Living the green life

Taking the big step and choosing to go green or living the sustainable life can be quite the challenge. Unless you were born into a family that is already eco conscious, then green protocols can be just as shocking as the family protocols of your new in-laws. It takes adjusting, patience and determination because sometimes it can get a bit trying and many give up after a week or so.

When you first start off, similar to a diet or going vegetarian you’re fuelled by the enthusiasm, but as it all moves along you’ll start to fill the stress of it – the restrictions, the hassle, the change will all leave you feeling as though you’re leading a lonely existence. But if you push through that stage you’ll soon find that there are no restrictions and there certainly isn’t any hassle. You’ll work out a routine and everything will fall into place. But if you’re just starting off and you’re absolutely not convinced then perhaps the stories of the following 2 people will be of inspiration.

1.    Pensioner, Gay Cossins
She’s 64, a twice divorced; former special needs teacher who has made the best of her experience of growing up during the war by putting to use the creativity with limited resourced she picked up during the ‘rationing’ years. By just having the foresight to install a £1,850 log burner for heating and cooking, and spending £700 on sheep's wool to insulate her loft, she has saved herself £2,000 a year on energy bills, which allows her to generously afford a £1,800 14ft swimming pool in her garden which is filled by environmentally-friendly chemicals treated rainwater. She grows her own vegetables and uses natural sources (herbs, fruits, vegetables, wildflowers, weeds etc) for her health and beauty regime. Would it inspire you more to learn she only pays just £26 a year for gas and £60 for electricity (that’s 7p and 16p a day respectively) for her lovely her four-bedroom home?

2.  Pensioner, Joan Pick
Joan Pick is 67 years old. She has never been married and has been an avid eco-warrior since 1973. Now while every green lover has their own specific dedication/cause, Joan Pick’s has to do with energy. She is determined to be the person who leaves the smallest carbon footprints in Britain, a living example of how an energy efficient lifestyle is survivable. What’s her extreme green act? Well she hasn’t used trains, planes and automobiles since 1973! Well that’s not entirely true, she has broken the rule twice since then but all for very forgivable reason- once in 1992 for her mother’s funeral (she got into the hearse) and another time in 1991 when she dislocated her shoulder (an ambulance ride). Shunning modern transportation, she either walks or runs to her destinations. She doesn’t heat her home or her food. Instead to brave the chills, she just puts on more clothes (her clothes are all home made too!) and she eats only raw fruit, nuts and wheatgerm (no cooking!). But if you think this just another one of your average eco-campaigners then boy do you have it wrong, because she is a physics and maths degree holder (Bristol University), a former scientist who has been a member of mensa since 1966!

Well if these women can do it in with their extreme resolution to the green cause, why can’t the rest of us survive just making that change to go organic or buy local fresh produce/products?