Tuesday 26 June 2012

So why don't we throw in the trowel?

The alternative to home sustainability is no longer possible. I have no romantic ideals about over consumerism and rampant resource use. I could not tolerate living a life without understanding that it has energy constraints.  I cannot with any degree of composure eat meat seven days a week or create enough rubbish to choke a river or two. I want to do the right thing and if that means eating more zucchini than I’d like. Then we all will J

Our family’s personal contribution to saving the world won’t amount to much. But we are doing what we can. And sustainability at home, even stripped of its romantic overpackaging is still pretty good. We might have to spend time spreading poo, carting around mulch and pruning, but the taste of a real, dribble juice down your chin apricot for those few weeks we get to eat them are worth it. If it means we have a glut of them and I spend ten consecutive nights preserving them on a wood fired stove. I know it’s not romantic, but I do enjoy pulling them out of the pantry in the middle of winter and feeling thankful for our previous efforts. Sustainability at home has its own rewards but I don’t need rose coloured glasses and lyrical phrases to clog up the truth of it all.  And I certainly will never need to put a nappy on a bloody chook. I hope you don’t either.

I also hope you enjoyed that series of raves.
I think somewhere I can dig out a rave or two of being an eco-worrier - interested in having your inbox subjected to more?

6 comments:

Sharon said...

It is hard work, and you often wonder why you bother sometimes, like when the goats eat your trees, or the chooks decide they prefer the vegy garden to their chook yard, or....

BUT it doesn't take long to remember why you do bother. Its times like when I get out potatoes from our potatoe bin (6 months and still going), and I know that they didn't cost the earth to produce (just my back really), and eat them with home made sauce. Or make some cheese from our own milk, or wine from the blackberries or swap a jar of jam for a bag of locally grown oranges. Its so good, it well and truly makes up for the tough times (even when there are lots of those... damn goats....)

knutty knitter said...

Pretty much what I say here too. And the apricots are very well received in the middle of winter.

viv in nz

Jo said...

I'm glad you haven't thrown in the trowel, I have learnt so much from you, and other people like you who do the research, and then actually live the life.
I would love to hear about eco-worrying...

pipnvik said...

Linda,
between Yourself and Gavin greeningofgavin.blogspot.com) I dont need to go anywhere else to learn something or have a chuckle with you,

Keep up the good work

Phil

Sue said...

Please keep on keeping on! I discovered your blog only recently, but I'm enjoying it. You honesty and humor are wonderful!as for your take on Eco-worrying, I'd love to read about it.

Michael said...

Linda,

What a great list! I hear echoes of this in my thoughts all the time.

Even though I am nowhere near, as far along the path, and it is hard work more often than I'd like, it is still a treat to go outside and pick fresh carrots or silverbeet or broad beans (or anything that survives in fact) for the pot.

Cheers