More and more Americans are realizing that adopting a sustainable lifestyle is changing from a luxury to a necessity. Every major problem we see in the world today, from war to environmental destruction to resource prices, is tied to the unsustainable direction of consumer-based globalization. Living sustainably might be the best way an individual can help save the planet and society.
The fantastic news is that it doesn't mean suffering or giving up most of our Digital Age comforts. Get started on the road toward carbon-neutral Digital Age living with Doug Fine, award-winning author of Not Really an Alaskan Mountain Man and Farewell, My Subaru.
By using humor and encouragement rather than fear, this workshop will motivate those who want to retrofit their lives into a sustainable model, but believe it is beyond their abilities or free time parameters. Even (especially) non-tech-savvy individuals can succeed!
The workshop begins with a humorous and informative one-hour talk by Fine about how he got most fossil fuels out of his life. The talk will include explanations of concepts like carbon miles in food, use and cost of solar power in the home, and alternative fuels for personal transportation.
The next day Fine will lead participants in a morning hike through the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve, discussing global climate change, globalization, and the way these affect our lives.
In an interactive creative problem-solving session, participants will work in small groups with Fine to brainstorm how to reduce fossil fuel use in their own lives in each of three categories discussed in the previous evening's presentation: in the home, in transportation and work, and in food/carbon miles.
Participants will leave the workshop energized about sustainable living and armed with ideas to help them:
- Power their homes with sustainable energy such as solar and wind
- Drive on non-petroleum fuels
- Get the carbon miles out of their food by eating locally
There is hardly a more timely workshop than this one. Carbon-neutral or bust!
