So I have written several times before about the pitfalls of being a bike rider in a big city. Often there are not bike lanes, traffic is rude, or worse dangerous, and the weather tends not to co-operate. The worst one of all is when I just CANNOT get somewhere without a car. I personally do not own a car and many of my friends do not either. Insurance, maintenance, gas, pollution and a million other reasons for me not to own my own car. But the problem is our society is built for cars. If I want to get to the far north of my town you need a car. So I tried services that rent, or the bus, and still sometimes I had to be the friend calling to borrow the car.
Well now I found a great idea out of Boston, (its also in San Fransisco) one that is moving to a nationwide platform before to long I hope. It’s called RelayRides car rentals.
So you can go check out their website, register to rent a car, OR you can register to rent your car out. Make that disused gas guzzler as shared car. It will help pay for all the aforementioned cost of ownership. They have a great insurance policy.
From their Website:
“Just need to run a few errands? Why deal with car ownership or the hassle of traditional car sharing when RelayRides lets you borrow your neighbors’ cars from as low as $5/hr. Or if you own a car, don’t just let it sit around when you could be making up to $7,000/year loaning it out safely and securely.”
RelayRides start at $5/hr with gas and insurance included, but since the cars belong to your neighbors, they’re conveniently located just down the street AND you keep the money local. Personally I think the founder, Shelby Clark, shows well how the money stays local, a double bonus. This isn’t some centralized rental company, I may soon be able to rent my neighbors Toyota. Imagine the local economy boost this could bring!
The average car is only used 1 hour per day. By letting your neighbors borrow your car, you’re keeping an average of 15 other cars off the road while reducing overall driving.
You can check out the five easy steps to get signed up, its a snap. This isn’t the ultimate fix, but it’s a pretty good one!
Environmental concerns are often in the news and often aired by celebrities and the public. However, the environment is a broad term and covers everything from global warming through to the quality of the air that we breathe, so what exactly does the term “environmental concerns” mean to people.
A Gallup poll in America addressed this in order to find out what was most the most pressing and worrying issue when it came to their environmental concerns. The study, which had also run in a previous year, actually showed that all environmental issues had actually dropped, with American citizens putting more importance on other points of concern such as fuel costs and terrorism. However, of the environmental concerns stated, the largest concern was the pollution of drinking water, with over 50% of those surveyed citing it as a particular worry.
Fears about water pollution
Second in the list, at 46%, was the pollution of rivers, lakes and of reservoirs, again hinting at the concern of the health and safety of drinking water.
Further down the list was the contamination of soil. Contamination of soil could lead to toxic products or toxins getting into the food chain through the indigestion of contaminated product through animals.
This quickly shows that the environmental concerns on the mind of Americans are those that could directly affect them and their health. This was backed up further with the next most common environmental concern being air pollution. Air pollution has been linked to increased cases of asthma and other respiratory problems as well as allergies.
Towards the bottom of the list of environmental issues was the loss of tropical rain forests, followed by the extinction of plant and animal species. Surprisingly, at the very bottom of the list was global warming with just 28% of people volunteering it as an environmental concern on their mind.
These figures definitely show that environmental concerns seem to be driven by how they could directly affect people and their families rather than how it could affect other countries or the World in general. This is a worrying environmental issue in its own right considering that some of the most pressing issues are indeed global warming and rising sea levels all of which need to be tackled sooner rather than later.
Policy impacts
Looking at this evidence of views in the United States, it seems that there must be an impact here for policy makers. In order to really get the message across on a range of green topics, it appears to be clear that there’s a real need to get the public engaged.
At present, this evidence suggests that there is a real lack of dynamic energy when observing the way that such issues are being handled. Media stories often surround extreme cases, but the public want a more reasoned debate, with informative discussion of the key problems that are being faced.
Keith Barrett writes about environmental news and on varied topics relating to environmental issues. He believes that awareness of these issues is enlightening.
A new USDA funded study performed by Purdue University verifies what many environmentalists have long alleged and several groups of scientists have proven. The massive beehive die-offs known as Colony Collapse Disorder are linked to factory farms and pesticides. In particular, researchers are pointing to a category of pesticides sold by the German company Bayer.
