Eco-Complacency

Now that I am done organizing the Enjoy Life Unschooling Conference, I have a lot more time on my hands. Or rather, I have my time back to do other things with. Which is why I am here. I need to admit out loud that I have been complacent about one of my most important principles. I have not had time to think about Being Good to the Earth.

How did I come to realize this? I was preparing for my most recent SSoMMd program: Big Numbers, Big World. I was looking up how examples of big numbers. In particular, I wanted the amount of trash Americans created last year. As I searched for this number, I ended up reading about trash reduction. In particular, I found the Green Garbage Project; a Portland, OR couple who are trying to make their total trash produced in a year fit into one plastic grocery bag. Now a few years ago, the Roots and Shoots group which I lead did a trash reduction challenge. We challenged folks to reduce their trash production by a factor of two. We found that our family of 4 makes so much less trash than most Americans that we had a hard time reducing further. But these folks at the Green Garbage Project are headed for a lot less trash than we make. Of course they don't have children and they are both taking on the challenge together. Can you hear the rationalizations in my head? I can.

So I started browsing their site. They send produce stickers to a Fruit Sticker Artist to be made into art. Cool. They send zipper plastic bags to Lou's Upcycles to be made into bags and other wares. I learned about Kraft paper tape for boxes instead of plastic. Its supposed to be recyclable, but I can't confirm that. The coolest thing I learned about was Portland's Master Recycler Program and classes. Wow, I want to be a Master Recycler! I'll bet I could co-lead such an endeavor though...

All this trash reading got me thinking. I have been assuming that since I am so ______ (full in the blank with any eco-friendly word), that there's little more I can do in that area. I have been looking to expand into new areas (making my own soda, chickens, gardening, etc.) But now, I realize that I have been laxidasical about my eco-work. I can improve in areas I already concentrate as well as expand. And I need to get to it!

So, what shall I change, improve, or adjust in my life to be more Good to the Earth? What an excellent question. Maybe as I relieve my house of the things we no longer wish to have, my thinking will clear as well. Tomorrow's task! For now, check out these two neat videos about worm composting and fast food trash.