Not a single person entered our, “What I did this summer contest” So here is what I am going to do, the first three people that read this, and write a decent comment about something nice they did this summer to make the world a better place, I am going to send them a free book. No one gets the money, but I still want to give out these fine books.
So, ready, set GO!
(remember it is not the first three comments, but the first three good comments)
This summer has been on of the most interesting for me. We took our company from being a small two person sole proprietorship to an LLC, A started a speaking tour on the subject of RSS to local business groups. I bought an iPhone which I have used to be more productive in my business and also open up networking opportunities.
This summer I decided that I’m going to begin a long-considered career in renewable energy. My girlfriend and I are going to move across the country to make this dream a reality. I’ve thought about it for a long time, and it seems like the best way that I can make use of my talents to make a positive impact on the world.
Careerwise: this summer I helped design a series of green roofs/rain water retentions for a retrofitted condo in NYC.
Personally: I ate only locally grown meat, switched to local grass fed milk, cheese and eggs. I also bought only fair trade organically grown coffee, and bought most of my vegetables and fruit from the local green market. So, we were almost totally local, though not completely (starches like rice, and I’m a terrible pasta maker!!!). I also canned several kinds of fruit & veg for the coming winter.
Next year: a home to retrofit with solar/wind power (eventually) and a trike. (Home, first :)
This summer, I/we:
* drove the car an average of two or three times a week — including trips to Baltimore to watch my cousins’ four kids (it’s good to be a safety net!).
* We walked or took metro/bus/shuttles everywhere we needed to go.
* We didn’t complain when our CSA had their worst year ever during a 50-year drought in the DC area — in fact, we tried to get more people to join for the fall and I spread the CSA gospel every chance I made/found!
* Eric learned that greens aren’t the worst things ever and we actually managed to cook okra so it was tasty.
* I/We went to the farmers’ market almost every weekend and ate very seasonally and almost completely locally for non-staples.
* We run almost all of our electrical things (computers, tv, lights, toaster, kettle, crockpot, etc.) through powerstrips which are (usually) turned off if not in use
* went to Japan to learn about nuclear activism and to better appreciate culture on both side of the ocean as well as the popular divide (if that makes sense)
* consistently forgot to write something to enter the contest
* actually made dissertation-related progress
* came MANY steps closer to actually getting around to buying a bike!
* taught by example — when out of the country — and got houseguests/cat sitters to recycle when they returned home to Ohio (even though BG doesn’t have curb-side pickup!)
This summer I decided to ride my Bike whenever I had any errands that were around town. It is great exercise, plus it saves the environment and gas! I still need to car pool to work because it is 35 miles one way! I even bought a seat for my 18 month old that rides up front so we could go on biking adventures together. Oh and I also began taking navy showers, haha.
This was the summer that started it all. Before this summer I didn’t really care so much about the environment, or global warming. I believed that these problems existed, but I didn’t want to depress myself with them.
This summer was different. I decided that from then on, I would be the most globally responsible person that I could be. I started a compost heap, bought half a dozen compact fluorescents, and haven’t turned back. I buy local, organic foods whenever possible. I walk to school. I’ve educated myself as best I can, and I’ve tried to do the same for people around me.
But that doesn’t mean I’m perfect. We may drive a hybrid, but we still have a car. I’ve got a lot of work to do. Whatever I’ve done this summer is not nearly as important as what I’m going to do this fall.