Sustainable Living In Your Neighborhood

Ever heard of Northwest Earth Institute? Neither had I until a neighbor recently brought a discussion course into my life for eight weeks. Jeanne and Dick Roy founded Northwest Earth Institute in 1993, aiming to take earth-centered programs into work places. Their vision was that employees would gather, in discussion groups, to consider the implications of living at a time when human activities were negatively impacting the environment in various ways. They developed a series of discussion courses, including Exploring Deep Ecology, Voluntary Simplicity, Choices for Sustainable Living and Healthy Children-Healthy Planet. Through word of mouth, the courses expanded from Portland workplaces into homes and communities around the US. As a volunteer, my neighbor Lorien organized a discussion group with 12 people from our neighborhood. Every other Thursday evening, we gather for an hour to discuss what a sustainable lifestyle means and how it applies to our everyday lives. I have since benefited from the discussion group in so many ways.

I have gotten to know a number of neighbors who are normally on "passing-by-and-nodding" terms. Who'd have known all these people around me are so passionate about sustainable living! Through the discussion guided by the NEI material, I have learned many tools for living a sustainable life. I have had in-depth conversations regarding practical every-day dilemmas and solutions. Above all, I have gained a sense of camaraderie, knowing people who share the same passion live within a few blocks of my house. It's especially important when I feel that nothing I do will make any difference at all. If every neighborhood had a discussion group like this one, it would make a huge impact.

The discussion course calls for just one hour every other week. The inspiration from that one hour, however, stays with the participants for a long time. Some example topics are:
Communities - collectively communities can positively or negatively impact the environment We were amazed that most of us lived within blocks from each other but had somehow managed to never meet face to face. Then again, it really isn't that surprising. We get into our cars in the morning to go to work and drive our cars straight back into our garages in the evenings. How do we get to know each other aside from annual block parties? A community garden is an excellent venue. A 25 foot by 25 foot plot can nurture relationships, as well as fresh tomatoes and rosemary. Another suggestion is a neighborhood tool bank. Honestly, how often do we use our ladders, circular saws, or sanders? I for one would love to trade toys with neighbors every week instead of buying new ones.

Food - understand how our eating habits may impact the natural world With industrialized agricultural practices and increased processing and bioengineering of our food, we are far removed from any knowledge about the source of our food and how it is produced. For the most part, as consumers, we are not aware of where our food comes from. Where are our vegetables grown? How are our chickens raised? When I told my 4-year old daughter that the stores did not make the milk she drank everyday, she was genuinely skeptical of my statement. It took a trip to Hidden Villa (a wonderful local educational farm) to convince her that cows actually turned hay into milk. Many of the study group members are passionate devotes of composting and gardening. But if you, like me, are incapable of growing anything in your backyard, is Community Supported Agriculture a good option for us? You bet. Different study group can suggest different ways to participate in their local food supply.

Purchasing - consider how we can create a sustainable world with each dollar we spend or don't spend It's interesting that we live in a society where buying is no longer simply a means to obtain goods. Purchasing has been built up to be a form of entertainment, a type of vacation, a cultural activity, or even a means to happiness. Does more stuff really bring us more happiness or even just contentment? Benjamin Franklin famously wrote, "Money never made a man happy, yet nor will it. There is nothing in its nature to produce happiness. The more a man has, the more he wants. Instead of filling a vacuum, it makes one." How do we find fulfillment without continuously acquiring material goods?

The study group has provided all of us with tools and inspiration to live healthier and greener. One of the group members has switched to a tankless water heater(1). For families with children in the neighborhood, we are setting up a monthly toy swapping day, when participating families bring a couple of toys to trade with others. It's like Christmas every month. Moreover some of our study group members are planning to work with our city council to develop an environmental sustainability strategy for the next 10 years. While we all enjoy learning and discussing about sustainable living, we are more excited about taking real actions and energized by the impact we will be able to make. Just imagine if every neighborhood does this…

For more information on NEI discussion groups, or to start your own local sustainable living group, visit www.nwei.org.

(1) Tankless water heater - Water is heated instantly, but only for as long as the hot water is being used. Conventional tank water heaters heat water 24 hours a day. A tankless water heater eliminates the need to store hot water, thus saves energy.

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