According to this study , the bee deaths are connected to neonicotinoid class of pesticides, which use a synthetic derivative of nicotine. These chemicals are applied as a glaze to corn and soybean seeds prior to planting. They are then absorbed by the plant’s vascular system and the appear in pollen and nectar. Factory farms have planted MILLIONS of acres of farmland with neonicotinoid treated seeds since 2003, and this is not the first time danger has been shown. On July 23, 2010, Dutch toxicologist, Dr Henk Tennekes had a scientific paper published in the journal, Toxicology (online) titled, “Druckrey-Küpfmüller Equation For Risk Assessment” He then authored and published a book in regards to his research called “A Disaster in the Making”. The book explores the impact of neonicotinoids on the immune system of bees.
The newer Purdue study shows that Bayer’s products are far more poisonous to bees than the company wants the Government and people to think. The researchers found that “maize pollen was frequently collected by foraging honey bees while it was available: maize pollen comprised over 50% of the pollen collected by bees, by volume, in 10 of 20 samples.” Bayer denies its pesticide has contributed to bee die-offs. (Bayer also continued to sell contaminated blood plasma causing thousands of hemophiliac patients to be infected with AIDS, as reported in the NY Times 22 May 2003, but thats another story of this evil and old company). The company says that bees do not seek corn and therefore only trace amounts of neonicotinoid containing pollen will return to hives. And to date, the EPA has propped up Bayer’s claims.
There are also some unanticipated means by which bees are exposed to the pesticides, largely caused by hefty sized commercial “factory farmers”. The highly automated world of automatic monoculture uses giant mechanical seed planters. The seeders need a powder applied to prevent the polymers used to bond the chemicals to the seeds from clogging up seed coating machine and the seed planters. This powder, along with small amount of pesticides collect in and on the seed bins. As the tractor does its rounds these bins shed a powdery waste of pure poison. This waste is dangerous to bees. The powder can contain up to 700,000 times the bee’s lethal dosage of neonicotinoid, and so of course any bees that come into make contact with it are killed. These initial population losses begin to weaken the hives.
As the pesticide cloud comes to rest on plants in close proximity to the fields and into the soil and water, there is lasting danger to bees as the pesticides are persistent in the foodchain. An dif these chemicals hurt bees, you can be sure humans, plants and other animals in the area are at risk. Any flowers or even your own home garden near treated crop fields can harbor the poison. Bees gather nectar and pollen from the flowers and other plants and will bring the neonicotinoids back to the hive. Although these small levels of the pesticide do not kill the bees, their immune systems become compromised, leaving hives vulnerable to other pressures. Also, newly developing larvae are affected by exposure to pesticides through the stored pollen, bees only source of protein. The cascading effects of these small but continuous doses can potentially devastate an entire hive. Scientists found neonicotinoid pesticides in every sample of dead and dying bees as well as in pollen the bees collected and brought back to the hives, not only in this study, but in several studies now.
The Human Hive Mind
US regulatory agencies follow a policy of relying on manufacturer funded and provided data to conclude the safety of pesticides and herbicides. Although a leaked document in 2010 revealed that EPA scientists found Bayer’s research on its neonic pesticides to be suspect, the agency has not acted to stop the sale or use of these products.
Bayer has profited over one billion dollars from its two neonic products imidacloprid and clothianidin. Given Bayer’s immense wealth and power, it seems unlikely the EPA will take action, particularly in a presidential election year. This means Colony Collapse Disorder is likely to continue to devastate bee populations, leaving reverberating effects on the environment for generations to come. Honeybees are responsible for 80 per cent of all pollination as they collect nectar for the hive, t The mortality rate is the highest in living memory
This type of insecticide was banned in France, Slovenia and Germany after this step the bee populations began to rise again.
Tell the EPA and the US President to take action BAN neonic products like imidacloprid and clothianidin.
Investment in bike paths and infrastructure will not only improve our economy, and take our country in the right direction for our future; it is precisely the kind of investment the American people want and need.
