A green site: what does this mean?
In these times of difficult economic and environmental challenges, it is really important that an artist “practices what he preaches”, to borrow a commonly heard adage. Artists, by their very connection to detail and the rawness that allows art to form, find themselves in a position no one else shares. We interpret the world around us in a way that makes our viewers feel something. And hopefully the sentiment will inspire action. That is the responsibility of an artist towards his audience. Living a balanced life that gives thanks to the land that sustains and inspires the very life of the artist.
How can we achieve this? Well, first of all, recycle. We don’t “need” state-of-the-art technology, as long as it’s as energy efficient as possible. An old printer works just as well. Pass your extra PC on to a younger artist who comes along and may be able to pay little. Visit an area on “garbage day” and see who has put what jewelry up for the recycling truck that could be useful in creating a piece of “found art” or used around the house itself with a clean and blanket new. rough spots.
When not in use, turn off your computer equipment. Even when the switch is off but the power supply is still plugged in, it uses a constant supply of electricity. Which, in turn, generates waste gases at the production site and releases pollutants into the air. Even keeping your computer unplugged 6 hours a day can significantly reduce YOUR contributions to greenhouse gas emissions and lower your electricity bill. None of us are in such a hurry with a reader dying to wait to read the newest poem, that we have to leave the computer in “sleep” mode 24/7.
Recycled paper used for your printer. And if you print something that isn’t exactly how you want it, turn the paper over and use the other side instead of just throwing it away. Odd-sized pieces of project paper sized and stapled together, make a edible notepad and poetry drafts.
Don’t be afraid to use a notepad and a pen or pencil, do you remember them? instead of working solely on the computer. Writing giant Stephen King wrote “The Green Mile” on small notepads that he kept in a back pocket as he sat in Fenway Park waiting to see if the baseball game was going to be rained out.
Here are some other things we do as a family to make our lives “green living.” We raise chickens. Chickens are the vacuum cleaners of the bird world. We keep kitchen scraps as compost for the garden. Chickens eat a lot and move it one step further in the composting process from scrap metal to manure.
They are also good eaters of garden pests and insects and, by scratching, even contribute to the gardener’s weeding efforts. My hens all have names, not recommended if your plan is ultimately pot stew. Ours only give us wonderful eggs. We use the frozen egg whites as our very own “Egg Beaters”. Eggs also complement the food of our dogs instead of canned ones.
If you have a fish tank, use a vacuum hose or buckets and empty the rich water at changing time directly into your garden area. If you keep pet birds or rodents, such as gerbils or hamsters, their cage materials can also be added to a compost pile when needed.
We also share our lives with two pot-bellied pigs. These guys create some wonderful manure useful for collecting pellets that, even fresh, seem to please every variety of plant I’ve dug it on. If their enthusiasm is cornered and channeled, they can “help” lead the way with their strong snouts and shoulders. They also work as a mulch as they take root through their fascinating aromas and textures. This aerates the soil and provides a talkative gardening partner who also gets much-needed stimulation.
We primarily eat a diet of vegetables, most of which we grow ourselves and share with our animal friends. The weeds in the garden go to the hens for sorting with much comment and joy. What we don’t grow ourselves, we do our best to purchase from local and county farmers. We freeze or we can produce every summer. One of our small annual goals is to serve a Thanksgiving dinner comprised solely of things we grow ourselves. From potatoes to pumpkin, pumpkin pie and jams.
Hang the clothes to dry. A recent newspaper statistic cited that energy use from clothes drying is higher than any other source in the average home. The sun is a great natural bleach. Rain a great fabric softener. Air costs nothing and wind does not produce greenhouse gases. And you yourself have a break from typing on the computer. You do some weight lifting exercise and walk. And if your cats are anything like ours, we have two that love nothing more than climbing on laundry poles and being “wild” or curling up in the clean laundry basket while it’s being folded, while we’re hanging or taking it down.
These are just a few examples of how this writer’s house stays “green.” We look forward to more and an informative reference to books and sites for more information.