I've been thinking a lot about the word 'committment'. I am living without a car at the moment, and thus, I'm committed to riding the bus, walking or biking on warmer days. This is sort of a forced committment to be auto-free for a while. Overall, it's great. Too often I meet people who really care about the earth, are worried about climate change, and yet don't seem to connect their everyday actions (driving everywhere) to their values (care for earth/support reducing greenhouse gas emissions.)
A friend on facebook a few months back posted a saying (by whom I can't recall), which basically said 'within committment there is great freedom.' I know this to be true. Homeownership requires a major committment, but in that is a wonderful freedom to have my own garden, and create my own space in the way that I want.
Committment helps set boundaries. I think we are so overloaded with technology, access and choices that too many people either avoid committment or they over-committ and then don't succeed at anything.
Right now, one of my committments is living car-free for a while. Within that, my life has slowed down. I am spending more time at home focusing on projects I've wanted to get to for months. And, I'm designing other goals, like exercise regularly, into my regular 'commute' regime.
One of my other committments is also following through. Even here on my blog - by following through with updates on events or things I post.
So - How was the Sustainable Saratoga meeting you ask? Great! One of the best potluck's I've been to in a long time. Something about breaking bread with other people creates an openness and willingness for people to connect and share. And that's what seemed to happen. We followed the potluck by watching a film I use in my Global Climate Change course called 'Recipes for Disaster'.
The film 'Recipes for Disaster' is hardly as ominous as it's title. It's a funny, engaging, interesting documentary following the life of a Finnish family that goes on an oil-diet for a year. It's great to watch the parents and two young kids give up driving and things like plastic wrap and toothpaste. And it shows how deeply reliant we are on oil - whether in household products made from oil byproducts (ie. plastics), or to gas up our cars, boats, trains and yes, buses.
At one point the young sons are talking about 'what would Christmas be like without plastic'. It just wouldn't be Christmas. But in the end the father (who produced the film), shows how much greenhouse gas emissions the family saved in one year (52%). ( to calculate your own greenhouse gas emissions click here.)
And so I ask you, what can you commit to? Are you willing to 'walk the talk'?
I was reminded of this saying a few months back at Jeff Olson's talk at Skidmore on 'The Future is Riding Bicycles'. I ran into Jeff, a local resident who works in transportation and community planning, a few weeks ago and told him what a great reminder it was for me - and he said, 'yeah, one day a week - if people got out of their cars one day a week that would be great.'
So - if you want to help minimize climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions - is there something you'd be willing to commit to?
Could you go one day a week without driving your car? Convert your household bulbs to CFL's? Plan and grow a garden? Switch to 'green' energy?
There are so many things we could all do. It just requires... committment and follow through :) Let me know how you do!
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Monday, November 29, 2010
2nd Anniversary Potluck - Sustainable Saratoga
Join Sustainable Saratoga as we celebrate our 2nd Anniversary!
It's a wonderful experience to witness the continued interest in sustainability in our community. I think now more than ever, Sustainable Saratoga has an important role in educating the community, and shaping local activities as they pertain to environmental and economic sustainability.
As an all-volunteer organization, the group's successes the past two years have been a collective effort of many folks stepping up and taking action - contributing time and energy.
So - join us for a celebratory potluck dinner, movie and discussion about this past year's achievements and plans for the upcoming year. Details on the event location, etc are below.
And, in case you missed it, here's a link to the most recent Sustainable Saratoga monthly article printed in the Saratogian, written by current co-chair Bill Sprengnether. He provides a nice summary of Sustainable Saratoga's achievements the past year, as well as outlines the organization's goals for the coming year.
Anniversary Celebration Tuesday Nov. 30th, 2010
What: Sustainable Saratoga 2 year Anniversary Community Potluck Dinner, Movie and Community Dialogue.
Where: Empire State College 113th West Ave (rear entrance)
When: 6:30 pm Potluck Dinner 7:15 Movie
Cost: FREE
Details: Please bring a dish of your choice to share and your own utensils and dishes.
More Info: www.sustainablesaratoga.com
Hope to see you there!
It's a wonderful experience to witness the continued interest in sustainability in our community. I think now more than ever, Sustainable Saratoga has an important role in educating the community, and shaping local activities as they pertain to environmental and economic sustainability.
As an all-volunteer organization, the group's successes the past two years have been a collective effort of many folks stepping up and taking action - contributing time and energy.
So - join us for a celebratory potluck dinner, movie and discussion about this past year's achievements and plans for the upcoming year. Details on the event location, etc are below.
