The Traveling Mandolin

Rebel Against Consumerism (November)
Celebrate Sensibly (December)
Cultivate Skills (January)
Share Resources (February)

Saturday, February 1, 2020

The Greener Year Challenge: Share Resources (February)

Sharing a trip to the Grand Canyon with my couchsurfing host, Amanda— 2011

We live in a finite world, with a finite number of resources. While some of these can be renewed, most cannot— and the energy it takes to shape them into useable objects is huge. With this in mind, anything we can do to lessen the burden on these resources is a big help to the planet.

Modern America is individualistic: we want to be self-sufficient, providing for all of our needs with the medium of money. But this isn't how people have lived for the thousands of years; practically every culture throughout history has relied on tightly-knit communities to meet the people's needs. As a bonus, sharing is a humbling and rewarding act that helps you grow much closer to people than you otherwise would.

The modern-day obsession with monetary-mediated "self-sufficiency" is taking a huge and needless environmental toll. We resist the cultural narrative and instead listen to our kindergarten teachers— we need to share!

BEGINNER:

Use the library. The library is one of the biggest hold-outs of sharing culture in the modern day, so be sure to make use of it! Even if you don't like books, you can check out movies, audiobooks, video games, music, and sometimes even telescopes, baking equipment, puzzles, and yoga mats. Check it out today!

Also beaches!

Hang out in public places. In addition to the library, public places exist for the purpose of sharing. Eat your lunch in a town square. Meet up with friends at a city park, or take your kids to a playground. Go bird-watching in a conservation area, tour a historical site, or have a picnic. (If you're in St. Louis, spend all day wandering around our amazing free museums!) Appreciate that we can share these resources so that not everyone has to own everything.

Have a potluck. There is something special about gathering for a makeshift meal of disparate dishes; it draws a group of people together around a common (and tasty) goal, allowing you to rely on each other in tangible ways. Invite a few friends over, and tell them to bring containers for leftovers; everyone gets to take some home.

Host a swap meet with friends. This is similar to a potluck, but with material goods such as clothes, books, and household items; this prevents you from having to buy a bunch of new stuff! Remember the concept of embodied energy: the more times you can reuse items, the less strain you'll put on the environment.

Borrow before you buy. If you need a tool for a specific task, an item of clothing for a special occasion, or a book you really want to read, consider first whether it's something you can borrow from someone else (or, if you buy it, be willing to share with others).

INTERMEDIATE:

Lend to (and borrow from) your neighbors. Depending on the neighborhood, this may be commonplace or unheard of, but sharing our physical goods is not only good for the environment, it reminds us that we need to rely on other people. Tangible, neighbor-to-neighbor sharing is a good starting point for community resilience.

Use public transit. Forty people on a bus could keep as many as forty cars off the road— it's a wonderful example of sharing! See September's post for more suggestions.

Be a couchsurfing host. Airb&b is a wonderful invention, but I like the old-fashioned hospitality of couchsurfing: inviting travelers to stay at your house for free. If you have the personality for it, it's an incredible experience. The Couchsurfing website has a lot of safety features and accountability built into it, so even if you're timid, I encourage you to check it out! Read more about couchsurfing here, or head straight to the site to sign up: https://www.couchsurfing.com/.

Share knowledge. Do you know stuff? Share it with anyone who's interested! Whether this is teaching a sewing class, lecturing about 14th-century Chinese history, or showing someone how to cook a soufflé, commit to making knowledge accessible. (And be sure to learn from others, too!)

Sharing food is easy in summer!

Join or start a toy library. Parents and babysitters, imagine a place where you could "check out" a play castle and a Lego set, then return them when your kid gets bored. They do exist— toy libraries! This is yet another example of items that are best when shared. Do a Google search for "toy libraries near me," and if none are around, take that as your cue to get started. Here are some good tips.

Host a swap meet with the community. This is just a bigger version of a swap meet with friends; see these tips for getting started on a community scale.

Rideshare. Young, car-less people get to be experts at cramming as many people into a car as possible for a trip, but as we get older we assert our independence and start driving alone. This is a destructive tendency that we need to stop. Any time you use a car, see if there's someone you can share it with— can you pick up a couple groceries for your neighbor, combine errands, get a ride with someone else going to the same event?

