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The Green Beet: Driving Lesson

Posted on: July 5, 2009 | jenaransom | Comments Off | Print Article | Rate Post:

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greenbeetBy Jen Ransom

When it comes to being environmentally friendly, convenience many times means more damage to the environment. There are exceptions; running a full dishwasher, for example, takes less water than hand washing. But much of the time if you want something done or in-hand quickly, it’s going to result in some environmental costs.

My environmental goal these past few weeks is to drive the least amount possible. Walking or riding my bike is best, but if I must take a car I’ve attempted to either a) carpool with another family, or b) avoid making several “one-stop” trips in a week, rather combining several vehicle-required errands in just one day.

In my early 20’s, I did not own a car, nor did I have any trouble getting around and getting things done. As the college-atmosphere regularly allows for walking, I trekked back and forth from dormitory to classes each day, and took the bus or grabbed a ride with friends when I needed to go grocery shopping or wanted to watch a movie.

Fast-forward a decade: I live in a much smaller community now, and yet driving seems more and more like a necessity. Especially with a young child, it’s been difficult to just spend the afternoon walking to the grocery store and back. What about the laundry, dinner, and a little writing time?

I’ve noticed that I’m more environmentally conscious when I’ve planned ahead what I want to accomplish in a day or week, especially when my to-do list is short rather than a never-ending list of tasks.

This past week I planned an evening ride to the ATM, walked to hit the prolific amount of yard sales Soldotna is known for, and carpooled to watch the Independence Day parade in Kenai. Sure, we were in a gas-guzzling Suburban, but every seat was filled. Feeling a little “eco-smug”, I woke this morning with my environmentally-friendly day planned to a T. Walk to Mass, bike tonight to work, I even set water and teabags out in the sun so I could have iced tea while writing this column this afternoon. No driving until Tuesday. Well, the thought crossed my mind, if everyone could just plan a little better, we could use a lot less energy, right?

Don’t puke yet. As life usually doles out at the appropriate time, I got a hard-knock lesson today.

My toilet is clogged. Not just a “little-plunging-will-do-the-trick” clogged, but “husband-plunged-and-plunged-and-plunged-before-work” clogged and still nothing. It’s been slowly flushing for a while now – we wonder if the previous owner flushed dental floss, a sure way to eventually clog a toilet – but we hadn’t planned for what we would do when “it” just wouldn’t go down anymore. Screw the environment. “I want my convenience and I want it now” was my mode of thinking at that moment.

My hubby left to do his business at work, and I left to do mine at our parish. [Yes, you can laugh right now, it’s pretty funny]. Upon returning home, I walked in the bathroom to find the toilet still clogged and myself wondering what in the world was I going to do? I called the hardware store down the road and found out that a “closet auger” would probably do the trick. I could walk, I thought, but my daughter would fall asleep on the way – a problem if I was going to get this column written this afternoon. Plus, the auger sounded pretty awkward, and I wasn’t sure about carrying it and a little girl back at the same time.

And so I broke down and drove. I did manage to stop at the grocer along the way – and so maybe I’ll be able to go without shopping on Tuesday. But it wasn’t a well-planned trip, and I may not have picked up enough to get us through another week. Then with all the extra time taken to fix the toilet, I doubt I’ll have time to bike to work.

But all is not lost when insight is gained. Sometimes we need little reminders that because of the way we live here in the U.S. – and I wouldn’t trade my freedom or my toilet in, I promise – we end up doing some damage to the environment. We each have to do what we can, each day. Today I drove, but I saw others riding their bikes. Tomorrow I may walk, but another person may drop off their recycling during their daily motor commute. We can all do our part, big or small, to make our community, our state, our country and our world a better place. Happy Independence Day.

Jen Ransom holds a Master’s Degree in Environmental Education and Communication from Royal Roads University in Victoria, British Columbia. Raised in Seward, she now lives with her husband and daughter in Soldotna.

Category: Nature, Opinion

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