In the wee hours of the morning, the federal government shutdown. It's being described as simply a partial shutdown, and I suppose that's true only because 9 of the 15 Cabinet level departments are closing, and not all 15 (DOJ, the military, etc are all funded in a previous bill). but it minimizes the disastrous effects for people, recreation, the outdoors, and public lands.
The Department of the Interior is now closed.
That includes the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), the National Park Service (NPS), the US Geological Survey (USGS), the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to name a few big agencies with the Interior umbrella. The US Forest Service (within the Department of Agriculture) is also closed.
For the general public, this means that public lands are no longer open. And if there are areas that remain accessible, there are no visitor services or staff available. Visitor centers, bathrooms, campgrounds, and the like are all closed.
But more importantly in my mind, is that all operations for management, restoration, and conservation are now interrupted because of the whims of politicians.
National wildlife refuges, which often support wintering waterfowl and waterbird populations, are managed to provide optimal conditions for these animals and have to cease management operations.
The US Forest Service, which manages national forests and provides the fire response team for public lands, is closed. All management operations are suspended.
Coastal restoration projects and management at many of the coastal NWRs must stop. These places are often highly dynamic and fluctuate daily and all efforts are stopped.
These are just a few examples. There is much field research being conducted on federal property, by federal employees, contractors, grad students, and nonprofit organizations.
The longterm effects of the shutdown may ultimately be minimal, but we don't know that to be true yet. Interrupting research, management, and conservation activities will have ramifications. It's not as flashy as "the national parks are closed" headlines but in reality I think it's the more important aspect of this. We'll likely never know how the government shutdown affected individual projects but from my own experience, even a week or two interruption in data collection can have disastrous effects for any study.
Operating on a series of continuing resolutions is no way to operate a budget. Budgeting 101 is to have a plan LONG in advance. So not only do we need a plan now, to get back on track and to continue conservation efforts and land management, but we need a longterm plan for the future too.
Saturday, December 22, 2018
Monday, December 3, 2018
Taming the Mississippi, Part 1: Wetlands Perceptions
When I wrote my CRMS post recently, I started to fully realize just how many modifications people have made to the Mississippi River's floodplain. Basically everywhere has been modified in some way to meet human's perceived needs. The river has been dammed, leveed, channeled, and diverted.
The environmental perspective in North America has very distinct time periods: native/indigenous peoples, colonial period, the agriculture boom, and environmentalism. Wetlands and people both worldwide, and the interactions probably follow similar lines throughout history. However I'm going to focus on North America first, then specifically around the Mississippi River ultimately.
Native/Indigenous Peoples and Wetland Use
Wetlands and indigenous people are not a solely North American existence. This interaction can be found worldwide.
In Australia, wetlands are central to indigenous lives. "Wetlands have significance as ceremonial and initiation sites, traditional hunting and gathering grounds and as boundary markers." [source] Wetlands are revered and respected, but also utilized. They know that wetlands are not without use and incorporated aspects of wetland plants and animals into everyday life. "Almost all wetland plants and animals have some form of traditional use as food, fibre, containers, tools, weapons, transport, shelter and medicine. Many wetland species have significance as totems, symbols that acknowledge specific birds, animals, rocks or flora species, and are considered sacred by their owners." [source]
Little has been written about Native Americans and wetlands, historically. But in general, the native people have a great respect for the natural world and view life as being a part of the natural world - to live among nature, not command nature. This mentality later appears as a major part of Aldo Leopold's Land Ethics.
In coastal Louisiana specifically, where this tale will ultimately wind up, Native Americans have a long standing history with wetlands. By a default in geography if nothing else. The bounty of wetlands enabled a subsistence lifestyle for natives. Resources are plentiful - fish, crabs, shrimp, oysters, nutria (now), alligators, turtles, muskrat, otter, and waterfowl.
Today, there are 4 federally recognized tribes remaining: Chitimacha Tribe, Jena Band of Choctaw, Coushatta Tribe, Tunica-Biloxi Indian Tribe [source]. But not all tribes are federally recognized and many of them live in the coastal wetlands they've always called home. They include the United Houma Nation, the Pointe-au-Chien tribe, and and the Isle de Jean Charles Band of the Biloxi-Chitimacha-Choctaw tribe. Of these only the United Houma Nation is even recognized by the state of Louisiana. They've formed the First People's Conservation Council. We will come back to these dilemma in future parts of this series.
Wetlands during the Colonial Period
Starting in the early 1600s, settlers from Europe starting arriving on the shores of the future United States and Canada. Powerful European countries tried to acquire land and get colonies settled to secure their place on the new continent, and thus the colonies and future countries were started.
