Extreme Green Living
October 15, 2007 by Jennifer
So, I decided that in honor of Blog Action Day the only place a normal green living blog could go is up. That means to the next shade of green — extreme.
I’m not so extreme here at Tree Hugging Family.
That’s because I’m afraid too many families and individuals underestimate how important just one small earth-saving contribution can be. I do believe that all the many small steps we do will add up to a whole lot of green-minded living. In addition I know families are busy and that going green can be hard to plain overwhelming. Here at Tree Hugging Family I’m trying to make that easier for families. It would go against the cause to post extreme green tactics.
However, today of all days is the day to blog about the environment so today for one day only extreme green will be taking center stage.
And now… How to be extreme green or in other terms leave a net zero impact upon the earth. I’ll also chart which things I myself do and don’t do (hint: I’m green but not extreme).
Just being born leaves an impact so you can’t get that back but here’s what you can do if you’re into extreme green.
1. Have no children
Why: Children, simply by being born use resources and leave a huge environmental impact on the planet. Not to mention that the world is overcrowded and not sharing the resources we already have all that well.
Do I do this?: Obviously no. I have a child and even maybe want more. To me this is more an emotional issue rather than an environmental issue. But at the core one baby is a problem as far as the environment goes.
2. Live off grid in a perfectly green home
How: This means you’d find land that won’t be harmed for your home. You’d need to build with all green and or recycled and renewable resources — this means you’d end up building the home mostly yourself as well because contractors and others create a bigger energy drain. You cannot hurt vegetation to build your home or you should at least move the vegetation to a new spot. Off grid means you only use power you can create yourself from natural renewable resources — solar, wind, water, etc.
Do I do this?: No; although I did build a passive solar home with the help of only maybe three-four others. It was hard. I do want to live off grid though. This is extreme to a point but not that extreme because it’s attainable for most people they just don’t realize it. I will live off grid one day.
3. Get rid of your car and only use transportation you power yourself
Why: We all know cars create massive issues with the environment — some of which we will never be able to repair. Cars are bad and public transportation creates energy waste and produces horrid toxins so that’s out. Get a bike or scooter or even skates!
Do I do this?: No, I have a car. Right now I don’t think I could manage without one either. I don’t live within walking distance of grocery stores and my life is too busy for public transportation which is sort of sketchy where I live.
4. Eat only organic and locally grown foods and drinks
Why : The why is simple enough; it takes energy to transport food and not just a little. If you consider a pineapple from an island we’re talking massive amounts of energy just to get it over the ocean. Not to mention all the ground transport. Organic is the way to go because our bodies don’t need harmful toxins and pesticides in them. This means most specialty and out of season foods are out.
Do I do this?: No, not to the extreme. In a word ‘coffee’. As far as I know they don’t grow coffee where I live so if I were extreme green coffee would be out. We do eat a lot of organic because it is better for you and I try to buy local when possible. But we aren’t perfect (extreme) and sometimes buy stuff like fruit snacks (bad) and non-organic dairy, not soy cheese (super, super, triple bad).
So. let these settle in your gut and I’ll be back later with more extreme green living tips. Believe me there’s harder than what’s above.
Don’t forget to visit the other Blog Action Day b5 bloggers!
I have #1 covered. The rest aren’t as easy : )
Peggy, you are funny. Some of the extreme stuff is hard. In a perfect world we’d all do all of it all the time. But I like that people try. That’s something.
I’m not as green as I would like to be. I reuse as much as possible, replaced all my bulbs, and try to leave no impact. This is, my husband sneezes and I get pregnant. Gah. At least my kids will learn better strategies than my generation did from our parents.
This is why I love this blog, Jennifer. I love that you are not all in-your-face extreme. It’s very easy to get the impression that living green is either all or nothing (extreme or huge environment-killer). But that, as you’ve enlightened us, is so not true. Thanks for keeping it real and showing average families what they can do to help…even if just a little.
Hey Lib; that’s my goal. I try not to be in-your-face. I think there needs to be a decent amount of in-your-face when it comes to sustainability to be honest. But overall in my experience that does little to help people change. It’s too much to say “sell your car” or “turn off the electricity” all at once. I think people on a green journey will succeed if they have small steps that can help them lead up to a much bigger idea.
Julie! Hey, long-time-no-contact (we’re both busy huh). That’s funny about your hubby. But you bring up an excellent point. When I was a kid we turned off the lights but it was to save money. Now my son will say, “Turn those off, it’s wasting earth energy” his terms aren’t perfectly accurate but he’s thinking about it. This generation of youth are are biggest asset if we play it right.
I have got to stop by FR; I’ve barely been anywhere lately
Hope you’re well and thanks for stopping by.
It doesn’t get us anywhere to adopt an extreme position on anything, it is counterproductive, as these tend to be based on more emotional rather than rational arguments. I am a dyed in the wool tree hugger and environmentalist, however, going green to the extreme as outlined in the above list of zero ecological impact dynamics are wholly impractical, and patently ilogical. Work towards a much greener approach to life than the poor status quo, in steps and measures that are achievable and positive.
My family has been without a car for almost three years, by choice. We lived in the suburbs with sketchy public transportation and I had a full time job and two children. At first it was tough for sure but now we are pros at it. in fact we have extended that line of thinking to other things. We try so hard to live zero impact and it is paying off. Can’t wait until we are completly self sufficient and off the grid.