And, in case you missed it, here's a link to the most recent Sustainable Saratoga monthly article printed in the Saratogian, written by current co-chair Bill Sprengnether. He provides a nice summary of Sustainable Saratoga's achievements the past year, as well as outlines the organization's goals for the coming year.
Anniversary Celebration Tuesday Nov. 30th, 2010
What: Sustainable Saratoga 2 year Anniversary Community Potluck Dinner, Movie and Community Dialogue.
Where: Empire State College 113th West Ave (rear entrance)
When: 6:30 pm Potluck Dinner 7:15 Movie
Cost: FREE
Details: Please bring a dish of your choice to share and your own utensils and dishes.
More Info: www.sustainablesaratoga.com
Hope to see you there!
Friday, November 26, 2010
Buying n' Eating Local... eggs
First, let me say as so many others have, I have a lot for which to be thankful. Good health, family and some great friends all over the country. We are communal beings and thus, I feel my community stretches very near and far, and for that I am thankful - for the good people in my life.
Over the weekend, I was reminded again of the oddity of how far our food can travel, and also, my strong belief in buying and supporting local food as much as possible (and affordable.)
Friday morning I cooked up some eggs at my mother's house, and happened to look to see where they came from - Minnesota. I shook my head, a bit stunned these eggs had travelled so far when I'm sure there is some local farmer who would sell her eggs. But, that's ok, it's not her thing.
Besides, being the bargain shopper and coupon clipper that she is (my parents raised seven kids on one income), I figured she'd bought them at a really good price, and of course, she had. Walgreens - 99 cents. You can't beat that price anywhere! Except, you also have no idea the conditions under which the chickens were raised, what they are being fed, and for that price, someone is subsdizing that cost because, you can't transport anything 1500 miles for 99 cents.
That same morning I got a call from my EcoLocal friend Dave, who's raising chickens in his backyard, feeding a family of 4 on them, with lots left over. He sells them to me for $3 a dozen. Yes, three times more expensive than my mothers. However, something just feels more right about buying eggs from a friend who I know - whose house I can go over to any time to check out how the chickens are doing. And, who's feeding them organic grains. Plus, I hope to at some point be able to work a trade with him for something I grow or raise (ie. goats or maybe herbal tinctures.)
So, I cooked up the eggs at my mothers house as they were my only option, and when I got home, Dave had delivered my next dozen of eggs to my backdoor. This kind of exchange - of supporting friends and neighbors growing, raising, selling their own food is really where I think our communities ought to gravitate.
If the price of oil sky rockets, having a relationship with local food producers is going to be essential. That's also why I feel so strongly about supporting the local farmer's markets. When we speak about a resilient economy, that's at least what I mean. People having tradeable skills. And it may not be just food-related. One friend I know is taking up sewing. For me, I imagine there will always be a need for writers (who also garden, and is pretty good at organizing - events, dinners, etc.)
What skills do you have or want to learn? Every day on the news I hear of more and more people who are reaching back to revive older traditions, like, raising chickens, canning, knitting, etc. Some of this is trend-following, but a lot of folks are doing these things because money is tight and these activities are simply more economical. In my opinion, small-scale re-localizing economies will be the new economy.
And, if you're looking for a local larger-scale egg producer, checkout the Thomas Poultry Farm outside of Schuylerville on Rt 29 in Saratoga County. Not sure if they're organic, but they are local.
Over the weekend, I was reminded again of the oddity of how far our food can travel, and also, my strong belief in buying and supporting local food as much as possible (and affordable.)
Friday morning I cooked up some eggs at my mother's house, and happened to look to see where they came from - Minnesota. I shook my head, a bit stunned these eggs had travelled so far when I'm sure there is some local farmer who would sell her eggs. But, that's ok, it's not her thing.
Besides, being the bargain shopper and coupon clipper that she is (my parents raised seven kids on one income), I figured she'd bought them at a really good price, and of course, she had. Walgreens - 99 cents. You can't beat that price anywhere! Except, you also have no idea the conditions under which the chickens were raised, what they are being fed, and for that price, someone is subsdizing that cost because, you can't transport anything 1500 miles for 99 cents.
That same morning I got a call from my EcoLocal friend Dave, who's raising chickens in his backyard, feeding a family of 4 on them, with lots left over. He sells them to me for $3 a dozen. Yes, three times more expensive than my mothers. However, something just feels more right about buying eggs from a friend who I know - whose house I can go over to any time to check out how the chickens are doing. And, who's feeding them organic grains. Plus, I hope to at some point be able to work a trade with him for something I grow or raise (ie. goats or maybe herbal tinctures.)