People viewed wetlands as altogether undesirable. "During the 1700's, wetlands were regarded as swampy lands that bred diseases, restricted overland travel, impeded the production of food and fiber, and generally were not useful for frontier survival." [source]
The primary environmental perspective in that time frame was that land was meant to be used by people, and that humans should exert control over their environment. This is in direct opposition to Native Americans' respectful treatment and coexistence. So because wetlands had no economic value they could see, hindered travel and food production, and harbored disease - they had to go.
So many wetlands in this time period were drained, filled, and converted into farmland across the fledgling country. Settlers moved down the east coast into river valleys doing this all over the land. By the 1780s colonizers were as far south as Georgia and heading west. The Louisiana purchase in 1803 greatly expanded the size of the new United States. Land was acquired further and further westward and people migrated west as well. The pattern continued - land was acquired, people migrated, wetlands were destroyed.
This destruction of wetlands by filling and draining was often described as "reclamation" to make it sound good, honorable, and legitimate. Reclamation: "the reclaiming of desert, marshy, or submerged areas or other wasteland for cultivation or other use." [source]. And probably at the time, it did seem good, honorable, and legitimate. But through the lens of 2018 environmental issues it seems horribly irresponsible.
Wetlands versus Agriculture
As lands were settled, wetlands were converted from what they perceived to be useless land into usable farm land. Starting in the mid 1800s technical advances allowed for more widespread wetland conversions. Large navigation canals were dug, smaller natural waterways were dredged, and larger farm equipment was developed to be pulled behind horses.
In the midst of all this, the US had the Civil War (1861-1865). The ability to move large equipment across/through wetlands was a problem so the focus became on engineering solutions for transportation. This resulted in railroads expanding across the country, giving access to even more land previously difficult to reach. Wetlands now were even more accessible for conversion or "reclamation". The prairie potholes in the Midwest, bottomland forests in the Mississippi River Valley, delta marshlands of Louisiana, gulf plains of Texas, and swamps of Ohio and Virginia were just a few of the places now at risk.
Agriculture continued to expand its impact, and feeding the growing population was necessary. Mechanized equipment was developed, thanks to the combustion engine, and started to become widespread. This trend continues steadily until the mid 20th century.
"By the 1960's, most political, financial, and institutional incentives to drain or destroy wetlands were in place. The Federal Government encouraged land drainage and wetland destruction through a variety of legislative and policy instruments." [source]
This wholesale destruction of wetlands at the time probably seemed productive and progressive to some, but an environmental movement had begun by the early 1900s.
The Rebirth of Environmentalism
I say rebirth, because this concept is originally native. Immigrants did not develop this mindset, but came around to it later after realizing the error of their controlling ways. The rebirth of widespread environmentalism and conservation started in the 1850s, at the same time as agricultural expansion was hitting its peak. As land was converted, more people because concerned about the environmental detriments and advocated for conservation of these lands. And thus the environmental movement was reborn.
The environmentalism movement really got under way through the prowess and foresight of conservation powerhouses: John Muir, Theodore Roosevelt, Gifford Pinchot, John Wesley Powell, Henry David Thoreau, George Perkins Marsh, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and George Bird Grinnell. Each of them in their own way, as well as many others, contributed early on to the conservation movement. John Muir created the Sierra Club, Thoreau wrote Walden, Roosevelt founded the Boone and Crockett Club, Grinnell founded the Audubon Society, Powell served as the 2nd director of the US Geological Survey and spearheaded many expeditions, and Pinchot is widely considered the father of American forestry.
It all culminated with Theodore Roosevelt becoming president in 1901.
TR was remarkable in a lot of ways, but with him the conservation movement because highly visible. It was no longer John Muir wandering the woods with a donkey writing articles for others to read, but now the most powerful person in the country was actively making progressive environmental decisions.
"The conservationists, led by future President Theodore Roosevelt and his close ally George Bird Grinnell, were motivated by the wanton waste that was taking place at the hand of market forces, including logging and hunting." Habitats were destroyed, species were tottering on the brink of extinction, resources were being wasted, and they decided that the country needed "a long-term plan devised by national experts to maximize the long-term economic benefits of natural resources" [source].
The environmental perspective in North America has very distinct time periods: native/indigenous peoples, colonial period, the agriculture boom, and environmentalism. Wetlands and people both worldwide, and the interactions probably follow similar lines throughout history. However I'm going to focus on North America first, then specifically around the Mississippi River ultimately.
