This morning, I dropped into Ballard Market to purchase my last banana, before beginning the 100 Mile Diet. I heaved a sigh and winced when I mentioned to Robin, my checker, that I am going to try the 100 Mile Diet for August….my displeasure was at feeling the need to forge within 100 miles for only 75% of my diet, because I reckon I would “die” without coffee….that, and all of our Washington-grown grains are just outside of 150 miles from Ballard! I laugh at the irony of the statement about coffee, given that I feel a great responsibility (or ability to respond) to learn to lessen my intake of such luxuries as coffee, while also increasing my gratitude level for even having access to fairly-traded, shade-grown coffee. (I am already conscious of actively supporting the right of all farmers to make a decent living (fair trade) and to support sustainable agriculture (shade-grown coffee drastically reduces the amount of fresh water needed to grow the plants.))
As I enter into this endeavor, I try to remind myself that I cannot possibly know what a future without “cheap” fossil fuels will look like. I hesitate to use the concept of “cheap,” and further the belief that there’s anything cheap about the way industrialized societies use fossil fuels. The true cost of our continued dependence on fossil fuels is being passed on future generations, if it is, indeed, a cost not to be borne by my generation, in the form of climate chaos and global economic disaster.
But, even so, I try to maintain the spirit of responsibility and gratitude, instead of acting out of guilt and despair. Not only do guilt and despair eat away at my soul and rob me of the Joy of Life, they also seem predicated on the belief that I know exactly what the transition period away from fossil fuel addiction will look like or amount to. It is truly wonderful that I do have an ability to respond (responsibility) and I feel tremendous gratitude to the Earth for all She so freely gives us — without our even having to ask!! I also feel tremendous gratitude for all farmers who feed the world, and make every effort to connect with my ability to choose with whom I spend my money and to what ends. I am grateful that I have slowly integrated “voluntary simplicity” into my life over the last several years, which enables me to spend more time becoming conscious of my connections to the outside world, whether that’s with my immediate community or with the human and greater-than-human family (i.e., the total ecology) on other continents. I am grateful that I voluntarily stopped watching television about ten years ago, which gives me not only peace of mind, but much more time to actually live and experience my own life as it is happening, both the “good” and the “bad” parts. I am very grateful to have good health and a constitution such that I can ride a bicycle most of the time, and that I took great pains to find a workplace that is in my neighborhood (currently, it’s about a mile from my flat!)
I find that all of these factors, and more, make my freedom to choose how I relate to the world (and thus to myself) increasingly apparent to me. It strikes me that each of us have our own particular living situations and various abilities to respond, various obligations and concerns, so that we may be able to support each other and give good reflections to one another on our choices, but that ultimately, it’s up to an individual to evaluate where they currently are, what they can realistically change in their lives, and then periodically re-evaluate to see what other steps could be taken, to come into a better relationship with the living planet. Having a community of support is vital in this process, but it truly is a unique journey for each person.
I look forward to sharing stories about my journey, as I re-discover the bounty of our bioregion, and build or reinforce healthy, new connections to the land which supports us, and contribute to the construction of an economy which serves all living beings - people and the Earth - equitably.
~~Artemis (a.k.a. Erica Jones, Co-founder, Sustainable Ballard)
Posted on July 31st, 2007 by artemis
Filed under: Uncategorized
So true, all of it - and the unique journey in particular. With regard to coffee, I’d just like to say one thing: all it takes is a week to become totally caffeine-free. I’ve done it, coming from many years of at least 3-4 cups a day, and yes - when you go cold-turkey, you will feel sick for at least a day or two. Migraines, nausea, light-headedness, you will deal with. And to me, it was a great revelation when it hit me that physical caffeine addiction could have such power. One more thing to be grateful for.
Not saying this to boast - just sharing my personal journey.