My vision of a sustainable community includes a lot less 'screen time', more time spent working and playing together, less time indoors, more time outdoors.  In a sustainable community, we are more supportive of each other, we know each other just a little better.  This way, we will build the connections and the political will needed to make all the changes we need to make in our energy sources, our transportation means, our land use, our diet, and our waste management.   This is much easier to write than to make real.  

My diet impacts deforestation because I consume these top four contributing foods:  palm oil, coffee, chocolate, and meat/dairy/eggs (soy crops grown for animal feed).  I have learned that looking for the little green 'Rainforest Alliance Certification' frog on the chocolate and coffee labels helps reduce this impact.  Palm oil can be avoided by avoiding most processed foods (the stuff that's not great for us anyway).  And reducing meat/dairy/eggs - well, the process is underway!  There are more foods and recipes available all the time that support the switch to a plant-based diet.  

Researching sources of financial help for retrofitting was not too fruitful in this 20 minutes!  So far, in our area, I have found that Central Hudson helps out with financing and rebates of $600-$1000 depending on certain qualifications.  But they are working to help you stay with their services (electric and natural gas).  There looks to be some nice programs for lower income homeowners and renters through RUPCO.  Keeping an eye out for other incentives....

As a teacher I can/will continue to educate my students about the importance of the three R's, as well as other practices they can be part of that will help us create change. Making our young ones aware, and helping them to develop good habits now is part of the solution!

Loved sharing information with my class about recycling- and reducing their waste and reusing. They are excited to learn and inspired to make their own small changes.

Regenerative  agricultural practices increase carbon rich soil. This allows roots to grow deeper, nutrient uptake to increase , water retention to improve and builds pest resistance. All
Makes for a better garden! 

I really want to prioritize my family and our experiences over “stuff”. 

Learning about the difference between use by/ sell by/ best by dates definitely increases my awareness that many products do not need to be tossed out. They are safe, even though the date warns otherwise.  Fruits and veggies that aren’t quite as attractive can still be just tasty and healthy when cooked. Also like the idea of stashing fruit in the freezer as it starts to wilt/ soften to be used in smoothies!