Native/Indigenous Peoples and Wetland Use
Wetlands and indigenous people are not a solely North American existence. This interaction can be found worldwide.
In Australia, wetlands are central to indigenous lives. "Wetlands have significance as ceremonial and initiation sites, traditional hunting and gathering grounds and as boundary markers." [source] Wetlands are revered and respected, but also utilized. They know that wetlands are not without use and incorporated aspects of wetland plants and animals into everyday life. "Almost all wetland plants and animals have some form of traditional use as food, fibre, containers, tools, weapons, transport, shelter and medicine. Many wetland species have significance as totems, symbols that acknowledge specific birds, animals, rocks or flora species, and are considered sacred by their owners." [source]
Little has been written about Native Americans and wetlands, historically. But in general, the native people have a great respect for the natural world and view life as being a part of the natural world - to live among nature, not command nature. This mentality later appears as a major part of Aldo Leopold's Land Ethics.
In coastal Louisiana specifically, where this tale will ultimately wind up, Native Americans have a long standing history with wetlands. By a default in geography if nothing else. The bounty of wetlands enabled a subsistence lifestyle for natives. Resources are plentiful - fish, crabs, shrimp, oysters, nutria (now), alligators, turtles, muskrat, otter, and waterfowl.
Today, there are 4 federally recognized tribes remaining: Chitimacha Tribe, Jena Band of Choctaw, Coushatta Tribe, Tunica-Biloxi Indian Tribe [source]. But not all tribes are federally recognized and many of them live in the coastal wetlands they've always called home. They include the United Houma Nation, the Pointe-au-Chien tribe, and and the Isle de Jean Charles Band of the Biloxi-Chitimacha-Choctaw tribe. Of these only the United Houma Nation is even recognized by the state of Louisiana. They've formed the First People's Conservation Council. We will come back to these dilemma in future parts of this series.
Wetlands during the Colonial Period
Starting in the early 1600s, settlers from Europe starting arriving on the shores of the future United States and Canada. Powerful European countries tried to acquire land and get colonies settled to secure their place on the new continent, and thus the colonies and future countries were started.
People viewed wetlands as altogether undesirable. "During the 1700's, wetlands were regarded as swampy lands that bred diseases, restricted overland travel, impeded the production of food and fiber, and generally were not useful for frontier survival." [source]
The primary environmental perspective in that time frame was that land was meant to be used by people, and that humans should exert control over their environment. This is in direct opposition to Native Americans' respectful treatment and coexistence. So because wetlands had no economic value they could see, hindered travel and food production, and harbored disease - they had to go.
So many wetlands in this time period were drained, filled, and converted into farmland across the fledgling country. Settlers moved down the east coast into river valleys doing this all over the land. By the 1780s colonizers were as far south as Georgia and heading west. The Louisiana purchase in 1803 greatly expanded the size of the new United States. Land was acquired further and further westward and people migrated west as well. The pattern continued - land was acquired, people migrated, wetlands were destroyed.
This destruction of wetlands by filling and draining was often described as "reclamation" to make it sound good, honorable, and legitimate. Reclamation: "the reclaiming of desert, marshy, or submerged areas or other wasteland for cultivation or other use." [source]. And probably at the time, it did seem good, honorable, and legitimate. But through the lens of 2018 environmental issues it seems horribly irresponsible.
Wetlands versus Agriculture
As lands were settled, wetlands were converted from what they perceived to be useless land into usable farm land. Starting in the mid 1800s technical advances allowed for more widespread wetland conversions. Large navigation canals were dug, smaller natural waterways were dredged, and larger farm equipment was developed to be pulled behind horses.
In the midst of all this, the US had the Civil War (1861-1865). The ability to move large equipment across/through wetlands was a problem so the focus became on engineering solutions for transportation. This resulted in railroads expanding across the country, giving access to even more land previously difficult to reach. Wetlands now were even more accessible for conversion or "reclamation". The prairie potholes in the Midwest, bottomland forests in the Mississippi River Valley, delta marshlands of Louisiana, gulf plains of Texas, and swamps of Ohio and Virginia were just a few of the places now at risk.
Agriculture continued to expand its impact, and feeding the growing population was necessary. Mechanized equipment was developed, thanks to the combustion engine, and started to become widespread. This trend continues steadily until the mid 20th century.
"By the 1960's, most political, financial, and institutional incentives to drain or destroy wetlands were in place. The Federal Government encouraged land drainage and wetland destruction through a variety of legislative and policy instruments." [source]
This wholesale destruction of wetlands at the time probably seemed productive and progressive to some, but an environmental movement had begun by the early 1900s.
