I recently read a question posted on the Greeniacs Forum page that essentially asked, “how green are you willing to go?” I find this question intriguing—why would I feel uncomfortable doing some things but not others? My response is twofold: societal pressures and legal pressures, which undoubtedly go hand in hand. Laws are in place to enforce actions that many of us would agree are socially unacceptable, but we also act a certain way because of how others view us. Let’s focus on these factors as it relates to sustainable living… It may be more sustainable to never wash my clothes or bathe, but I do both (usually), because people will say I smell–societal pressure. It may be a statement of sustainability to chain oneself to a tree, and protest deforestation, but there are legal measures to prevent such actions.
To answer the question, “how far are you willing to go,” you really need to figure out what you are comfortable with, your limits, and how many norms you are willing to break along the way. This article highlights movements that promote sustainable living, with various degrees of counter-culture or even radical living elements. You can always stop reading if you become uncomfortable…
Food Not Bombs: This is a loose nit organization that is located in more than 1,000 cities around the world. Members of this organization aim to “share free vegan and vegetarian meals with the hungry… to protest war, poverty and the destruction of the environment.”1 In my opinion, this amazing volunteer organization is the epitome of community service, but they cook food that is deemed by society to be “unfit” for sale and consumption. There is an enormous gap in this country between how much food we produce and how many people go hungry. Food Not Bombs aims to close that gap. They receive donations from local bakeries and grocery stores, which is great, but the more people who get involved in organizations like these the more people we can prevent from going hungry. In fact, as much as 40-50% of all food harvested in the United States is thrown away.2 So if you want to go against the current system of food waste, and enjoy the added bonus of feeding the hungry in your community, volunteer at your nearest Food Not Bombs chapter, or start your own!3
Dumpster Diving: Want to be a little more active in your rerouting of the food stream? You can get out there and keep the food from going to the dump yourself. Some give it catchy names like “freeganism,” but you are really just getting stuff that is thrown away for free. Many are less comfortable with this prospect, both because it may be illegal, and because the food was thrown away for a reason, right? Well, that is up to you to decide—this is a perfect example of “how far are you willing to go?” Check your local laws (usually by county) to see if it is illegal to dumpster dive, you will often be considered trespassing, but if it checks out clean, or you think there are more important things in life than seemingly arbitrary legal barriers, then jump on it! Of course, safety first! If a dumpster looks particularly foul or unsafe, stay out. If you smell chemicals, stay away—as some restaurants/stores pour bleach on their food to deter dumpster diving, how sick is that? Let’s also remember to be respectful—do not make a mess, clean up after yourself, and if a store manager ever asks you to leave you should respect his or her wishes. For more details on dumpster diving, check out: “Dumpster Diving”.
Critical Mass: If you prefer a more public display of your beliefs then Critical Mass—a mass cycling event—may be right up your alley. Some call their events a bicycle protest, although organizers (if such people exist) insist Critical Mass gatherings should be viewed as “celebrations and spontaneous gatherings, and not as protests or organized demonstrations.”5 Riders “take back the streets” in over 300 cities world-wide, usually occurring on the last Friday of every month.6 Originating in San Francisco in 1992, the social movement has spread around the world, and enormous events have since occurred in London, New York City, and Budapest.7 Since a large mass of bikes can get out of hand, some have argued that Critical Mass does more harm than good for the image of bikers. People driving cars at the time of the event are often frustrated by long waits and congestion caused by the sometimes enormous mass of bikes. In response to these complaints, less invasive groups have formed around the country such as RideCivil, formed in Seattle in late 2007. RideCivil focuses “on encouraging civility between motorists, pedestrians and cyclists.”8 If this interests you, go grab your bike and head to the streets with your friends, and show off in your community how fun and sustainable biking can be.
Living “Off the Grid”: Want to really separate yourself from the mainstream? When you think of the essential expenses in life, what comes to mind? Water, electricity, gas, sewer, waste—these all are considered to be essential utilities in most communities. However, living off-the-grid aims to make your home completely self-sufficient and independent from any outside infrastructure. On-site electricity can come from renewable energy generators such as solar, wind, or geothermal. Rainwater can be collected as a water source, stored and filtered, or one can rely on nearby water sources such as streams and lakes, but filtration is a must. The two main reasons to move off the grid are to save money and to reduce your carbon footprint. Nick Rosen has written extensively on this subject. He has two books, and his website off-grid.net can provide interesting information for even the most casual pursuer of this lifestyle.
Cooperative housing: Care for something a little less intense, while still having amazing environmental benefits and other perks found in no other living situation? Try cooperative housing! This style of housing can go in any number of directions. Something as simple as people sharing a house together, splitting-up chores, buying food together in bulk, and working together for common goals is an example of cooperative living. There have been several varieties of this living style through history, and often times the word “commune” comes to mind. While “commune” may have some radical connotations from the 1960’s, most current-day “communes” are simply dedicated to the principals of “communal economy, consensus decision-making, non-hierarchical structures, and ecological living.”11 Other variations on this same theme include “co-housing, Kibbutzim, and Student co-ops.” Check them out here: http://wiki.ic.org/wiki/Category:Types_of_Community. I am fortunate enough to be a part of Davis Student Co-op, which you can learn more about here: http://daviswiki.org/Davis_Student_Co-op.
If you do not have time for a living commitment like a co-op, then consider something smaller where you can work with people and still make a difference, like community gardens. These are great opportunities, and you receive many similar benefits to living in a co-op, such as working with others, greening your community, eating fresh and organic fare, and having the satisfaction of watching something grow as you care for it.
Do whatever you consider to be a little radical, only in the name of the environment of course!I would highly recommend these sorts of activities for anyone who is looking to make a difference while pushing themselves into new comfort zones. Take whatever opportunities are made available to you. If there is a community garden nearby, get involved. If you are looking for a change of lifestyle, consider joining a cooperative housing community, maybe even one that is off-the-grid. Or, if you cannot get entirely off-the-grid, do what you can, and be radical by installing a gray water system on your home. Go join a spontaneous bicycle parade, cook a community meal, or jump in a dumpster–anything that demonstrates how much you care about the environment. And while you are at it, hopefully you gain the constructive attention of a few others around you, by demonstrating just how easy and fun it is to be a “radical” environmentalist.