So, I cooked up the eggs at my mothers house as they were my only option, and when I got home, Dave had delivered my next dozen of eggs to my backdoor. This kind of exchange - of supporting friends and neighbors growing, raising, selling their own food is really where I think our communities ought to gravitate.
If the price of oil sky rockets, having a relationship with local food producers is going to be essential. That's also why I feel so strongly about supporting the local farmer's markets. When we speak about a resilient economy, that's at least what I mean. People having tradeable skills. And it may not be just food-related. One friend I know is taking up sewing. For me, I imagine there will always be a need for writers (who also garden, and is pretty good at organizing - events, dinners, etc.)
What skills do you have or want to learn? Every day on the news I hear of more and more people who are reaching back to revive older traditions, like, raising chickens, canning, knitting, etc. Some of this is trend-following, but a lot of folks are doing these things because money is tight and these activities are simply more economical. In my opinion, small-scale re-localizing economies will be the new economy.
And, if you're looking for a local larger-scale egg producer, checkout the Thomas Poultry Farm outside of Schuylerville on Rt 29 in Saratoga County. Not sure if they're organic, but they are local.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Ups n Downs of a car-free life
I drove a car yesterday for the first time in three weeks. I was helping out some neighbors on a yard project in exchange for some firewood, and needed to make a run to the grocery store - so my neighbor let me borrow his car. At first, as I drove away I thought, ahh - I really do love driving. There is something so familiar about it, and so satisfying or soothing or I'm not sure what. Wait, I know - freeing.
The automobile provides the ultimate sense of freedom, that I can just drive away - go to a new place, get out of town, get away from the trials and tribulations of daily life by hopping in the car and heading out for an adventure. Yes, that's it. It's what I so enjoyed about renting my house this summer, the driving adventures, seeing new landscapes, new places or old familiar places. The freedom to go where I wanted when I wanted.
But as I continued to drive, this other sense came over me, of the hassles of owning a car. Of the feeling that maybe by 'getting out of town' we're actually avoiding deepening relationships right where we are.
Hmm. Plus, the single occupancy vehicle, as it's called in transportation planning land, is incredibly ineffecient. It's far more efficient to share a ride, whether by carpooling or bus. And, biking - as I've come to know, is actually almost as fast as driving (at least in this town), and far better exercise.
So, I was happy to have borrowed my neighbors car, as it allowed me to pickup a few bigger items that would be more difficult to carry on my bike. And, well, there is the hassle of trying to get to the recycling center and run some bigger errands. Oh, and as a time-challenged person, figuring out and remembering the bus schedules so I can coordinate taking the 473 in order to catch the 472, which only runs once an hour, etc etc etc.
Other than that, it's really pretty interesting to be without a car. On Satruday I ran all my errands on my bike - Farmer's Market, downtown Price Chopper, and finally home. I have these great fold-out metal baskets on the back that allow me to carry several full grocery bags, plus more on the fender. So, I was able to carry all my groceries and bags and keep warm at the stay time (except my fingers - warmer gloves are definitely in order.)
So, though it felt great the next day to hop in the car and go for that ride, I'm actually enjoying walking, biking and the bus - getting to know another little corner of the world right here in my neighborhood.
The automobile provides the ultimate sense of freedom, that I can just drive away - go to a new place, get out of town, get away from the trials and tribulations of daily life by hopping in the car and heading out for an adventure. Yes, that's it. It's what I so enjoyed about renting my house this summer, the driving adventures, seeing new landscapes, new places or old familiar places. The freedom to go where I wanted when I wanted.
But as I continued to drive, this other sense came over me, of the hassles of owning a car. Of the feeling that maybe by 'getting out of town' we're actually avoiding deepening relationships right where we are.
Hmm. Plus, the single occupancy vehicle, as it's called in transportation planning land, is incredibly ineffecient. It's far more efficient to share a ride, whether by carpooling or bus. And, biking - as I've come to know, is actually almost as fast as driving (at least in this town), and far better exercise.
So, I was happy to have borrowed my neighbors car, as it allowed me to pickup a few bigger items that would be more difficult to carry on my bike. And, well, there is the hassle of trying to get to the recycling center and run some bigger errands. Oh, and as a time-challenged person, figuring out and remembering the bus schedules so I can coordinate taking the 473 in order to catch the 472, which only runs once an hour, etc etc etc.