ADVANCED:

Create a regular skillsharing event. Want to facilitate people in your community sharing their knowledge? Consider creating a free event for people to learn new skills! Check out this tutorial to get you started.

Start a tool library. Like a toy library, this is a community structure that allows you to share tools, especially specialty tools that you only need once. New Dream has some wonderful resources to help you launch your own initiative.

Get a roommate. In America from 1973 to 2015, the average house size has grown by 1,000 square feet, while the average number of people per household has dropped from 3.01 to 2.54— in other words, the living space for an average person has nearly doubled! Bigger houses mean more energy per person burned, often needlessly. Getting a roommate can be a good way to share resources in a mutually beneficial way, so if you have a spare bedroom that only gets used twice a year for guests, this is something to seriously consider.

Join an intentional community. We've come a long way from the communes of the 60s (although they do exist, too): an intentional community is any group of people living close to each other that has sharing as one of its core values. Although this may be in an isolated, pre-fabricated center, it can also just be the equivalent of a neighborhood group who commits to sharing tools, time, babysitting skills, cooking, and other things. Zero Waste Chef introduced me to this idea, and I've been intrigued ever since! To find one near you, check out this directory: https://www.ic.org/directory/

Which of these challenges would you like to take on this month? What would you add to the list?

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Previous posts in this series:

Rebel Against Consumerism (November)
Celebrate Sensibly (December)
Cultivate Skills (January)

Thursday, January 2, 2020

The Greener Year Challenge: Cultivate Skills (January)

Learning cross-cut as part of a trail maintenance class last year

Happy New Year! 'Tis the season to focus on resolutions, but I think that for most people, a much more focused and effective use of time is to concentrate on learning a new particular skill. For instance, instead of resolving to "Eat healthier," resolve to the learn the skill of preparing vegetables so that you actually want to eat them. Instead of "Exercise more," make it "Learn Taekwondo."

A certain group of skills stand out to me as being useful for our work in caring for the planet. Some are abstract, some concrete; all are worth trying. As always, pick just one skill, no more. Think of a specific way you can practice or learn this skill— do you need to check out a library book, watch a YouTube tutorial, talk to someone who's good at this skill, get some materials and start practicing? Find someone to help keep you accountable, and make this your new skill for 2020.

ABSTRACT SKILLS:

Patience. Instant gratification is the enemy of sustainability; many environmentally-destructive things we do (driving cars, buying cheap goods, eating out of season) are caused by an unwillingness (or, in many cases, an inability) to take the longer, slower path. Baking bread, cultivating a garden, or spurring systemic change are slow processes, but slowing down in our fast-paced world is an act of rebellion that can heal the world. This year, commit to doing something the slow way: walk instead of drive, grow tomatoes, mend your clothes, take the time to listen.

Creative problem-solving. How do you handle challenges in your life? How do you entertain yourself? How do you keep yourself motivated when you're feeling down? The world will throw cheap and environmentally-destructive solutions at you, but creativity will show you a better path. In that vein…

Reframing questions. We are trained to get our minds locked into particular questions. For instance, we see an ad with a supermodel in a particular kind of shirt and think, "I want that shirt. Can I afford it?" Reframing the question makes us dig deeper: Why do I feel the need to get that shirt? What am I hoping to feel by buying that shirt? How can I get that feeling in a way that honors the earth and my values?

An ability to see that everything is connected, including you. Many of our environmental problems come from categorizing things into reductionist boxes, rather than thinking of them as a single connected entity. For instance, many people say that we shouldn't focus on saving the environment because it's more important to focus on helping people— but people and their environments are not separate. Pollution, drought, unnatural wildfires, floods, and famine are bad for all nature, including us, and they have environmental causes. Every time you consider an issue, a piece of land, an animal, or an idea, remember that everything is deeply and intrinsically connected. (For a wonderful perspective on this, I highly recommend Robin Wall Kimmerer's book Braiding Sweetgrass.)

Learning. If you are willing to change your mind and grow, you will go far in life; being willing to learn— and knowing how to teach yourself— is an incredibly important skill. Are you a visual, audio, text-based, or hands-on learner (would you rather watch a video, listen to a podcast, read a book, or get messy to learn something)? What kinds of things do you enjoy learning about, and how? How can you bring this excitement to everything you learn?

