What am I doing, exactly?
I am spending the month of October 2010 working to eat a diet of local foods (rules to follow).
Why am I doing this?
Because it's homework. No, really. I'm taking a one-credit pass/fail course this quarter reading and discussing Colin Beavan's book No Impact Man. The class project is:
Well, because I'm a foodie. And reducing my carbon emissions is something I don't want to try and figure out how to do right now. And because, since I'm not rich or even fat of wallet, eating local is going to mean I'm buying more used goods than usual (Goodwill is my clothing store of choice or necessity) and producing less trash (can't buy junk = can't throw junk away). And did I mention that I really love food?
I participated in a CSA this summer for the first time. This CSA, to be exact. I just got my last share of food last week, and I can't wait for next year. I had a bag of fresh produce every week and cooked my ass off to use it before it spoiled. I ate like a queen, or a farmer, and loved it.
Who Am I? No, Really?
I'm nearing 30 and going back to school because getting a degree seems like a smart thing to do, plus I would spend the rest of my life as a student if I could make a living that way. I'm self-employed, freelance, and right now I'm lucky to live within walking distance of Local Roots, which is going to be one of my best resources this month. If I'd known this project was coming up, I'd have started some beer brewing last month so I'd have locally-produced beer to imbibe as well. I'm all out of homebrew.
Choose one stage of the no-impact project (i.e., producing no trash, pollution or carbon emissions, eating only fresh food, or buying only used goods) and try to make as little impact as possible in that area for approximately four weeks. Keep a journal of your progress toward that goal. Entries do not have to be long and detailed. They should, however, show an effort to stay on track, even if slippage occurs. Try to pay attention to and note the social impact of this new behavior. For example, are you proud—or embarrassed—to live this way? Do your friends and family support or ridicule you? How does social pressure to behave one way or another affect your determination to have less impact?Why did I choose fresh/local foods rather than something cool like buying only used goods?
Well, because I'm a foodie. And reducing my carbon emissions is something I don't want to try and figure out how to do right now. And because, since I'm not rich or even fat of wallet, eating local is going to mean I'm buying more used goods than usual (Goodwill is my clothing store of choice or necessity) and producing less trash (can't buy junk = can't throw junk away). And did I mention that I really love food?
I participated in a CSA this summer for the first time. This CSA, to be exact. I just got my last share of food last week, and I can't wait for next year. I had a bag of fresh produce every week and cooked my ass off to use it before it spoiled. I ate like a queen, or a farmer, and loved it.
Who Am I? No, Really?
I'm nearing 30 and going back to school because getting a degree seems like a smart thing to do, plus I would spend the rest of my life as a student if I could make a living that way. I'm self-employed, freelance, and right now I'm lucky to live within walking distance of Local Roots, which is going to be one of my best resources this month. If I'd known this project was coming up, I'd have started some beer brewing last month so I'd have locally-produced beer to imbibe as well. I'm all out of homebrew.
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