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.
Thanks for the post... and the honesty. A little bit from every direction helps, and we can't do it all at once. Chuck
ReplyDeleteWhich herbs did you plant? We're loving having rosemary, sage and peppermint in our garden.
ReplyDeleteAlso, in time, maybe you can stock up enough bulk food plastic bags to re-use them...? Paul can tell you that Grams had a system of bag saving in her laundry room, and a special way of folding them! Granted she was from the Depression era of savers but handy nonetheless!
You are also so right: walking the walk is one step at a time...