In these challenging economic and environmental times, it’s really important for an artist to “walk the talk,” 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 that 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 is as energy efficient as possible. An old printer works just as well. Pass on your extra PC to a younger artist who is coming up and maybe can pay little. Visit an area on “garbage day” and see who has put in which jewelry for the recycling truck that could be useful in creating a piece of “found art” or used in one’s own home with a wipe and blanket new. the rough spots.
When you are not using it, 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 for 6 hours a day can significantly reduce YOUR contributions to greenhouse gas emissions and lower your electric bill. None of us are in such a rush with a reader dying of having 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’s not exactly how you want it, flip the paper over and use the other side instead of just throwing it away. Oddly sized pieces of paper from projects sized and stapled together, make a notepad for groceries and poetry drafts.
Don’t be afraid to use a notepad and a pen or pencil, do you remember those? 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 life a “green life.” 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 to manure.
They are also good eaters of garden pests and insects, and by scratching, they even contribute to the gardener’s weeding efforts. My chickens all have names, not recommended if your plan is ultimately the stew pot. Ours only give us wonderful eggs. We use the egg whites to freeze as our own “Egg Beaters”. Eggs also complement our dogs’ diet instead of canned ones.
If you have a fish tank, use a vacuum hose or buckets and empty the rich water at change time directly into your garden area. If you keep birds or rodents as pets, such as gerbils or hamsters, their cage materials can also be added to a compost pile when needed.
We also share our life with two potbellied pigs. These guys create a wonderful manure useful for collecting pellets which, even fresh, seems to please all the varieties of plants I have dug it into. If their enthusiasm is cornered and channeled, they can “help” lead the way with their strong muzzles and shoulders. They also work as a mulch while taking root through their fascinating aromas and textures. This aerates the soil and provides a talkative gardening partner who also gets much-needed stimulation.
We eat primarily a diet of vegetables, most of which we grow ourselves and share with our animal friends. The weeds in the garden go to the chickens to be sorted with much comment and joy. What we don’t grow ourselves, we do our best to buy from local and county farmers. We freeze or can produce every summer. One of our small yearly 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 the energy use of clothes drying is higher than any other source in an average home. The sun is a great natural bleach. Rain down a great fabric softener. Air costs nothing and wind does not produce greenhouse gases. And you yourself have a break from typing at the computer. You do some weight lifting exercise and walk. And if your cats are anything like ours, we have two that enjoy nothing more than climbing on the laundry poles and being “wild” or snuggling in the clean laundry basket while it’s being folded, while we hang the laundry or take 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 of books and sites for more information.