I first noticed comments from Gardening Toad calling for us to join them in I think reducing our carbon emissions maybe a year ago. I thought, OK, sounds good, why not? A few more times and then I thought, why don’t you join with us? I said as much in a couple of responses. Now, I know it’s the same either way. I’m joining with Gardening Toad building a resilient, regenerative, and equitable culture for all life.
What does that mean? Let me know what the committee says. Maybe we can organize in Climate/Environment Fight or another Daily Kos group.
Many of us can apply things like permaculture priciples.
I set out to be an academic with demonstration projects, classes, and publications, but that didn’t work out. Maybe I’m too liberal for modern conservative overlorded academia. Maybe I’m not good enough at science. Instead, I get to be a landlord, house rehabber and flipper, and gig economy tech worker in my hometown, St Louis, Missouri. Thanks and praises to my unbelievably amazing spouse for keeping a roof over our heads as my academic career winds down, or I make my big breakthrough.
My family of four lives in a ~2000 square foot home with a basement. We have two internal combustion vehicles. I myself have consistently driven about 8000 miles per year over the last 25 years. These days, we drive to work in investment homes, where we remove old appliances and dumpsters of waste, and renovate with significant amounts of materials and new appliances. I also drive to shop and go for walks with dog Busta. We regularly eat beef, chicken, pork and other meat. I’ve taken many plane flights, including this March to the UK.
It is so easy to keep using energy and resources. Competing in current markets often requires using resources and energy.
Will I ever live and work sustainably?
Not if I don’t try. There are opportunities to improve seemingly everywhere.
We can grow food and flowers on our land and contribute to development of urban agriculture., while using my science experience to help verify safety and sanitation.
urban agriculture could promote a positive influence on supplementing food supply, fostering water-quality improvements, potentially decreasing carbon footprints, promoting health benefits through consumption of fruits and vegetables and promoting ways to mitigate climate change.
I can ride my bike more. We have a new trailer. I can use it more for shopping and taking Busta out. There are many interesting places within 5-10 miles. We just have to survive car traffic. BTW, we’re trying for another Katy Trail ride this May, but that’s neither here nor there.
We have ~250 W of portable solar and ~1.5 kW h of battery storage. We already use it for electronics. I can get us to use it more. Maybe we can cycle through the batteries each sunny day at least once, though without just trying to consume more. I can use the big battery for more jobs with our electric tools. We charge our Green Works electric lawn tool batteries with solar. The web site says that I can use those batteries for more tools too. My favorite tool set of all time is our old 12 V Craftsman Nextec cordless tools. They’re light and durable. Been through multiple houses and projects. Still could use a better saw, like one of those Green Works saws.
I can check materials going into our houses much more than I have. I am not the decider in charge, but can certainly better check environmental sources and labor producing the materials and goods we shop for. I already check for energy star and water use ratings, but I can do more careful comparisons of products in our price ranges.
I can keep track of our electric bills, gasoline usage, and meat consumption. With more effort, we should be able to see results in our consumption.
I can apply my data science experience to tracking and presenting my consumption and progress. Plus, I can help to assess and visualize trends for locations around the country. For example, I made a graph of recent weather records for St. Louis County which shows that there have been a lot more record highs than record lows. With some programming and exploration of the data source, it might be possible to automate the process for any zip code in the United States.
Helping others, whether my neighbors or across the country, amplifies my impacts, and it also opens communications for benefits to flow both ways. Part of me living more sustainably will be to report on my progress and reach out to help others.
Finally, we all have to get involved. Our governments need our participation if we are going to change enough to be truly sustainable. Individual actions will be reinforced by turning out to demand systemic changes and national policies to promote less waste and more cycling of materials between industries.
In short, I have been thinking about joining Gardening Toad for some time. It is not simply a matter of saying I’m with you. There are many things I can do, and to check my progress, I need to present what I’m doing. It won’t be easy. I will be embarrassed and make mistakes. At least I’m trying.
Please join us for a sustainable and equitable future.