Community-building. Do you have vision, peacemaking skills, or a good sense of communication? Are you willing to make yourself vulnerable, to rely on other people and encourage them to rely on you? Building a resilient community is a key step in weathering the environmental changes that we are up against. What is one step you can take this year toward building a stronger community? (If you don't know where to begin, check out New Dream's guide.)

Questioning. Question the advertisers telling you that their SUV is good for the environment. Question the companies bottling water from depleted aquifers. Question the ideas of individualistic self-sufficiency and unlimited growth. The environmental crisis is growing every year, and we need a world full of people questioning what we've been taught.

CONCRETE SKILLS:

Sharing. From tool libraries to community fruit trees, people across the world are learning that everyone— including the environment— benefits through sharing. If you commit to nothing else this year, commit to sharing your resources (and stay tuned next month for suggestions) so there is room for all of us on this finite planet.

Repairing. If you can repair your car, bike, computer, clothing, and other material goods, you can extend their life, which is good for the environment. What are you most interested in learning to repair, or what would be most useful?

Making. Sewing, wildcrafting, carpentry, plumbing, electrical work, welding, pottery, fiber arts, fence-building… the list goes on. When you can see a process from beginning to end, you have a much better sense of its environmental cost.

Walking and biking. You can avoid a lot of driving if you're able to walk or bike. If you're new to it, start by walking or biking an errand less than a mile away, and build up from there.

Cooking. Choosing your own ingredients and making them into delicious homemade meals is not only empowering, it's great for the environment. If you're unsure where to start, check out The Stone Soup (most of her recipes only have five ingredients). Cookie and Kate is full of easy vegetarian recipes, and Zero Waste Chef focuses on avoiding food waste.

Growing food. Unplugging from the industrial food system, even a little bit, has a huge impact. Get to know some gardeners in your area, check out some gardening books, or ask me for advice! I'd already written one blog post about the easiest way to begin a veggie garden, and there will be more to follow.

Foraged nettle!

Other food skills. Choose your adventure: foraging, preserving and canning, fermenting, keeping chickens or goats, hunting, fishing, butchery, beekeeping, herbalism, dumpster-diving… the list goes on! A simple internet search for "How to ___" will get you started, and a trip to the library can give you everything you need to pursue a skill that puts you in tune with the earth for your needs.

Financial intelligence. When you understand how to handle your money, you are in charge of it rather than it being in charge of you, and this frees up energy, head space, and cold hard cash to dedicate to healing the earth. Don't believe the lie that "I'm not good with money"— financial intelligence is a skill that can be learned, just like anything else. I highly recommend checking out Your Money or Your Life by Vicki Robin, as it is the most effective money book I've ever read (it doesn't hurt that she addresses how money and environmental issues are related!).

Teaching. Sharing knowledge is one of the great joys of life! Have a mending party and show people some stitches; help someone sort their recycling properly; summarize the books you've been reading for people who don't want to take the plunge. I taught some neighbors how to make sauerkraut, and it was so much fun that I'll be hosting several more workshops this year!

Self-entertainment. A huge amount of our time, energy, and money goes toward things meant to entertain us— and few of them have a lasting sense of satisfaction, while many of them actively encourage us to be dissatisfied, making us want to buy and pursue more, never mind the environmental cost. Take back responsibility for entertaining yourself, and choose activities that don't destroy the planet (or actively help it out). What do you enjoy that brings life rather than numbness or mindless consumption? How can you get in the habit of turning to the life-giving activity this year?