So here are a few stimulating ways to fit bikes into the future.
Rental/Free Use Program – Some cities have a bike rental or free bike program. You drop a dollar in a slot, use the bike as long as you need, and then return it to any station for your money back, similar to a shopping cart in many major grocery chains. The bikes are seldom stolen, and the program pays for itself with saved money from street repairs, traffic signals and traffic enforcement, or rental fees if it is a rental program. This type of program decreases traffic congestion and increases air quality as well.
Bike Infrastructure– Where I live there are no bicycle lanes, it is nearly impossible to get anywhere on bike. Some cities have signals and lanes just for the bicyclists, in exchange the bicyclists have to add things such as pedal powered turn signals and headlights to their bikes. The shared safety makes it better for the bike rider and the car driver and adds jobs in the implementation and support function. And again let’s not forget the reduction in street maintenance needed, less costly repairs, less often!
Bicycle Production – My bike was made overseas, it was a gift some time ago before I had the conscious I do today. But when I do get a new bike someday, I will buy an American made bike (or locally made, if you live in another country). There is a great company right here in New York called Worksman Cycles, quality is important, but so is proximity to your home, if you live in NY Worksman Cycles has both.
Transportation Sustainability Research – What if no one drove their cars for one day a year? or Two? How much pollution and congestion could we save? more research is needed for better bike designs and ideas. What about a 4 seater that can go 35 or 40 miles an hour with electric assist? Add a solar panel and four commuters with a conscience and BAM you have year round safe and clean solution!
Cottage Industry – As bicycle repairs, production and customization increase, so will the industries that fulfill those needs. Jobs are mostly created by small businesses, and what better small business than a bike shop? There is little waste and we can improve it as it grows.
So there you go, some ideas to improve the economy and think ahead.
We need to prepare our economy and way of life for a sustainable future!
Times are hard, and sometimes so is household budgeting. So here are some tips to save you money AND save the planet!
This vampire had a lot of power…over “tweens”
5) Fight “vampire power”– Vampire power is also known as standby power and phantom load. Many gadgets and appliances waste energy just by being plugged in (even if they’re switched off). According to the Energy Information Administration vampire power costs consumers up to $10 Billion a year in the United States alone! So how do you fight vampires? Here are a few suggestions: Unplug things you do not use often, such as the microwave or DVD player, if thats not really an option, go to plan B. Below are some “Smart Strip” power sources, for about $30 or $40 once, you can save possibly hundreds per year. (the average is $200 per year wasted). Here’s a good place to get an estimate with a web app at Vampire Power Sucks.
4) Recycle bottles, cans, newspapers, etc. – This seems like a no brainer, and recyling is up roughly 16% since 1990, but since that last big jump it has stayed at a pretty steady 30%. If your broke most metals will bring a small but welcome extra income.
3) Reduce your food waste/intake –The New York Times reports that the average American wastes 1400 calories of food per day! The daily caloric intake of most people should be about 2000 calories, but often we exceed this, this is especially true for men. In America alone there are over 50 million hungry people. So the math seems easy, 300 million Americans – 50 million hungry = 250 million, if each of these 250 million saves their 1400 calories of wasted food, that leaves 7000 calories per hungry person. That is so much food that we could feed parts of Mexico, which would help end the horrors taking place down there, and the illegal immigration problem would be eased as well, all by reducing food waste. So how do we do this, well first, eat less, especially meat as it is resource intensive. Second use all of what you buy, eat leftovers, shop carefully, control your food more carefully overall from store/garden to plate. And lastly eat out less, restaurants waste TONS of food, so though it may not be what consumer society would suggest, it is the better choice for the Earth, your bank account, and those who are hungry.
2) Drive less – This is a simple one, walk, take a bike, take the bus, carpool or even take a scooter. Gas is expensive, cars are tough to maintain and kill the planet, ’nuff said.
1) Grow your own food – This is habitually my number one tip! Raised beds, bay window spice garden, greenhouses or even just a “hoop house” can produce a significant amount of food and spices for your family. If you find that you cannot do this, try finding a Community Supported Agriculture club in your area, you can usually get a lot of fresh, organic food at a good price.