The Rebirth of Environmentalism
I say rebirth, because this concept is originally native. Immigrants did not develop this mindset, but came around to it later after realizing the error of their controlling ways. The rebirth of widespread environmentalism and conservation started in the 1850s, at the same time as agricultural expansion was hitting its peak. As land was converted, more people because concerned about the environmental detriments and advocated for conservation of these lands. And thus the environmental movement was reborn.
The environmentalism movement really got under way through the prowess and foresight of conservation powerhouses: John Muir, Theodore Roosevelt, Gifford Pinchot, John Wesley Powell, Henry David Thoreau, George Perkins Marsh, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and George Bird Grinnell. Each of them in their own way, as well as many others, contributed early on to the conservation movement. John Muir created the Sierra Club, Thoreau wrote Walden, Roosevelt founded the Boone and Crockett Club, Grinnell founded the Audubon Society, Powell served as the 2nd director of the US Geological Survey and spearheaded many expeditions, and Pinchot is widely considered the father of American forestry.
It all culminated with Theodore Roosevelt becoming president in 1901.
TR was remarkable in a lot of ways, but with him the conservation movement because highly visible. It was no longer John Muir wandering the woods with a donkey writing articles for others to read, but now the most powerful person in the country was actively making progressive environmental decisions.
"The conservationists, led by future President Theodore Roosevelt and his close ally George Bird Grinnell, were motivated by the wanton waste that was taking place at the hand of market forces, including logging and hunting." Habitats were destroyed, species were tottering on the brink of extinction, resources were being wasted, and they decided that the country needed "a long-term plan devised by national experts to maximize the long-term economic benefits of natural resources" [source].
Roosevelt established the US Forest Service, created 5 National Parks, signed the 1906 Antiquities Act, created 51 bird reserves, 4 game preserves, and 150 national forests. Ultimately Roosevelt protected 230,000,000 acres [source] for the future and for preservation and conservation both.
There's still a conflict between preservation and conservation, which is why we have both the US Forest Service and the US National Park Service. "Whereas conservationists wanted regulated use of forest lands for both public activities and commercial endeavors, preservationists wanted forest to be preserved for natural beauty, scientific study and recreation. The differences continue to the modern era, with sustainable harvest and multiple-use the major focus of the U.S. Forest Service and recreation emphasized by the National Park Service." [source]
In 1962, Rachel Carson published Silent Spring. [Coincidentally, this is the December Book of the Month if you want to join our book club!] "Carson inspired an environmental revolution, helping to root the modern conservation movement in a scientific foundation." [source] After this historic moment, a slew of important things were created:
-1968 Wild and Scenic Rivers Act
-National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
-the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
-the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
-Earth Day
-1972 Clean Water Act
-Marine Mammal Protection Act
-Coastal Zone Management Act
-Endangered Species Act
-DDT banned in 1972
-Wilderness Act of 1964
These days, the problems facing conservation and preservation of resources are still many and varied. "For the modern era, the U.S. Forest Service has noted three important aspects of the conservation movement: the climate change, water issues, and the education of the public on conservation of the natural environment, especially among children." [source]
Coastal Louisiana benefits from many of the laws and agencies that were created in the modern area. National Wildlife Refuges (like Bayou Sauvage and Big Branch NWRs) encompass and protect wetlands, the Endangered Species Act helps Louisiana save species (such as the Brown Pelican, the state bird), and the EPA has cleaned waterways (like Bayou Bonfouca Superfund Site in Slidell LA).
The battle between resources (aka wetlands) and industry (aka oil and gas) still rages to this day. Conflicts abound between scientists, politicians, fishermen, natives, conservationists, and everyone in between. The Coastal Master Plan is a science based plan for coastal wetlands restoration and conservation. In the absence of still functioning natural processes, it relies heavily on construction and management of projects to replicate natural conditions. So wetlands while once viewed as evil and usless, are now seen for the valuable ecosystem they are.
Coming next: Part 2: The value of wetlands!
