Composting is a great example of the waste = food concept from "Cradle to Cradle". The beauty of small scale composting is that is creates a full nutrient cycle for a micro-environment (yours). I hope we will start composting at Backcountry. GoLite is a great example of a leader in our industry doing this company wide. When I was working in food service I noticed the incredible amount of waste that would be amazing to have composted for community gardens, possibly even roof-top gardens downtown to cool buildings (natural insulation) and provide nutritious food for soup kitchens.
Have you heard of yard shares? Another great idea that is taking hold. Are you familiar with Wasatch Community Gardens? They could be a great resource for gardening, composting and micro-environments. When I drew up my garden plans this year I researched which plants are good bug repellents for others, which are good for cross-pollination and which should not cross-pollinate. With this information and sensitivity to light I set where everything will go. I am anxious to get seedlings in the ground and interested to see how it all works! Territory I haven't visited in a long time.
Studying passive solar homes is another good way to view micro-environments. Look at the natural features and observe sunlight, wind and water and work within this context to maximize energy flows. This of course reduced reliance on non-renewable sources of energy which is becoming crucial for our survival. It takes some time to return to environment sensitivity. We have spent centuries trying to adapt the earth to our needs rather than creating a symbiotic relationship. I am spending two weeks in the desert this summer in solitude to practice and learn about this relationship and will share what I learn.
Recycling is a tricky arena because of the energy used in the process - transportation to sites, sorting, processing, transportation again. It is better than nothing but should be seen as a stepping stone to more viable options rather than the best practice. Getting people in the habit is a good way to start building the awareness that can take us to the next level.
Slightly related, micro-finance which takes small investments from developed countries and builds local businesses in the developing world. It is close to the ground, grass-roots work that raises the standard of living across the planet. Here are a couple of previous micro-finance posts: 5 Revealing Sentences and Empower Profitably. Most micro-finance investments are in women owned businesses because of our community building and nurturing nature.
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