STUFF, STUFF, STUFF!

I watch a lot of films and read a lot of books and magazines. I have to. I study sustainability, and am president of an organization that promotes sustainability. There is admittedly more to learn than I can handle.

The topics are not new; people in the know have been studying, predicting, writing, making films for years now. Some of us are just beginning to listen, feeling the creep of dread as each news story of cataclysmic weather and each demonstration and each economic crisis comes to our attention.

One easy and entertaining way to get information fast is to watch Annie Leonard’s “Story of …” videos. Each is only about 7 minutes long, and provides a basic explanation of the issue being illuminated. Her first such video was “The Story of Stuff,” but I discover she’s gone much further. There are now short videos on: Story of Broke, Story of Citizens United vs. FEC, Story of Electronics, Story of Cosmetics, Story of Bottled Water, Story of Cap and Trade. Leonard is optimistic, obviously believeing we can make the changes necessary to save our necks.

These videos are cut-down, fast-moving, and cover just the basics, giving me a framework to understand what assaults me daily in my reading and viewing. I have “favorited” the site, and watch a video or two each week. It’s a nice break from the usual. Here is where you can find them. You will be able to click on each movie from the top menu bar, MOVIES.

http://www.storyofstuff.org/about/about-the-project/

Speaking Clearly

Sustainability talk involves using some terms repeatedly, and it sometimes takes work to be sure we use them intentionally.For instance, global warming and climate change are often
used interchangeably, but that is inaccurate.

A child might ask why we don’t just drink more lemonade if Earth is warmed up by a couple of degrees. But we have come to understand that global warming is what causes the climate change we are experiencing, including extreme weather such as flooding, drought, tornados, hurricanes, earthquakes, and the demise of biodiversity. So we adults know when to use each of these terms as we write, speak, and think.

I have discovered a splendid explanation of greenhouse gases, a term I knew a little about, but didn’t really understand clearly enough to feel comfortable throwing around. I could easily say that our automobiles and airplanes emit greenhouse gases, but which ones and how they work was a bit foggy. Here is a website that explains it simply enough for even me to grasp, and I may read it a couple of times to seat it firmly in my mind:

http://greenliving.about.com/od/greenlivingbasics/a/Greenhouse-Gas.htm?nl=1

After you’ve informed yourself about greenhouse gases, or confirmed what you already knew, think on another word I seem to be using all the time, defining it each instance to be sure people know what I’m talking about: sustainability. Are there ways I can avoid continually salting what I write and say with this word? Is the word becoming a snoozer, lulling people into inattention every time they hear it? If so, what is another way to convey its meaning in less than three sentences? Or do we need to keep using it and harping on it until enough people join our efforts to make a difference?

Sustainability is a good word (an exact word, if one consults the dictionary). I just wonder if it can be changed off sometimes with another expression, and I’d welcome suggestions. Email us with your thoughts.

SLOW LIVING

Here’s a video that exemplified the acceptance of time passing. It is brief (just a few minutes long) and beautiful. We don’t need bridges such as this in Norwood, but we do need to accept that it will take time to accomplish all we need to in saving Earth and making our community sustainable. Also a good reminder of the value of teaching the young.

http://www.snotr.com/video7331/The_Living_Bridge

Upgrading the Wardrobe

Old slacks and jeans become trendy handbags; skirts out of style become kid’s garments; clothes that no longer fit become the perfect size; out of date blouses and shirts get modernized; an unsuitable item with nonetheless pleasing fabric (possibly from a thrift shop) becomes something attractive to use or wear; scraps become baby dolls and lap throws.

Some Together Yes members have begun looking into this as a partial solution to economic challenges and waste reduction. Why not join us, and share information and ideas? If you can’t sew or lack the equipment, join anyway, and we’ll help you.

There are many possibilities: the sharing of how-to’s; get-togethers to learn techniques and strategies; expert advice (yes, a professional seamstress is willing to teach, though those of us with sewing experience will be fine teachers as well); finding sewing equipment, materials, and notions for which we pay little or nothing; helping local teens repurpose clothing; workshops offered for any of the above.

Always buying new is not necessary, and it is wasteful. Together, we can find some clothing solutions. Maybe not just clothing either—what about making kitchen towels, curtains, tote bags, and pillows from old fabrics?

Email us by clicking the Contact button or at sustain@tgryes.org to make suggestions, ask questions, indicate a willingness to learn and/or teach (professional experience not necessary) more about this initiative. If you don’t have time or inclination for sewing, perhaps you’d like to help organize workshops and initiatives to make this available for others.

Saving Food, Money, Health

We are interested in drying, freezing, and canning food. It is money saving and healthy. We can control what goes into our food (no chemical additives), and it will support local agriculture. This is a sustainable practice. We welcome participation from Norwood residents, as well as residents of surrounding towns.

Let’s talk about it together. We can have a newsletter with advice and questions; we can organize initiatives such as small groups to buy produce in bulk from farmers, even get together for canning “bees” to help one another process foods. Some have suggested a preserved-food swap, where we exchange a jar of jam for a fair amount of dried tomatoes, or a jar of bread and butter pickles for some canned peaches.

Please email us if you’re interested in learning more, whether it’s to think about initiatives or just to share information and ask questions in a newsletter. Those who know how can teach others. The short New England growing season is begun; let’s not waste it. Use the Contact button or email us at: sustain@tgryes.org.