This is the story of how I, and subsequently my family, was dragged into enviro-culture compliance. This will be an ongoing tale, for even today I am resistant to all of the political hoopla that surrounds the “Green” movement.
You should understand a little about me, and my upbringing, before you dismiss my observations. Many will read this and dismiss these views as merely the rants of an uneducated miscreant, while others will look for my pen to champion their side of “the cause”. These are merely my observations from within a part of our society that I would have never volunteered to join.
I was raised by depression era parents. And by depression era I mean “The Great Depression” of the 1930′s, not the current economic adjustment that is weeding out sloppy and unscrupulous business practices. No, I am referring to people that had gardens that they actually lived on throughout the year. People that killed wild game for their meat supply.
Growing up with an avid outdoorsman from the depression era taught me to only harvest what is needed, and to not waste what is harvested. These people were true environmentalists. They knew their actions this year would affect their harvest next year. However, we were not afraid to harvest, because we also knew that a failure to do so could also, potentially, reduce the yield the following year. These were people that believed humans are the chief among creation, but not to the exclusion of creation. Evolution was just another word for decomposition.
The careers of their industry had been trapping, farming, ranching, and logging. In my growing up years we raised mink, one of which I domesticated for a pet. The rest were harvested, the pelts becoming available for the fur market and the carcasses being rendered for their oil and other byproducts. We had pigs, bees, Welsh Ponies, German Shepherd-Labradors (2 litters), and a monkey.
We also drove big vehicles, burned our trash in a barrel behind the house, mowed the lawn with a gas mower and celebrated the invention of Styrofoam. When we changed the oil in the car we thought it was perfectly acceptable to pour it on the gravel road in front of our house in order to keep the dust down. For all of the rugged outdoorsman that was my father, my mother was the queen of modern convenience. We were not a wealthy family, but we made sure we had every creature comfort we could afford. A riding lawnmower, color television, dishwasher and any other device that would remove our family from the primitive days of the 30’s and move us into the jet age of the 50’s and 60’s.
I tell you all of that so you will know I’m a regular stereotypical American. Red meat eating, go to church every Sunday, multiple guns in the house, four wheel drive in the driveway, take a week off of work during hunting season, never miss Homecoming, pay attention to the flag when it comes through in a parade, draft dodgers ought to go to jail because America is still the best country ever to exist sort of American. Nothing exotic, nothing terribly broad, just a simple guy that loves his country.
That’s why “Going Green” is such a hard transition for me. It’s not that I don’t appreciate the little blue ball we call home; it’s just that I don’t appreciate all of the superfluous hype that surrounds the movement.
In December of 2009 we blew the head gasket on our family minivan. A year earlier the minivan I was using as a utility vehicle seized up. Unwilling to finance a replacement vehicle, unable to buy an adequate vehicle outright, and absolutely resolved to being debt free we set out to live our lives without owning a vehicle. For the first time in 38 years I do not own an automobile. This will be my story of how we have survived life without a car. My perceptions, my struggles, my victories, and my observations of the “Green Movement”. I admit I am biased, but then again that should make for good reading. Those that agree with me will be able to shout amen while those that disagree will be able to shout other things.
Thanks for coming along; I hope you enjoy the ride as I tell the tale of being “Reluctant Green”.
Gary Russell
You know what I say, God did not make no WEAK planet!!! Global warming is as FAKE as evolution! The GREEN movement makes me wanna PUKE! People should not believe everything they hear. Usually the MASSES, don’t know their head from their behind! I really need my own blog!
No wonder they think the planet is falling apart. They think it’s millions of years old! When it’s actually only a few thousand years old.
While I don’t agree with the “Green Movement”, Faith, I am going to attempt to be as respectful as possible. My particular blog is really going to be about my experiences of doing business while using mass transit. In the next post I will explain how I came to be “Reluctant Green”. Hopefully people will get the connection to “Soylent Green”.
Well, so far so good. In some respects it’s a lot like many of us seasoned guys. I’m interested to see where this article goes. It’s great subject with many rabbit trails on it. But knowing you, you will adequately lay out the facts and make me think a little harder. By the way, besides my yard, green is my all time least favorite color.