So now all of the “produced” (polluted) water that they make at Pennsylvania fracking sites will be either reused when possible, or sent to Ohio for disposal in a deep disposal well when it its just to toxic to reuse.
Only July 1st the current horizontal fracking ban in NY will will expire. Bromide, heavy metals, and in the Marcellus Shale especially radiation from uranium, will be strewn everywhere.
A regional rally to ban fracking will be held on June 25th, its is called the “Day of Action”. You can find out more at www.gasmain.org
Hydraulic fracturing is a controversial drilling technique that injects millions of tons of highly toxic chemical fluids into the ground to break apart shale and release natural gas. Even while scientists believe these chemicals may already be poisoning America’s drinking water, the natural gas industry has unleashed a massive 34-state drilling campaign. So here are the top ten reasons why NOT to frack in New York, or anywhere.
10. The Old Paradigm
If we just drill for more fossil fuels, we are only putting off the inevitable, and destroying the environment for short-term gains and profits. We need to develop affordable and sustainable forms of energy; simply finding another finite substitute for oil will only continue the old paradigm and drill us deeper into this insane hole of unsustainability. “Clean” natural gas, during harvesting or use, is a lie!
9. Experts Say Beware
Ronald E. Bishop, Ph.D., CHO who is part of the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department at the State University of New York, College at Oneonta wrote:
“Over the last decade, operators in the natural gas industry have developed highly sophisticated methods and materials for the exploration and production of methane from unconventional reservoirs. In spite of the technological advances made to date, these activities pose significant chemical and biological hazards to human health and ecosystem stability.”
This is from Dr. Bishops January 2011 “draft” paper Chemical and Biological Risk Assessment for Natural Gas Extraction in New York.France is on track to ban hydraulic fracturing altogether for reasons just like these.
8. Well Pads of Destruction
When hydrofracked and drilled horizontally, wells require large, industrial pad sites, this includes new roads to each well, compressor, and any other access points (such as water). Depending on how many wellheads it will contain, a pad will need to range from 5-15 acres, and of course anything in the way gets destroyed.
7. Noise Pollution
With natural gas production wells have temporary noise pollution from drilling and fracking that will last about a month per well. After the well is set, compressor stations will be needed for every 100 or so wells in order to bring the gas pressure. Compressor stations are permanent, extremely noisy, and run day and night. Not to mention the next category, traffic.
6. Traffic
The considerable amount of trucks needed, 800 to 1500 (avg of 960) loads of water, materials, chemicals, and equipment will ruin small towns and take a huge toll on public roads. The large scale of development planned for the Marcellus, and the fact that it must be fracked, translates to dramatic increases in traffic compared to that generated by drilling conventional wells.
5. Toxic Waste
The “produced water” from the Marcellus Shale is toxic waste. “Produced Water” is the industry term to sanitize this noxious, polluted water. This is a separate category from the fracking fluids because besides the added chemicals, the water picks up hydrocarbons, heavy metals like arsenic, and radioactivity from the shale and becomes even worse than the mix that goes in. In fact a study at the University of Buffalo found hydraulic fracturing causes uranium that is naturally trapped inside Marcellus shale to be released. According to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, billions of gallons of waste water will be “produced” and will need to be trucked to a disposal site. The most common method of dumping will be Deep Well Injection Disposal, where the waste is forced underground at high pressure into dry gas wells. We take gas out and pump toxic, radioactive waste back in.
4. Air Pollution
Each well site emits constant and signifigant air pollution. Pollution comes from diesel generators, drill rigs, trucks and other equipment, condensate tanks and the flaring of wells. These are all significant sources of VOC’s and nitrogen oxide, which react with sunlight to form ozone. Proposed Marcellus Shale drilling in New York will be high density. In high-density drilling areas in Colorado and Wyoming, rural communities that were once pristine now have ozone levels higher than Los Angeles. Ozone can cause a range of respiratory health problems and lung disease.