Sources & Additional Reading:
When Dismal Swamps Became Priceless Wetlands American Heritage, 1994
History of Wetlands in the Conterminous United States US Geological Survey
Wetlands and Indigenous values Australian Government, Department of the Environment
Native American tribe to relocate from Louisiana coast as sea levels rise Reuters, 3/17/2016
The Cultural Impact of Eroding Wetlands Color Lines, 11/18/2009
Tribal Wetland Program Highlights US Environmental Protection Agency, March 2000
Native American Tribes of Louisiana native-languages.org, accessed 11/30/2018
On the Louisiana Coast, A Native Community Sinks Slowly into the Sea Yale Environment 360, 3/15/2018
The Historic Indian Tribes Of Louisiana Frenchcreoles.com, accessed 11/30/2018
Reclaiming native ground: Can Louisiana’s tribes restore their traditional diets as waters rise? FERN, 2/9/2017
These Native American Tribes Are Fighting To Stop Their Land From Literally Disappearing Think Progress, 1/22/2015
Louisiana tribes say federal recognition will help to face threat of climate change NOLA.com, 7/26/2018
Louisiana’s Pointe-au-Chien Tribe Struggles to Preserve Its Way of Life Huffington Post, 6/16/2013
Down the Bayou: Notes on Cultural Adaptation in the Native American Community of Pointe-au-Chien, Louisiana Louisiana Folklife, 2013
'High risk' Native American village on Grand Bayou wants government help to stay as land disappears The Advocate, 12/27/2016
Vulnerability of Coastal Louisiana Tribes in a Climate Change Context Northern Arizona University, 2012
Conservation in the United States Wikipedia
Soll on Badger, 'A Natural History of Quiet Waters: Swamps and Wetlands of the Mid-Atlantic Coast'
Conservation movement Wikipedia
In 1962, Rachel Carson published Silent Spring. [Coincidentally, this is the December Book of the Month if you want to join our book club!] "Carson inspired an environmental revolution, helping to root the modern conservation movement in a scientific foundation." [source] After this historic moment, a slew of important things were created:
-1968 Wild and Scenic Rivers Act
-National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
-the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
-the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
-Earth Day
-1972 Clean Water Act
-Marine Mammal Protection Act
-Coastal Zone Management Act
-Endangered Species Act
-DDT banned in 1972
-Wilderness Act of 1964
These days, the problems facing conservation and preservation of resources are still many and varied. "For the modern era, the U.S. Forest Service has noted three important aspects of the conservation movement: the climate change, water issues, and the education of the public on conservation of the natural environment, especially among children." [source]
Coastal Louisiana benefits from many of the laws and agencies that were created in the modern area. National Wildlife Refuges (like Bayou Sauvage and Big Branch NWRs) encompass and protect wetlands, the Endangered Species Act helps Louisiana save species (such as the Brown Pelican, the state bird), and the EPA has cleaned waterways (like Bayou Bonfouca Superfund Site in Slidell LA).
The battle between resources (aka wetlands) and industry (aka oil and gas) still rages to this day. Conflicts abound between scientists, politicians, fishermen, natives, conservationists, and everyone in between. The Coastal Master Plan is a science based plan for coastal wetlands restoration and conservation. In the absence of still functioning natural processes, it relies heavily on construction and management of projects to replicate natural conditions. So wetlands while once viewed as evil and usless, are now seen for the valuable ecosystem they are.
Coming next: Part 2: The value of wetlands!
Sources & Additional Reading:
When Dismal Swamps Became Priceless Wetlands American Heritage, 1994
History of Wetlands in the Conterminous United States US Geological Survey
Wetlands and Indigenous values Australian Government, Department of the Environment
Native American tribe to relocate from Louisiana coast as sea levels rise Reuters, 3/17/2016
The Cultural Impact of Eroding Wetlands Color Lines, 11/18/2009
Tribal Wetland Program Highlights US Environmental Protection Agency, March 2000
Native American Tribes of Louisiana native-languages.org, accessed 11/30/2018
On the Louisiana Coast, A Native Community Sinks Slowly into the Sea Yale Environment 360, 3/15/2018
The Historic Indian Tribes Of Louisiana Frenchcreoles.com, accessed 11/30/2018
Reclaiming native ground: Can Louisiana’s tribes restore their traditional diets as waters rise? FERN, 2/9/2017
These Native American Tribes Are Fighting To Stop Their Land From Literally Disappearing Think Progress, 1/22/2015
Louisiana tribes say federal recognition will help to face threat of climate change NOLA.com, 7/26/2018
Louisiana’s Pointe-au-Chien Tribe Struggles to Preserve Its Way of Life Huffington Post, 6/16/2013
Down the Bayou: Notes on Cultural Adaptation in the Native American Community of Pointe-au-Chien, Louisiana Louisiana Folklife, 2013
'High risk' Native American village on Grand Bayou wants government help to stay as land disappears The Advocate, 12/27/2016
Vulnerability of Coastal Louisiana Tribes in a Climate Change Context Northern Arizona University, 2012
Conservation in the United States Wikipedia
Soll on Badger, 'A Natural History of Quiet Waters: Swamps and Wetlands of the Mid-Atlantic Coast'
Conservation movement Wikipedia
Saturday, December 1, 2018
Shopping Ban: Month 2 Update
It has been 2 months since I started my shopping ban! November has been interesting too. I stayed under my two week budgets, did not purge any items, contemplated ethical zero-waste gifts for holidays, and purchased a few things on my approved shopping list.
