Where To Begin?

One of the biggest struggles with changing my consumption patterns and subsequent impact on the earth is this: Where do I start?! I think it is a universal feeling, that the problems of the world are so large and as individuals we are so tiny. It is easy to feel overwhelmed! My advice- Start somewhere and don't beat yourself up about the other stuff.

I decided to tackle a small herb garden as my first order of business- it was a relatively small investment in time and energy and would provide us with immediate results. Since we just moved into a new home, I had to dance around the shared yard space issue to find a good site and an extra planter. Our herb garden was easy to start and the payoff has been tasty. It has been extremely rewarding to be self-reliant in this small way, and I'm beginning to acquire a taste for culinary autonomy.

As for the "Don't beat yourself up" portion of my advice: Easier said than done! I am a woman on a mission, and it is difficult to accept that I won't be able to change my habits at the drop of a hat. I still cringe when I use a new plastic bag in the bulk foods section. A visit to the CCAT library to find a book on garden pest prevention has been on my To-Do list for weeks. I have to remind myself not get anxious that I'm not "fixing" everything at the same time. In my eyes, Walking the Walk occurs one small step at a time.

A Fresh Start

Greetings! A new school year has begun, and with it comes a desire for fresh starts. Taking the first step into anything is usually the hardest bit, and as Paul and I re-start our lives here in Humboldt, we are jumping headfirst into a new project!

Over the past few years, our perceptions on ways of life have been challenged. We have learned about where our waste goes, where our meat and dairy products come from, and how much energy we blow through on a day to day basis. One of the most challenging things about studying for an Environmental Science degree is not becoming defeated by the dismal state of our world's ecological health, not to mention feeling upset about the lack of concern from the general public. I am constantly reminding myself that although we have a long way to go, changes are happening for the better, whether it on the national, community, or personal level.

Which brings me to our mission: 

After years of learning the "best-practices" of a low-impact lifestyle, it is time to put the knowledge into action. We aim to modify our lifestyle into a way of life that is less burdensome to the environment. We will put concepts learned from our Environmental Science backgrounds to the test in the day-to-day world. 

The consumer society of the Western world makes it difficult to break out of the buy-use-throw out cycle, but that disposable structure is far from sustainable and detrimental to the health of the planet.

We have the book knowledge, we have the local resources, and we have the desire to make a change for the better. There is no longer an excuse for not living up to our own standards! It is time to start walking the walk.

Here we go!

We want to share our experiences and show that lessening our impact on the land can be done without much agony! (It might even be fun...) We don't claim to know it all and are prepared to make lots of mistakes along the way. As college students, we have limited resources but endless imagination and ingenuity. This blog is an attempt to track our progress, educate ourselves and our readers, and cultivate a discussion about our impact on this planet. So chime in! Call us on our BS! Share your own stories of success or failure! We have a lot of great things coming your way, so stay tuned.