I am old enough to remember the original Earth Day and am wondering what happened to this consciousness. My father started the family recycling in 1969. We washed our cans and flattened them, cleaned glass, saved newspaper. When there was enough to make a trip across town to the recycling center at Portland State, we took them. Having grown up during the Depression Era and WWII my dad believed firmly that resources were precious. The clock radio I received from Santa when I was 12 still sits next to my bed. Sure it is old, but it works so why send it to the landfill. Really, you don't need a new phone, Ipod, gaming system every couple of years. Even the computer I am writing this on is a refurbished model.
My studio is a great example of this philosophy. Years ago I had a hot tub and living in the woods in needed a roof over it to keep out debris from the trees. After giving the hot tub away, we enclosed the structure to make my shop. The windows and door were discards from a neighbors remodel. The wood stove was from another neighbor who was no longer heating with wood. The screen door is from my childhood home and is almost a hundred years old. I cherish the scratch marks in the wood from Susie, my family's dog, who died 40 years ago.
When you throw something away, it just moves to another location. Like my husband annoyingly points out, there isn't another planet we are shipping the toxic garbage to. As I learned from my dad, newer isn't always better. We wouldn't have all those great antiques and vintage items without the preservers of the world.
All I am asking is that you just think about what you are consuming and why. I'd love to hear about your efforts and/or great finds.
Aww touching post! I try to recycle and always bring my plastic bags back to the grocery store.. i know I can/should be doing more though...
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful post for Earth Day - Every Day! As I type this, I'm wearing a thrice mended sweater with gaping holes (again) in both elbows. I love this dear old sweater and refuse to part with it. If it ever ravels out completely, I'll use whatever's left of the yarn to make something else. The desk where I'm sitting is a solid oak library table built by hand c. 1915 by the father-in-law I never met. I love this old desk and, yes, the man who built it!
ReplyDeleteHello Jan,
ReplyDeleteGood points here. I am a believer myself of recycling and taking better care of our planet. I'm trying harder and getting my Family more involved. Thank you for posting your beliefs. Glad you stopped by and became a new follower :)
xxx Liz
What a wonderful post. I am with you in that you don't need to update your stuff as soon as something new comes out. Teenagers today have to constantly upgrade. I use the most basic cell phone out. I don't like to talk on the phone while I'm shopping or eating out, so I am not going to waste money on a fancy phone and throw my perfectly good old one out. I just started blogging, and the other day I wrote a blog about appreciating a handmade gift versus a machine-made one. It's similar in feeling and sentimental value to your blog. Thanks for sharing! Have a wonderful day!
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