I get disgusted by the level of consumerism, and the peak worst is Black Friday. So I did not participate. Not that I ever participate, but I was even more aware of it this year than previously. And I've been striving to purchase things in the best way possible when required.
So I did purchase 2 clothing items for my upcoming NOLS course that are required and that I did not own. I needed baselayer bottoms and a long sleeved top that were wool or synthetic. So I went ahead and purchased them this month.
But the clever part is that I bought them from REI's Used Gear Store! So while I did buy 2 things from my approved list, I bought used items. They look brand new though and are perfect and I only spent $50 total, when new that would have cost me closer to $100. Also they are multi purpose because I will use the baselayer bottoms throughout the winter for field work, and wear the wool shirt regularly as it's very comfortable. Success!
I also purchased a few gifts for upcoming celebrations, and did it in a zero waste manner. I was able to use the ethical hierarchy of gift giving to come up with some clever ideas for friends and family. I focused on experiences, and did not buy anything new when I did buy an object. Also success!
Also I put used books on my allowed shopping list, because I run the Outdoor Conservation Book Club and some of the books I've chosen are hard to come by or have long wait lists at the library. So I purchased 5 conservation books online from Thriftbooks! These books are all for the OC book club or recommended reading ahead of the NOLS course.
- Outdoor Leadership, by John Graham [NOLS]
- Sea Change, by Sylvia Earle [OC Book Club]
- Wilderness and the American Mind [NOLS]
- The Sixth Extinction [OC Book Club]
- How Remarkable Women Lead [NOLS]
I also this month acquired a few other used books. A handful of books came from a friend who was donating boxes to Goodwill, so I picked a few out to take. And I acquired one book that was originally purchased as a gift, but the dog ate the cover, so it's mine now and the gift version has been replaced with another used book.
Also this month, there was 1 flaw in my plan. Winter. We had previously gotten a new, larger bed and never bought any kind of comforter or quilt for it. And winter is coming and it's getting colder, and dogs aren't exactly enough warmth to get us through the winter. So I had to purchase a new quilt for our new bed, but that's a necessity I just didn't foresee.
There's one other thing I purchased: Fabric scraps from Hobby Lobby to make into tissues. I had run out of throwaway tissues, and in the spirit of zero waste, did not buy a new box. Instead I had cut up some of my thinner and softer cleaning cloths (which were already scraps of old clothes) to use as tissues. But I didn't have enough. I scoured the house looking for fabric I could turn into tissues but no luck. So I spent $9 and bought a bundle of cotton squares with cute woodland creatures on them to use as tissues. They're reusable, washable, and will last for ages. I classified this as toiletries, but thought my solution was clever!
Everything else has gone swimmingly. I'm still unsubscribing from marketing emails when I get them, actively being aware of impulses, and thinking about the impact of all of my purchases. It sounds overwhelming but it's really refreshing.
On to Month 3!
I get disgusted by the level of consumerism, and the peak worst is Black Friday. So I did not participate. Not that I ever participate, but I was even more aware of it this year than previously. And I've been striving to purchase things in the best way possible when required.
So I did purchase 2 clothing items for my upcoming NOLS course that are required and that I did not own. I needed baselayer bottoms and a long sleeved top that were wool or synthetic. So I went ahead and purchased them this month.
But the clever part is that I bought them from REI's Used Gear Store! So while I did buy 2 things from my approved list, I bought used items. They look brand new though and are perfect and I only spent $50 total, when new that would have cost me closer to $100. Also they are multi purpose because I will use the baselayer bottoms throughout the winter for field work, and wear the wool shirt regularly as it's very comfortable. Success!
I also purchased a few gifts for upcoming celebrations, and did it in a zero waste manner. I was able to use the ethical hierarchy of gift giving to come up with some clever ideas for friends and family. I focused on experiences, and did not buy anything new when I did buy an object. Also success!
Also I put used books on my allowed shopping list, because I run the Outdoor Conservation Book Club and some of the books I've chosen are hard to come by or have long wait lists at the library. So I purchased 5 conservation books online from Thriftbooks! These books are all for the OC book club or recommended reading ahead of the NOLS course.
