Two posts in one night! I must have a lot of homework to avoid!
Recently, I've gotten really curious about the localvore movement -- a food movement based on only consuming locally grown and produced foods. So I did some googling, and there's a great resource for those in the Lansing area at Lansing Area Localvores. I think it's a really great idea, considering all the drawbacks of our current food production infrastructure, the machinations of which are pretty dangerous and (I think) insane. Michigan residents are lucky enough to live in one of the few stats that can support mass agriculture, we should take advantage of that.
I'm also really impressed by the commitment of all the localvore set-ups I've seen to bringing healthy, affordable food to lower-income neighborhoods. The link between poverty an health is so pronounced, and I think a large part of that is that cheap food is almost always unhealthy food. It's cheaper to make and transport mass produced synthetic food than fresh fruits and vegetables.
And I'm especially happy to see that several of the farmers markets in the Lansing area take food stamps. Really, I think that's awesome.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Intro/Goal
After two failed attempts to get a blog off the ground, I'm a little bit cynical about this one. But I plan to graduate in a year, and a blog will (I hope) give me a good writing base. Something I can point to on applications, if only to say "Look! I can type!"
In an effort to motivate myself to write more, I've decided that this blog will have a purpose - versus the usual hapless ramblings. I've decided to use this to track my progress in a little summer project, hereby known as "Project Not Buying Shit." Why? Because like most Americans, I own too much crap. Too many shoes, too many witty t-shirts. Not not only do I buy too much, I buy it at the wrong places -- corporately owned megastores and supermarkets. And I feel bad about it, really. Every time I look in my closet or pantry, I'm struck with guilt over the people that I know are being exploited, and the wasteful ways in which my money is being utilized.
So, what am I going to do? I think the title of the project says it all, really. For the rest of the summer (which started only two weeks ago) I will try my hardest not to spend money on anything but essentials (food, household supplies*) and rent. I'm also going to allow myself a weekly budget for entertainment and craft supplies, under the stipulation that whatever I'm buying must, in some way, enrich my life or someone else's.
Now, I'm not going to lie. This is going to be really fucking hard for me. I love to shop - its bonding activity for my family and friends, a way to relax, a way to de-stress. But it's also a huge fucking waste of money.
So, here goes nothing. I hope.
*As far as household supplies go, I'm going to be trying my hand at homemade cleaning solutions this summer. I've heard nothing but good things, and the effect that cleaning chemicals have on our environment is something to seriously consider -- especially when you clean as much as I do.
In an effort to motivate myself to write more, I've decided that this blog will have a purpose - versus the usual hapless ramblings. I've decided to use this to track my progress in a little summer project, hereby known as "Project Not Buying Shit." Why? Because like most Americans, I own too much crap. Too many shoes, too many witty t-shirts. Not not only do I buy too much, I buy it at the wrong places -- corporately owned megastores and supermarkets. And I feel bad about it, really. Every time I look in my closet or pantry, I'm struck with guilt over the people that I know are being exploited, and the wasteful ways in which my money is being utilized.
So, what am I going to do? I think the title of the project says it all, really. For the rest of the summer (which started only two weeks ago) I will try my hardest not to spend money on anything but essentials (food, household supplies*) and rent. I'm also going to allow myself a weekly budget for entertainment and craft supplies, under the stipulation that whatever I'm buying must, in some way, enrich my life or someone else's.
Now, I'm not going to lie. This is going to be really fucking hard for me. I love to shop - its bonding activity for my family and friends, a way to relax, a way to de-stress. But it's also a huge fucking waste of money.
So, here goes nothing. I hope.
*As far as household supplies go, I'm going to be trying my hand at homemade cleaning solutions this summer. I've heard nothing but good things, and the effect that cleaning chemicals have on our environment is something to seriously consider -- especially when you clean as much as I do.
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