I am working with a neighborhood organization to improve tree canopy in my urban area. I got involved with my neighborhood association and another org in an effort to build and strengthen my community. I would love to take more action but I’m not sure what or how. Starting to see now that working together with people helps make us more resilient

  • tunetardis@lemmy.ca
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    1 year ago

    I am experimenting with various lifestyle choices that lower carbon footprint. It’s just me, of course, so a drop in a very large bucket in the grand scheme of things, but I figure you need to work some of these things out yourself before you know what to advocate to others?

    A few things include:

    • Cycling. I used to be a hardcore traditional cyclist but have taken to ebiking in recent years. Maybe a higher environmental footprint if you compare apples to apples, but what I’ve found is that I ebike far more than I ever regular-biked (it’s actually quite fun!), and that many trips that used to involve a car no longer do. My current experiment is trying out a fat-tire ebike to see if it’s better suited to winter riding as some claim? They certainly are a comfy commute!
    • My home has gas central heating + baseboard electric in certain rooms. So I am experimenting with having the gas heat set low and spot heating certain rooms with electric to see what that does to my bills? Further down the line, I’m contemplating a heat pump to replace central A/C and get some winter heating that way.
    • I am eating a lot less meat. Seems like a simple enough thing to do that I have read has an outsized benefit where climate is concerned? Doesn’t mean I’m always eating healthy, mind you. But if I’m at a Taco Bell, I’ll order the bean burrito instead of beef.

    In terms of adapting, I have been experimenting with various neck-cooling devices. The jury is still out at this point, but they all seem to help with heat exhaustion to which I am rather prone.

    • Bakachu@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Hello fellow e-biker! You and I have similar paths with the e-bikes and low meat diets. Glad to see others who are trying new things to reduce their carbon footprint. I think if enough people try at least one thing, it would effect greater change, so trying my best to do my part too.

    • NataliePortland@thegarden.landOP
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      1 year ago

      These are great steps and I love that they’re not mega lifestyle changes but easy to do and make work for you. I’ve been eating less beef too. Not none, but less. And I’ve got a little idea been bouncing in my head for a while: Guinea pigs. They are common food in South America. They eat almost anything, take very little space, and I’ve never tried one but I gotta admit they look tasty and they are very sustainable. I’m probably going to catch hate for saying that but damnit they’re trying to convince us to eat bugs!

      • tunetardis@lemmy.ca
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        1 year ago

        I have an in-law who’s from Peru and you’re right. Guinea pigs are what they call dinner there.

        We once had a pet guinea pig and I remember him as being a little poop factory. I guess for maximum sustainability, you’d want to factor that into making compost to grow your vegetable garden or whatever?