- Outdoor Leadership, by John Graham [NOLS]
- Sea Change, by Sylvia Earle [OC Book Club]
- Wilderness and the American Mind [NOLS]
- The Sixth Extinction [OC Book Club]
- How Remarkable Women Lead [NOLS]
I also this month acquired a few other used books. A handful of books came from a friend who was donating boxes to Goodwill, so I picked a few out to take. And I acquired one book that was originally purchased as a gift, but the dog ate the cover, so it's mine now and the gift version has been replaced with another used book.
Also this month, there was 1 flaw in my plan. Winter. We had previously gotten a new, larger bed and never bought any kind of comforter or quilt for it. And winter is coming and it's getting colder, and dogs aren't exactly enough warmth to get us through the winter. So I had to purchase a new quilt for our new bed, but that's a necessity I just didn't foresee.
There's one other thing I purchased: Fabric scraps from Hobby Lobby to make into tissues. I had run out of throwaway tissues, and in the spirit of zero waste, did not buy a new box. Instead I had cut up some of my thinner and softer cleaning cloths (which were already scraps of old clothes) to use as tissues. But I didn't have enough. I scoured the house looking for fabric I could turn into tissues but no luck. So I spent $9 and bought a bundle of cotton squares with cute woodland creatures on them to use as tissues. They're reusable, washable, and will last for ages. I classified this as toiletries, but thought my solution was clever!
Everything else has gone swimmingly. I'm still unsubscribing from marketing emails when I get them, actively being aware of impulses, and thinking about the impact of all of my purchases. It sounds overwhelming but it's really refreshing.
On to Month 3!
Thursday, November 29, 2018
Used Books FTW
It's highly unlikely that I am the only one with an addiction to books and reading and knowledge in general. I love diving into a good book. But the cost of buying a new book to read once (or at most once every few years) is a bit cost prohibitive. It's also wasteful to buy something new that you can get used and is just as good. And sometimes the library doesn't have what I'm interested in or there's an incredibly long wait time. So how does one balance a bookworm tendency with budgets, a desire to reduce waste, and conservation of natural resources?
USED BOOKS!!!
There are quite a few options you have to get your hands on used books. Here's a few of my favorites:
1) Thriftbooks.com - They have a huge selection of books. It's like the big box bookstore of used books. It's fantastic. I just bought 5 used conservation books for ~$3.99 each and got free shipping to boot.
2) Bookmooch.com - This requires a little bit of effort on your part though. Years ago I had a bunch of books to off load, but wanted to get something in exchange. So I listed a good portion of them on here, and people requested them from me. So I paid media rate shipping to send books to people, but earned nearly 100 points. That was in 2010 and I've still got 50+ points to use for mooching books from people, at no cost to me because I already paid my part buy sharing the literary wealth. So if you've got lots of books you want to send to new homes but also want more variety on your own bookshelves, this is your option!
3) Local bookstores - I'm lucky to have a good local bookstore that's basically all used books. I always find something interesting in there to read. Maybe you do too!
4) Library book sales - My local library also does monthly surplus book sales and pretty much everything is $1. You can really get more bang for your buck that way. I left with a lot of science books last time and spent $6.
5) Little Free Library - If you've never seen a Little Free Library you're missing out. They are adorable little boxes often in neighborhoods that are stocked full of books. The one nearest me is often a mixture of paperback fiction, kids books, and interesting books of various topics. You give a book, and take a book. It's a great way to experience new stuff with zero risk!
6) 2nd and Charles - This store is my personal fave. The one by me is in a former Books-a-Million and has a seemingly endless supplies of books on every topic imaginable. It's like shopping in a large shiny new bookstore but with zillions of options and used books, graphic novels, and comics. I didn't actually know it was a chain until recently but they are fantastic.
Friday, November 23, 2018
Black Friday 2018
In the US it's "Black Friday" aka the day where the majority of people lose their minds and spend money on things they don't actually need. It's consumerism at it's worst. And the beginning of the worst time of year, in my opinion. The time of year where it's "Christmas" and "a time of giving" but really it's all peer and societal pressure to give elaborate/expensive gifts to prove that you care.
So instead - prove that you care year round, and do it in your own way. Change the societal rules! That being said, if you actually WANT to buy a gift (big or small), do that. But if you don't actually WANT to do that, give something you actually do want to give. It's a gift for a reason. Gifts should not be expected because then it's no longer a gift.