And, most importantly… what would you add to the list?

~~~

Previous posts in this series:

Rebel Against Consumerism (November)
Celebrate Sensibly (December)

Sunday, December 1, 2019

The Greener Year Challenge: Celebrate Sensibly (December)

Christmas is well upon us (it comes earlier and earlier every year), so this is a good time to talk about how we celebrate special occasions. Many people mourn the excesses of the holidays, and yet, between Thanksgiving and Christmas, Americans continue to create 1 million tons of additional waste. That's 2 billion pounds of food, gift wrapping, unwanted gifts, and so on, which contain an outrageous amount of embodied energy, only to end up in a landfill. By some calculation, 18% of gifts are unwanted, and 4% are thrown directly in the trash. We can do so much better than this!

We need to contemplate how we hold celebrations, and whether the way we celebrate helps or harms the earth. I invite you into a holiday season that is not only good for the earth, but good for your mental health as well.

Instead of dividing this post into "Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced," I've decided to group it by category. Pick what feels right for you.

GENERAL:

Don't compare. When planning any celebration, from a Christmas potluck to a birthday party to a wedding, it's tempting to get caught up in what you "should" do, often to the detriment of both the planet and your sanity. Fussy goodie bags, extravagant gifts, pop-culture-referencing plastic decorations, and huge meat-heavy dinners are bad for the environment; a hospitable attitude, long walks, foraged decorations and a simple meal with meaningful conversation are good for the environment— and for you.

Remember what's important. Focus on the purpose of the celebration: spending time with family, congratulating a particular person, having a good time with friends. Gratitude and focus help you to let go of the unnecessary (and again, get off the hamster wheel of keeping up with societal norms).

Incorporate nature into your celebrations. From the Christmas tree to the Easter bunny to the pumpkin pie, nature is in the background of most holidays, and I like to honor it with foraged decorations and seasonal food. Put some twigs or wildflowers in a vase, learn what's in season in your area, and if possible incorporate a nice walk or some open windows to keep you in tune with what's going on outside.

Celebrate the seasons. I wrote a whole blog series about this! I have come to enjoy observing the solstices, the equinoxes, and the waxing and waning of the moon. Celebrating the rhythms of the earth helps remind you that you're connected to nature, not apart from it, and what happens to the earth happens to you too.

EVENTS:

Say no to disposables. If at all possible, focus on using real rather than disposable items: tablecloths, dishes, silverware, glasses, and/or napkins. Offer to bring the dishes and clean them up afterward. Carry a reusable kit with you (a plastic plate, some silverware and a cloth napkin, and a small mug) when you go to a party.

Choose sustainable food for your gatherings. If you're in charge of the food (even a single dish), try to make it as eco-friendly as possible. See Finding Earth-Friendly Food for ideas of how to do that.

Combat food waste. Food waste is a huge problem this time of year (it's a big chunk of that 2 billion pounds of waste!). Check out this previous Greener Year post if you need a review of how to prevent it.

GIFTS:

Have a conversation with your family about presents. If you're reading this in December it might be a little late, but better late than never. I'm lucky to be from a family who have low expectations about gifts, but in many families, the season begins with a fevered pitch of anxious one-upping. This is bad not just for budgets, but for the millions of new items that will quickly end up in a landfill. Again, remember the embodied energy: one of the most helpful things we can do for the planet is to consume less— including gifts! Here are some tips for heading off an influx of gifts.

Give consumable gifts. Eco-friendly gifts are those that don't become trash the instant they break. Think food, package-free body care products, candles, art supplies, and so on. Consumable gifts are easy to make homemade, too: bread, any sort of dessert or baked good, homemade candy, caramel corn… the list goes on. Think of how much plastic, embodied energy, and unnecessary packaging you're saving!

Give non-material gifts. Also think beyond material goods, using your creativity. For instance, you need a last-minute gift for your niece and your niece likes Frozen, so clearly you need to buy her an Elsa doll, right? But that doll is likely made in a pollution-belching factory in China (often by a worker who is not making a living wage) and is made of polyester that will never biodegrade. This is where creativity comes in handy. For instance, instead of a doll, you could give her a card inviting her to a Frozen party where you and she bake snowflake-shaped cookies, then make a "ice castle" blanket fort and watch Frozen while eating cookies and loudly singing along to all the songs. (Actually, that sounds awesome, invite me too…) Other common non-material gifts include trips to a museum or swimming pool, tickets to the theater or a sports game, or simply an offer to make dinner for someone.

Go gift-free. This isn't for everyone, but it can be a great way to reduce stress, refocus the season— and help the environment! If you're intrigued, explore more here.

Use reusable or secondhand gift wrap. There are dozens of ways to wrap presents without using wrapping paper, ribbons, and bows that get tossed (or at best, somewhat recycled) in January. Litterless has some great ideas for doing this in a classy way.

Which of these challenges would you like to take on this month? What would you add to the list?

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Previous posts in this series: