How You Going to Keep them Down on the Farm Once They've Seen Manhattan?

Fortunately there's no need to keep anyone down on the farm. Living a low-impact life starts where you are now. This is really important, because I think one of the instinctive reactions that people have to facing the future is "I've got to get a farm!" Now I love my farm - I wouldn't trade it for anything. But I liked being a city girl too - I still miss car-free life, since I didn't drive until I was 28 (and I still hate it), and I loved the vibrancy and culture.

So what can you do to save the world if you live in NYC, or Boston, LA or SF? Well, you could do what Colin Beavan and his family are doing at www.noimpactman.com. They are living a life without disposable anything (including tp), with only local food, no cars, no nothing, minimal appliances, no buying (like us, but we still buy recycled toilet paper) and it sounds like fun to me. Colin is a smart guy, and there will be a movie and a book about this as well.

All of which should just remind everyone that there are no excuses - you do what you need to now, where you are, in your place. If you can't grow a victory garden, get a windowbox. If you can't give up your car, walk or bike a little more each day. If you can't undo what you've done, start now and begin thinking "what do I really need, and what gets me the life I believe in."

And check out Colin's cool blog. And if I'm going to keep up with the Beavens', I'd better go try and persuade Eric to go toilet paper free. Hmmm...I wonder how high the impact of all that divorce paperwork would be... ;-).

Sharon, who has actually been experimenting for some time with mullein and lambs ears leaves ;-).