TreeHugger Hit It

Here's another lazy copied post for you. I think this TreeHugger post captures the heart of the current environmental movement - or at least my current mindset. Here's part of the post:

"TreeHugger was conceived with the intent of showcasing those cool products and services which could help the hesitant move toward a more sustainable lifestyle, without feeling they’d have to revert to hippydom. But from the outset we were very aware that it is simply not possible to buy a greener life. Money can open up choices, but it cannot be traded for core values or attitudes. And this is one of the determining factors for the dilemma we find ourselves in. We are conditioned by advertising, TV, cinema, and so on, to believe that more stuff will make us blissful. If the glow of owning a new plasma TV wears off, we jet away to the Bahamas, or buy another pair of shoes to fill that gnawing happiness void. (It is the materials extraction, manufacturing, distribution, use and subsequent disposal of all this desired ‘stuff’ that is at the root of our environment (and social) woes. Yet, while it has been long studied and reported that there is no link between wealth and happiness, we still pursue them. Recent related research now suggests that wealth and longevity are not good travelling buddies either. The US is up the top of list when it comes to Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the measure of a country’s ability to spend money. But it ranks way down in 30th spot for life expectancy."

While my family still buys our share of stuff, we're doing some things differently: really thinking about whether or not we need the item, looking for the most environmentally sound choices, looking for something made locally, and looking for the item used on Freecycle, Craig's List, or Ebay. It is difficult to fit in (keep up with the Jones') when you show up with a beaten and faded slide for your kids while the neighbors have a new Rainbow Play Set, but the feeling of doing something positive for the environment while saving money is really starting to feel good.

Challenge - Truckless

Today is my last day with Pinky, Barbie Truck, Pink Panther; my 1984 "raspberry" Chevy S-10, 4-cylinder, bare bones, manual, no tape or CD, regular cab, short box, truck. We've decided to attempt to get by with 1 vehicle for a few months and see how it goes.

Honestly, it's more about economics that ecologics right now, and the main reason we can pull it off is that my wife will be able to simply walk next door for work starting Monday. Nevertheless, a reduction of dependence on personal vehicles is one of the holy grails of treehugging. I'll let you know how it turns out.

Trucks and Treehugging don't go hand in hand very well - or do they? This idea has really been bothering me for quite a while. The organic or natural lifestyle encourages composting, mulching, gardening, reusing spent materials, fixing things instead of throwing them away, etc. My little pickemup is just perfect for all of that. Last year I made many trips to the municipal compost site for the free biosolids (yep: crap), composted mulch, and lime. I made many trips to the lumber store to build a play set (used composite decking with recycled plastic), and made bunches of trips to nurseries for plants and topsoil. How will I do that with 1 family sedan between us?

You might say, "Buy a hybrid or electric." OK, I say, find me a truck. Other than a few used prototypes or fleet pickups one can find laying around (usually they need new battery packs $$$), the only pickup I know of is the GM Full-size made right here in Fort Wayne. The problem? Well, the cost ($30,000 base) is the first problem. The second problem is the mileage is only improved by 2 mpg city driving. So we're talking peanuts. I could go with an E85 - equipped Silverado for around $20,000. Then the problem becomes making sure I always have enough gas to make it to the few (but growing) stations that carry it.

So making trucks more efficient, hence environmentally friendly, is one of the big challenges I see in making treehugging more practical.

The First

I want to discuss, hopefully with more than ... well ... myself, how a guy like me can keep working towards a sustainable existence while raising two small kids while living in the suburbs while working in foundries.

For the past 2+ years my absolute obsession has been by kids. My little man is now over 2 years old and is an absolute universe of fun, adventure, emotion, and amazement every day. My second, a little angel, is just over 2 months and has a heartbreaker's smile. My wife of 4.5 years is the engine and control system of our little spaceship of a family.

We live in an association in the suburbs of Fort Wayne, IN. Don't be impressed by "association". Our home is only 1350 sq. ft. with little attic and no basement. Our lot is something like 1/4 acre. The home is 4 years old and in good shape. Very little landscaping until we moved in in June and started tearing up the lawn.

Foundries. Are you starting to piece this non-sequitor blog title together? I work for a company that currently runs 5 gray and ductile iron foundries in the US. Foundries are of course widely (mis)understood and extremely dirty and polluting. Ok, they are dirty, and do pollute, but less than one might think. Less polluting, that is; they are usually quite dirty.

My intention in the forthcoming posts is to explore the challenges that my blog title invites, and hopefully solicit solutions for and discussions on those challenges.