Friday, March 23, 2012

A Month of Responsibility

Later I'll get back to you with the results of yesterday's crazy stain experiment, but I realized something when I woke up this morning that I need to mention.

Today marks the first full month of tracking my progress on the path toward environmental responsibility!  I've been on this path for longer than a month, obviously, but I had never paid much attention to my progress before now.  That being said, I feel that it's time to look at what I've learned this month.



1.  True Environmental Responsibility is not expensive.

If you follow the 'green trend',  things can get expensive.  There are so many things people buy while on this trend to make them feel better about themselves.  Organic snacks are expensive, as are organic cleaners.  People have been known to buy very expensive compost bins.  Organic potting soil is another expenditure.  The list goes on.

But are you really being environmentally friendly by buying new stuff?  I'd argue that the answer, in most cases, is no.  Don't get me wrong... I bought organic potting soil.  Renting a new home, I didn't already have a compost supply, so I needed something to ensure proper growth for my seedlings. I only bought one bag, though, and used it in small amounts to feed the pre-existing soil in the yard.

Organic fruits and vegetables are indeed more expensive than their non-organic counterparts due to the decided lack of subsidies for organic farms (more on that later), yet I managed to save money while buying these organics at the grocery store simply by buying what I needed, rather than what I wanted.

I've saved, at minimum, $46 this month just by making small changes.  I'd say that's a pretty strong argument in favor of environmental responsibility!

2.  Failure increases knowledge.

I've had plenty of successes since I began this month, but I've also had failures (A good example will be seen in the next post). My successes, really, have taught me nothing more than to give myself a pat on the back for doing something right.  I gained no new knowledge from the successes.

The failures, on the other hand, have taught me to re-examine the problem at hand.  What went wrong?  Why?  Can it be made right?  Does it need to be made right?  Re-evaluation of a problem increases insight, and therefore, failure helps promote active learning.

3.  Even small changes have a huge impact.

In this last month I've been more careful about what I place in the landfill.  Glass jars can be re-purposed for other uses, as can plastic bottles.  Paper and cardboard can be composted.  The list goes on.  In this month alone, I have already decreased the amount of waste our family sends to the landfill by twenty-five percent, roughly.  And this is only the beginning.

I've learned a lot.  I've also become a much more fulfilled individual.  I blame that on my constant need to be outside and in touch with my surroundings, as well as the feeling that I'm doing something of benefit to myself, my family, and to a small extent, my community.  It's a transformation, of sorts, and it feels great.

Try it, and I think you'll agree.  The trick, I think, is to view things with the same curiosity and excitement as a child.

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