Other than that, it's really pretty interesting to be without a car. On Satruday I ran all my errands on my bike - Farmer's Market, downtown Price Chopper, and finally home. I have these great fold-out metal baskets on the back that allow me to carry several full grocery bags, plus more on the fender. So, I was able to carry all my groceries and bags and keep warm at the stay time (except my fingers - warmer gloves are definitely in order.)
So, though it felt great the next day to hop in the car and go for that ride, I'm actually enjoying walking, biking and the bus - getting to know another little corner of the world right here in my neighborhood.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Some Upcoming Events of Interest
Hi there - Forwarding on this list of announcements of some upcoming events in Saratoga - from the Sustainable Saratoga folks:
Wednesday Nov. 17th - (that's today)
What: Community Discussion on Natural Gas Extraction in NY
Where: Saratoga Springs Library
When: 6 pm Potluck 7 pm Presentation
Cost: Free
Host: League of Women Voters of Saratoga County, cosponsored by Sustainable Saratoga
More Info: www.lwvsaratoga.org
Saturday Nov. 20th
What: Saratoga Walkability Survey
Where: Saratoga Public Library Susman Room 49 Henry St.
When: 11 am
Cost: Free - Volunteers needed to help walk/survey sections!
Host: Mayor's Advisory Committee on Senior Issues
More Info: Mary Zlotnik 366-8582
Sunday November 21
What: Community film, food and dialogue "What's on your plate?"
Where: Saratoga Arts Center 320 Broadway
When: 5 pm
Cost: $20 Adults, $10 children under 12
Host: Saratoga Film Forum
More Info: www.saratogafilmforum.org
Tuesday Nov. 30th
What: Sustainable Saratoga 2 year Anniversary Community Potluck and Presenter or Video.
Where: Empire State College 113th West Ave (rear entrance)
When: 6:30 pm
Cost: FREE
Host: Sustainable Saratoga
More Info: www.sustainablesaratoga.com
Wednesday Nov. 17th - (that's today)
What: Community Discussion on Natural Gas Extraction in NY
Where: Saratoga Springs Library
When: 6 pm Potluck 7 pm Presentation
Cost: Free
Host: League of Women Voters of Saratoga County, cosponsored by Sustainable Saratoga
More Info: www.lwvsaratoga.org
Saturday Nov. 20th
What: Saratoga Walkability Survey
Where: Saratoga Public Library Susman Room 49 Henry St.
When: 11 am
Cost: Free - Volunteers needed to help walk/survey sections!
Host: Mayor's Advisory Committee on Senior Issues
More Info: Mary Zlotnik 366-8582
Sunday November 21
What: Community film, food and dialogue "What's on your plate?"
Where: Saratoga Arts Center 320 Broadway
When: 5 pm
Cost: $20 Adults, $10 children under 12
Host: Saratoga Film Forum
More Info: www.saratogafilmforum.org
Tuesday Nov. 30th
What: Sustainable Saratoga 2 year Anniversary Community Potluck and Presenter or Video.
Where: Empire State College 113th West Ave (rear entrance)
When: 6:30 pm
Cost: FREE
Host: Sustainable Saratoga
More Info: www.sustainablesaratoga.com
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Lets All Ride the Bus!
Okay, don't mind my enthusiasm but my car has broken down and I'm car-less for a few weeks. Having no car is actually a relief. I live one block from a CDTA bus that goes downtown, and there's a second bus that goes to my office on the westside. So, I'm finally back taking the bus.
It's great. I am pleasantly surprised at the level of ridership. Many Skidmore students, but others as well. According to one of the drivers, bus fees are included in tuition for Skidmore Students - so they just swipe their student ID and can ride - all prepaid. The driver also told me CDTA has a prepaid arrangement with SUNY Albany students, faculty and staff too, and since Empire State College is part of SUNY I will be looking in to see if ESC is covered.
Busing, biking, walking: I feel like I'm back to more of the style of living I am accustomed. When I was in grad school in Olympia, WA, I lived about 8 blocks from downtown and the main bus station. My grad school friends and I all took the bus - we were mostly in evening classes. Most of us worked at places downtown, then took the bus up to school. It was a great time to catch up, make plans for the weekend, while letting someone else drive.
I'm also walking so much more. Funny how my sense of what's in 'walkable' distance has changed. I live a 30 minute walk from downtown, and it's 55 mins to my office on the west side. I used to live 5 blocks from downtown, so walking was pretty quick. Now, with a bit more planning, I can get downtown or home - while getting great exercise.
