  • Consider buying second hand.
  • If you will only need an appliance for occasional use, consider borrowing one – eg via  neighbourhood app.

Count Down

Action 52: Plant a tree. Autumn is a good time to plant trees – if you have space why not plant an apple tree in your garden? Alternatively why not sponsor a tree? Trees, as they grow, support many different creatures as well as absorbing carbon dioxide.  

The National Trust aims to plant 20 million trees by 2030: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/features/plant-a-tree?intcmp=plant_atree_summer21_propertypages_teaser

Falling in Love 14

The dog rose in full bloom is a thing of great beauty. And later in the autumn when its flowers are replaced with equally beautiful bright red hips – the ripening seed pods which are popular with wild birds. From classical times, its root is said to offer a cure for dog bites and this is the origin of its botanical name, rosa canina. During the Second World War its fruits were collected to make rosehip syrup which, being high in vitamins A, C, D  and E, was a useful addition for keeping the nation healthy. 

The world around us is full of curious, beautiful and amazing things. As small children our curiosity and our amazement knew no bounds. Every day would produce novelties- things to see, things to chew or eat, things to grab and hold, things to poke and explore. 

As we have grow older we have often lost that sense of wonder. Things that were new have become mundane. In the rush to be busy, small things flop below the radar. Decorum dictates that we shouldn’t prod or lick things and, unless we’re wine tasters, swirling stuff around our mouth and spitting are frowned upon. Stopping suddenly just to look is discouraged – it interrupts the flow of traffic. Daily routines take over. 

And our love for the world wains and falters. 

The season of creation-tide runs from 1st September till 4th October, the Feast of St Francis. Let’s fall in love again with creation. 

Falling in Love 13


A small lady bird, possibly a five spot ladybird. Ladybirds are welcomed by gardeners as one of their favourite foods is aphids. Ecosystems can be finally balanced between the numbers of predators and the numbers of prey. For ladybirds to thrive, they need an ongoing supply of aphids – ie aphids that have not been killed off by ‘super efficient’ garden sprays!

The world around us is full of curious, beautiful and amazing things. As small children our curiosity and our amazement knew no bounds. Every day would produce novelties- things to see, things to chew or eat, things to grab and hold, things to poke and explore. 

As we have grow older we have often lost that sense of wonder. Things that were new have become mundane. In the rush to be busy, small things flop below the radar. Decorum dictates that we shouldn’t prod or lick things and, unless we’re wine tasters, swirling stuff around our mouth and spitting are frowned upon. Stopping suddenly just to look is discouraged – it interrupts the flow of traffic. Daily routines take over. 

And our love for the world wains and falters. 

The season of creation-tide runs from 1st September till 4th October, the Feast of St Francis. Let’s fall in love again with creation.