I took a drive this morning to go look at some land that a friend has for sale. I puttered along in my biodiesel/vegetable oil car thinking how I have been paying $3-3.50/gallon of biodiesel for a year now (when we can’t make our own) and gas has finally reached the same price. I think everyone has felt that this was coming, no matter what the cause of price increase might be. I realize that most people in this country are totally dependant on gasoline to help run their daily lives (myself included), but I can’t say that I am not glad that the prices of gas are so high. Maybe it is just what this country needs to make a change for the better. We have traded in our souls for the ‘convenience’ of a system of travel that cannot go on indefinitely. And Biodiesel isn’t the answer either. We would just be putting a bandaid on the wound and not really dealing with the problem. I realize that I am preaching to the choir here, but I feel it must be said again… we have got to start supporting our communities!!! If we bought locally produced food and clothing, if we rode our bikes, walked, or car pooled, if we lived more sustainable lifestyles in harmony with earth and her cycles, if we were all a little more present, we wouldn’t be in this mess. Change must happen! So, here is the challenge:
1- grow just one plant your house that produced some food (think tomato, lemon, potato, herbs, banana, whatever!) and then share that food with your neighbors!
2 – If you are going to eat out, eat at the local mom and pop restaurants instead of the chains, and hound them to buy their food from local farmers (then, no trucks needing gas to haul our food from California).
3 – buy recycled clothing or make your own (there is nothing wrong with a thrift store special!)
4 – get out and walk or ride your bikes as much as possible. If this just can’t be done, than extend a hand to a neighbor and offer to carpool (to work, for errands…). Or try to get all your erands done in one outing instead of multiple trips.
I know there is so much more that can be listed here, but I think this is a good start!
Doing all my errands at once is my current goal…not an easy one with mama brain 🙂 We found a branch of our bank/food store/pharmacy all in one new plaza so that should help. Today is corner store and po. I’ll bundle bank and food shopping for the picnic tomorrow and try to catch DH so he can stop at the feed store on his way home.
We are doing the same: bundling stops in order to accomplish more with one trip. I cannot agree more with your stand on thrifted items. Yesterday, stopped at goodwill between two stops and found two brand new blankets for $4 each and sheets to make window quilts to help reduce fuel usage this winter.
i’m gonna post your challenge on my blog to get the word out! i think this is a terrific idea!!
1-cold frame planted!
2-we don’t eat out
3-make our own, thrift or don’t buy anything
4-unfortunately a car is needed here in the great north boonies. If worse comes to worse one day I’ll need to find a bike I can have my nearly 6yr old on with me as she refuses to learn how to ride a bike, then we can make the 10 mile trek to the nearest store.
great list!