With a little less than 48 hours left in 2009, I’m looking back and making an assessment of what has been the biggest sustainable change in my life. Recycling has been a big one since the company I work for is working to become Leeds certified as our building is remodeled. We have paper recycling bins at our desks and the common areas contain bins for plastic, glass and paper. They’ve also installed lo-flow toilets, sensored faucets, and gotten rid of styrofoam cups – replacing them with mugs that are washable. Recycling has also been something I’ve focused on at home. I have bins for paper, plastic and glass. And I’m constantly looking at ways to reduce the waste that is coming into my home. It’s not uncommon for me to tell the person behind the counter I don’t need a plastic bag if I only have one or two items. And I’m getting better about carrying canvas bags with me.
By far, the biggest change for me has been moving my eats off the industrialized food grid and eating a more locally produced food. I didn’t realize the impact that growing my own veggies would have. I’m outside more and I’m exercising. I find myself feeling more connected to the world I am in and it reminds me that I must be careful with the resources I have been given. Growing my own veggies means that I’ve been able to shift the grocery dollars I spent on produce so that local meat, dairy and honey producers can make an honest living instead of being subsidized by the US Government. I’ve gotten to know the people who raise the meat I eat. And I know that the animals I eat are being raised so that their natural tendencies are expressed instead of being supressed. The pigs get to be pigs and root around. The chickens get to be chickens and scratch for bugs and insects. The beeves (the plural of beef) get to eat grass instead of corn.
Am I 100% doing this all the time?? No. Nobody’s perfect and besides, we can’t grow coffee in Houston (although I did discover that we can grow ginger!). However, I can tell when I am eating out a little too much because my energy levels drop and I feel feel depressed and overly tired. I’m also mindful of the waste I am generating by not carrying food and just picking it up on run.
I like the connected feelings that being a locavore brings.