3. Danger of Explosions and Spills
A fracking well in Canton, Pennsylvania exploded, spilling thousands of gallons of toxic chemicals over farms, fields and the private property of local families for about 48 hours. The chemicals even flowed into a creek that connects to the Susquehanna River. Unfortunately, because of Dick Cheney’s “Halliburton loophole” for the oil and gas industry, the corporation that runs the well, Chesapeake Energy Corporation, is under no legal obligation to pay for their mess or for the medical expenses of the people that may suffer health problems as a result.
2. Fracking Fluids
Fluid technology for shale gas recovery is mostly owned by Halliburton, you know the guys that messed up the concrete on the Deepwater Horizon oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico and helped cause one of the largest environmental disasters in the world.
Halliburton classifies the fracking fluids as proprietary, this means it’s a trade secret, so they cant be disclosed without damaging the company. Except those in Halliburton involved in fracking, nobody knows for sure what is in these chemicals. Just the ones we do know are horrible and possibly catastrophic. Samples from well blowouts and fluids pits in Colorado, Wyoming and New Mexico found fluids to contain diesel fuel and more than 200 different kinds of chemicals, over 95% of which have adverse side effects including brain damage, birth defects and cancer.
1. Water Usage
Fracking requires extremely large quantities of fresh water, which the world is running out of. It is feasible that son water could be just as valuable as natural gas or oil. Fracking the requires many billions of gallons of water over decades. It takes 2 to 9 MILLION gallons per frack, and each well can be fractured 4 to 10 times (avg. of 6). This water can be withdrawn from lakes, rivers, streams, wetlands, ponds, and wells. Because the water becomes contaminated, it may never be returned to the watershed, rain cycle, or the water supply for some of America’s largest population centers. And there is always the chance of water contamination; Halliburton and Trans Ocean said it would not happen in the Gulf of Mexico too. Fracking is exempt from the Clean Water Act, due to the aforementioned “Halliburton loophole”
How to help:
We have been on the fracking issue a lot here lately, that is because in our state of New York there has been a temporary ban on horizontal hydrofracking pending an environmental review, that ban is about to either end, or be renewed, so the fight is going strong here. The environmental report does not come out until 2012, so the moratorium is needed until at least then, we hope forever. We are up against millions of dollars in energy company advertisements and bribes, so donations are always welcome.
But even if you have no money, please write to, President Obama, your Governor, Senators, Congresspeople, and even your state Senators and local representatives, and tell them that you aren’t willing to sacrifice Americas water supply for a scant number of temporary jobs, a tiny share of the of money, and a whole lot of hot air from the energy companies. The State Senate and Gov. Cuomo renewing the temporary ban on horizontal hydraulic fracturing in New York is a big chance to deal a gigantic blow to fracking in America, and gain enough time to put a permanent ban in place. It also shows that everyone in any state CAN win.
If you fill out this form, we will print the letter on FSC certified recycled paper and send it to Gov. Cuomo, your Senator, Congressperson, or President Obama, for you, for free.
If you live in New York State:
You may also contact the Governor’s office by phone (518) 474-8390
or mail:
The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo Governor of New York State NYS State Capitol Building Albany, NY 12224
State Senators can be contacted here: http://www.nysenate.gov/contact_form
Please see your states website for more information outside of NY.
The moratorium on hydraulic fracturing is about to expire in NY. So why was there a ban in the first place?
I have to admit, though I had heard of fracking and had heard it was bad, when asked to give a specific definition or explain exactly what about it is bad, I found myself stumbling, so I decided to do a bit more investigation into the issue.
In its most general sense, fracking (short for hydraulic fracturing, also called hydrofracking , due to its use of large amounts of water) is a means of tapping shale deposits containing natural gas that were previously inaccessible by conventional drilling. Once a well is drilled (natural gas wells used for fracking are usually between one and three miles deep), millions of gallons of water, sand, and proprietary chemicals are injected into it under high pressure, fracturing the shale and opening fissures freeing the flow of what is often relatively minimal quantities of natural gas that were previously trapped in the shale. This pressure used in pumping the water-chemical mixture used in fracking has been compared to exploding a series of pipe bombs deep underground. To understand the ongoing debate about fracking, it is important, first of all, to understand that there are two types of fracking: vertical and horizontal.