"People are incurring debt and working longer hours to pay for the high-consumption lifestyle, consequently spending less time with family, friends, and community organizations. "Excess consumption can be counterproductive," said Gardner. "The irony is that lower levels of consumption can actually cure some of these problems."" - As Consumerism Spreads, Earth Suffers, Study Says
Even if you don't agree with me that the societal pressure to give big gifts is bad this time of year, let's look at another facet: The consumption of resources required to create those gifts. In reality, so much of Christmas presents is junk. It's used once or twice, or worn a few times, or breaks right away, or wasn't actually wanted in the first place.
"This boom has not happened by accident. Our lives have been corralled and shaped in order to encourage it. World trade rules force countries to participate in the festival of junk. Governments cut taxes, deregulate business, manipulate interest rates to stimulate spending. But seldom do the engineers of these policies stop and ask “spending on what?”. When every conceivable want and need has been met (among those who have disposable money), growth depends on selling the utterly useless. The solemnity of the state, its might and majesty, are harnessed to the task of delivering Terry the Swearing Turtle to our doors." - The Gift of Death
"As the demand for goods increases, the need to produce these goods also increases. This leads to more pollutant emissions, increased land-use and deforestation, and accelerated climate change [4]." - The Negative Effects of Consumerism
As Consumerism Spreads, Earth Suffers, Study Says National Geographic, 1/12/2004
Consumerism plays a huge role in climate change Grist, 2/24/2016
Consumers have huge environmental impact ScienceDaily, 2/24/2016
Shop Till We Drop: Does Consumption Culture Contribute to Environmental Degradation? Scientific American, accessed 11/22/2016
The Negative Effects of Consumerism Greentumble, 7/22/2016
Overconsumption is costing us the earth and human happiness The Guardian, 6/21/2010
So instead - prove that you care year round, and do it in your own way. Change the societal rules! That being said, if you actually WANT to buy a gift (big or small), do that. But if you don't actually WANT to do that, give something you actually do want to give. It's a gift for a reason. Gifts should not be expected because then it's no longer a gift.
"People are incurring debt and working longer hours to pay for the high-consumption lifestyle, consequently spending less time with family, friends, and community organizations. "Excess consumption can be counterproductive," said Gardner. "The irony is that lower levels of consumption can actually cure some of these problems."" - As Consumerism Spreads, Earth Suffers, Study Says
Even if you don't agree with me that the societal pressure to give big gifts is bad this time of year, let's look at another facet: The consumption of resources required to create those gifts. In reality, so much of Christmas presents is junk. It's used once or twice, or worn a few times, or breaks right away, or wasn't actually wanted in the first place.
"This boom has not happened by accident. Our lives have been corralled and shaped in order to encourage it. World trade rules force countries to participate in the festival of junk. Governments cut taxes, deregulate business, manipulate interest rates to stimulate spending. But seldom do the engineers of these policies stop and ask “spending on what?”. When every conceivable want and need has been met (among those who have disposable money), growth depends on selling the utterly useless. The solemnity of the state, its might and majesty, are harnessed to the task of delivering Terry the Swearing Turtle to our doors." - The Gift of Death
The amount of resources needed to make a plethora of objects that may or may not be wanted is a huge detriment to the environment. Think about the precious metals that go into electronics, the forests needed to make wood or paper objects, the plastics needed to make that novelty item of no actual value or use, and the time and energy spent wasting creating it.
It's truly staggering. So instead of buying into it, literally, be different! Break the norm! Together we can change the tide. Alternatives to buying a gift abound.
(I have no idea the source, so if you know, please let me know!)
In my own shopping ban experiment, I have discovered that I now have a negative physical reaction to buying things (or the idea of buying things, actually). I have begun to rethink every single purchase. Which is really good. It's also a bit overwhelming sometimes. So instead, in this holiday season, I suggest rethinking how you give gifts and how you shop.
Go spend time with the person you care about doing something different (take a hike! #optoutside).
Give an experience instead of an object (tickets to a show or concert).
Make something (knit, crochet, or bake something, etc)
Give consumables from a local shop (tea, spices, or coffee come to mind).
Buy second hand items (books are good for this).
Upcycle/repurpose items to make a gift (recover a throw pillow or refinish something).
Donate money to a cause your person cares deeply about.
More Information:
The Gift of Death, Monbiot.com, published 10/10/2012As Consumerism Spreads, Earth Suffers, Study Says National Geographic, 1/12/2004
Consumerism plays a huge role in climate change Grist, 2/24/2016
Consumers have huge environmental impact ScienceDaily, 2/24/2016
Shop Till We Drop: Does Consumption Culture Contribute to Environmental Degradation? Scientific American, accessed 11/22/2016
The Negative Effects of Consumerism Greentumble, 7/22/2016
Overconsumption is costing us the earth and human happiness The Guardian, 6/21/2010
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