The bus is $1.50 for a one-way ride (no such things as transfers on Saratoga CDTA routes); $4.00/day; or there's a monthly pass for $55 or $65 per month (5 day or 7 day/wk).
At first the cost seemed high to me, but then the bus driver reminded me I must have been 'stuck in the 80's and 90's' when it came to bus prices. He was right, it's been quite a few years since I've regularly used public bus transportation. But it feels great to be back using it. I'm aiming to continue busing, walking, and biking (when decent weather) - it really is more sustainable and great for my health! Hope you'll join me - or already have.
Friday, October 29, 2010
Community Gardens in Detroit - A Lesson in Hope
A few weeks ago I was up in Racquette Lake, NY, teaching a course on the Environmental Issues of the Adirondacks as part of the Empire State College's Adirondack Residency. The theme for the residency was Food and the Environment. I was delighted to hear the first night's guest speaker, Phil Ackerman-Leist, Associate Professor at Green Mountain College in Vermont, speak about local food and sustainable agriculture. Phil recently published a book, titled Up Tunket Road, about his family's experience living off grid for 12 years, making a go of it growing their own food, etc.
What I found most interesting about his talk was the part in his presentation on the City of Detroit's vast network of community gardens (~1200) which cropped up in neighborhoods around the City after the last major supermarket pulled out of the city back in the early 1990s.
If you were paying attention to the news this summer, you may have heard about the fires which tore through parts of the city. I remember thinking how horrible & unfortunate, especially for a community which I know has been struggling for many years.
However, in terms of community and economic resiliency, Detroit may be in a good place of hope. According to Phil Ackerman, the community gardens started up in response to the lack of basic fresh foods in the community. About ten years ago, the last major grocery chain left the City - it was no longer economically viable nor was it "safe". That left residents with the only choice to buy groceries within the city limits at small convenience stores, which we know have higher prices and are extremely limited in the quality and quantity of fresh produce they carry.
So, drawing upon an older generation's knowledge of gardening within the African-American community, community gardens started to thrive. Phil said he recently visited the community and some of the gardens - after the fires this summer, and according to people he met they were mostly spared. That's good news.
Over the past few years I've heard and read about Detroit in snippets, 'an abundance of vacant buildings', 'outrageous unemployment rate', 'sky rocketing crime rate'. Learning about this network of community gardens and checking out their websites online, I'm left with hope. Hope that if we come together as communities, in neighborhood pockets and groups, we will find a way to create resiliency in this fast-changing world.
To think that Detroit has already started to create some resiliency to a vastly changing economy reassures me that when the oil wells go dry, we in other parts of America will figure it out too. Hopefully we'll start planning ahead. That's why supporting your own community gardens (like here in Saratoga Springs), farmer's markets, and other groups focused on building local economic resilience and local food security, are crucial.
Ok, next step - building a hoop house to grow some winter greens. More on that after the weekend.
What I found most interesting about his talk was the part in his presentation on the City of Detroit's vast network of community gardens (~1200) which cropped up in neighborhoods around the City after the last major supermarket pulled out of the city back in the early 1990s.
If you were paying attention to the news this summer, you may have heard about the fires which tore through parts of the city. I remember thinking how horrible & unfortunate, especially for a community which I know has been struggling for many years.
However, in terms of community and economic resiliency, Detroit may be in a good place of hope. According to Phil Ackerman, the community gardens started up in response to the lack of basic fresh foods in the community. About ten years ago, the last major grocery chain left the City - it was no longer economically viable nor was it "safe". That left residents with the only choice to buy groceries within the city limits at small convenience stores, which we know have higher prices and are extremely limited in the quality and quantity of fresh produce they carry.
So, drawing upon an older generation's knowledge of gardening within the African-American community, community gardens started to thrive. Phil said he recently visited the community and some of the gardens - after the fires this summer, and according to people he met they were mostly spared. That's good news.
Over the past few years I've heard and read about Detroit in snippets, 'an abundance of vacant buildings', 'outrageous unemployment rate', 'sky rocketing crime rate'. Learning about this network of community gardens and checking out their websites online, I'm left with hope. Hope that if we come together as communities, in neighborhood pockets and groups, we will find a way to create resiliency in this fast-changing world.
To think that Detroit has already started to create some resiliency to a vastly changing economy reassures me that when the oil wells go dry, we in other parts of America will figure it out too. Hopefully we'll start planning ahead. That's why supporting your own community gardens (like here in Saratoga Springs), farmer's markets, and other groups focused on building local economic resilience and local food security, are crucial.
Ok, next step - building a hoop house to grow some winter greens. More on that after the weekend.
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