Vertical fracking has been going on for nearly 40 years in dozens of states, contaminating water, air, and food. It is pretty much what it sounds like: fracking which is done in a vertically drilled well. Horizontal fracking is a relatively new technology developed by Halliburton in 2003. It starts with a conventionally drilled vertical well, but after drilling down to the desired depth, the drill bit is turned 90 degrees and continues to drill horizontally under shale deposits. This horizontal drilling usually goes out from the original well by sometimes as much as a mile after which the fracking process can begin. A well can be horizontally fracked as many as fifteen times in different trajectories (think of the well as the center of a wagon wheel and the horizontal drilling as spokes) devastating a very large area. While some of the toxic fracking fluid (called “produced water” in the doublespeak language used by corporations and politicians) remains underground, most of it is pumped back up to be stored in slurry ponds or storage containers where it is left to evaporate, contaminating the air for miles around till nothing is left but a thick toxic sludge which is then hauled off to a landfill.
Here are six major problems with hydraulic fracking:
1. In 2005 Congress passed an Energy Act that included (thanks to meddling by former Halliburton CEO Dick Cheney) an exception for hydraulic fracturing from the protections of the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Clean Water Act, and the Clean Air Act. It’s called the “Halliburton loophole” and it is quite the loophole indeed! Thanks to this loophole, fracking is, for all intents and purposes, entirely unregulated.
2. This state of being basically above the law, has allowed, up until very recently, for Halliburton and other energy companies to keep the list of chemicals in the concoction pumped into the ground for the purposes of fracking secret from the public. Thanks to a recent subpoena from the EPA, a partial list has been released. Here is that list along with details about each chemical’s effect human health (and keep in mind that the released list is probably the nicest substances in the concoction):
3. Despite energy company claims that the fracking process occurs beneath and is insulated from the water table, people who live near fracking wells, have found dangerously high levles of methane and other deadly chemicals in their water supplies. Check out this news brief about tap water on fire at a Colorado home near a well. This is only one example out of hundreds. People, pets, and livestock have gotten sick from drinking water contaminated by fracking and where the methane levels are high enough, there have even been explosions. What is particularly interesting is that while officially stating that such contamination has nothing to do with fracking, energy companies pay to truck in bottled water for homes whose water has been effected. For example, Victoria Switzer, a resident of Susquehanna County, PA, stated that after Cabot Oil and Gas Company started drilling deep underground and fracking for natural gas in her area, water from her well started coming up “bubbly, smelly, and foamy” and undrinkable. Though Cabot insisted that it didn’t cause the problem, they did start trucking in bottled drinking water for her and 22 other families whose wells were also fouled. If fracking truly had no effect on groundwater, why would Cabot (and other energy companies) pay to replace local drinking water?
4. Speaking of water, the process of fracking uses millions of gallons of clean usable water. In a world where clean drinking water, in many regions, is becoming an increasingly rare resource, it seems incredibly wasteful to destroy the water we are lucky enough to have here in the US.
5. The fracking process for even one well, involves tens of thousands of diesel engine semi trucks to bring in the chemicals, the water, and the equipment. This means a lot of noise, a lot of road destruction and traffic, and a lot of pollution and carbon emissions to the regions where these wells are drilled.
6. Some geologists are saying that horizontal drilling and the fracking process exhaust the well within as few as 8 years with a 75% decline in output after the first year. This means that the safety of our water and air are being endangered in exchange for a quick payoff to the industry which in the long run, will not help America with its energy crisis. Halliburton and gas companies will take the money and leave taxpayers with the devastation and clean-up.
So… why is this issue particularly important at this moment in time?
The southern half of the state of New York (as well as parts of Pennsylvania, Maryland, Ohio, and West Virginia) lies on one of the world’s largest natural gas stores buried in what is called the Marcellus Shale. This is a thick seam of horizontal shale which cannot be tapped into without the use of horizontal drilling and fracking.
In December of 2010, New York state’s Governor David Paterson, signed a seven month moratorium which while allowing vertical fracking, restricted the use of horizontal fracking (necessary to access the Marcellus Shale). This has kept us temporarily safe from fracking, but that moratorium is due to end on July first here in just a few weeks. New York’s current governor, Andrew Cuomo had stated that he was pro-fracking during the gubernatorial debates, but we need to convince him otherwise!
Below is an email form and a model letter. Please feel free to tailor the letter as you see fit, and then we will print it on FSC certified recycled paper and mail it for you. Let’s encourage the Government, and especially Gov. Cuomo, to do the right thing!
You may also contact the Governor’s office by phone (518) 474-8390 or mail:
The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo
Governor of New York State
NYS State Capitol Building
Albany, NY 12224
Grain stocks will be at the lowest levels since 2004 this year, and overall food stores are down dramatically, global warming will only worsen this problem. Food prices as a whole are up, there are nearly monthly riots overseas for food. Unemployment is up while overall purchasing power of the dollar is down. What can average citizens do to protect their families and insulate themselves from this economic downturn? Here are a few environmentally friendly ways that you can survive the economic disaster known as “The Great Depression 2”.
6. Get a Bike – Bikes are a great way to get around, and if you have saddle bags or a trailer you can haul a significant amount of goods. Travel to work, your local store, or just to your neighbors house up the road, a bike will get you there and back again with very little energy.
5. Check Your Insulation – Winter or Summer we waste a lot of energy on poorly insulated homes. Even if its a rental, a few dollars can make a huge difference in the right areas.
4. Electrical use – Cutting back is a obviously the first choice, turn off the lights, get LED light bulbs etc. When you have the money to, invest in an off-grid system consisting of wind, solar, water, or any combination of whatever you have available in your area. If you are technically savvy you can even get cheap kits to make your own solar panels or wind generators, if your not so mechanically inclined, maybe someone you know and can barter with is.
3. Learn A Craft – Basket weaving, candle making, sewing, spinning, knitting, crocheting, construction, or even woodworking. The more you can do for yourself the better, and you can trade the baskets and sweaters if you need.
2. Move in With Roommates – Even if your older, even if your have two families, moving in together and sharing expenses, labor, and resources can be beneficial and is better than both families having a lesser quality of life. Two older couples whose children have moved out could be the perfect pairing to live together. Or even two young couples who are just starting out.
1. Plant A Garden* – raised beds, bay window spice garden, greenhouses or even just a “hoop house” can produce a significant amount of food and spices for your family. If you find that you cannot do this, try finding a Community Supported Agriculture club in your area, you can usually get a lot of fresh, organic food at a good price.
*Many cities will not let you, but if you can, small livestock are also an excellent way to produce some food at home, a single goat or a few hens can give you lots of food and materials, and take little care and food. (goat hair can be spun, and they can be milked, feathers can be used in pillows and bedding, and of course eggs)
These are only a few of the ways you can keep yourself out of the consumer trap and get better quality, ethical, organic products and foods, while surviving the current economic hit that the working class is taking. Think locally, a group of people doing this in a community can easily support each other and make a resilient and diverse economy. Do not wait on the Government to fix the problem, lets roll up our sleeves, get dirty and get it done. Yes you can…do it yourself.
This is a wonderful book that 3 out of the 5 board members of Future Farming own (and other will eventually get a s a gift, but don’t tell them). Its by John Seymour, its titled Self Sufficient Life and how to live it. Check it out, its a great resource.
![clip_image001[1]](https://i1.wp.com/www.futurefarming.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/clip_image0011.gif "clip_image001[1]"){kind=small}
![clip_image001[2]](https://i0.wp.com/www.futurefarming.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/clip_image0012.gif "clip_image001[2]"){kind=small}
![clip_image001[3]](https://i2.wp.com/www.futurefarming.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/clip_image0013.gif "clip_image001[3]"){kind=small}
![clip_image001[4]](http://www.futurefarming.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/clip_image0014.gif "clip_image001[4]"){kind=small}
