If you’re feeling cynical about your 100-buck carbon tax
rebate, don’t. Hadi Dowlatabadi, professor at the Liu Institute for Global
Issues at UBC and renowned researcher into all kinds of fascinating things
futuristic — such as how we humans are going to contend with climate
change — isn’t touched by a shred of cynicism over it. And, for what it’s
worth, neither am I.
By Mr. Dowlatabadi’s measure a carbon tax rebate like this is a
good way of compensating for the new 2.4-cent/litre carbon tax at the gas pump.
He thinks it’s the right behaviour-modification tool attached to the right spot
— the consumer end of business — and a nice way to jump-start new
conversations and new ways of thinking. Like this.
Let’s suppose for a minute that we’re talking about a single
person living in a condo at Creekside. The rebate, which should be in your
hands or at least your mailbox by now, is a clear hundred bucks you didn’t
expect to get. (A family of four, on the other hand is getting $400 —
$100 for each man, woman and dependent child, as the premier said.)
So how are
you
going to spend
that sucker to reduce your carbon footprint? The media’s doing a pretty good
job of covering the obvious options (buying 100 bucks’ worth of energy-saver
bulbs or new weather stripping) and the not so obvious (adding a computerized
fuel gauge monitoring device to your car).
The food zone also falls into the latter category, mainly
because we all eat, too much, some would say, and usually do it more out of
habit than mindfulness. So in the spirit of following in Carole Taylor’s green
shoes — from local designer John Fluevog, by the way — here are
some low-cal carbon strategies for leaving a better planet for the next seven
generations:
1. Go for a 50/50 garden:
I say spend 50 bucks on leasing a community garden plot for the year and 50
bucks for plants, seeds and a watering can. Not only will you have lots of
salad and stir-fry ingredients all summer long, and into the fall, you’ll also
have a lot of fun and get to mingle with some neighbours you might not
otherwise meet. For a plot in Pemberton’s community garden, visit Solstice
Organics or call them at 604-894-1410. For one at Whistler call Whistler
Community Services at 604-932-0113.
2. Go whole hog on organics:
Okay, so some people argue that organic food is more expensive than
run-of-the-mill, commercially grown food. I say give your head a shake. First
of all, North Americans pay less than 10 per cent of their disposable income on
food; in Europe, it’s 20+ per cent, and third-world residents pay 50-75 per
cent of their disposable income on food. Then what price do you place on
millions of tons of pesticides and carbon-based fertilizers dumped into our
ecosystems every day so one guy wearing a gas mask can farm 15,000 acres? And
what price commercial agribusiness where 4-5 companies control 60-80 per cent
of global food supply and everything along the system from production and
transportation to warehousing, packaging and marketing?
So buy yourself $100 worth of the finest organics money can
buy. Start with the tastiest treats. Try organic strawberries, tomatoes and
chicken, ideally locally produced. Throw in an organic watermelon. You might
just find that they taste and look so great that you’re satisfied with less.
Plus, you did pay a little more so I bet you handle everything with more
respect and care (subtext: you waste less).
At least go bananas and buy $100 worth of Green & Black
chocolate (the “green” represents the organic sources, the “black” the darkness
of the chocolate). Invite a bunch of pals over and see what y’all think. Melt
the Green & Black and dip in organic bananas. Yum.
3. Go squeaky-green clean:
Drop 100 bucks on eco-friendly cleaners. Once again, maybe you’ve been holding
yourself back ’cuz they seem to cost more, but you just got a $100 windfall so
treat yourself. In our home, we love Bio-Vert and Nature Clean products: they
work like a hot-damn and they’re made right here in Canada. Bleach-free bleach,
anyone?
4. You’ll never meet a farmer you didn’t like:
Do some concept shopping and spend your whole kit
and kaboodle at a farmer’s market: Whistler, Pemberton, Trout Lake, Salmon Arm,
it doesn’t matter. Shop till you drop (a hundred) and have a blast mingling
with the sources: the fine people who grow the goods, bake the breads, make the
crafts and sauces. Better yet go right to the source — a farm. Load up
your car with family or friends so your carbon footprint is minimal and your
fun factor optimal, and spend the day at North Arm Farm in Pemberton. Tally how
many fresh strawberries or butter tarts you can eat and still stay standing.
5. Bottoms up to disposables:
So you’re a busy but conscientious parent. You hate it that disposable
diapers are the third largest contributors to landfills. Ugh. But you don’t
have a spare minute to wash diapers, and a diaper service is way off the radar
screen. Solution: get on down to Nesters Market with your rebate cheque and
treat you, baby and the landfill to $100 worth of gDiapers. These amazing
chlorine-free diapers are flushable; the poo-free ones are compostable. So save
waste, save trucking, and add to your garden.
6. Get naked:
Next time
you’re grocery shopping, check out the bulk bins.
You get the real meal, stripped-down deal — no
packaging, and the exact amount you need, so no excuse for stale goods tossed
in the landfill, plus lots of stores are stocking more and more organic bulk
choices.
7. Get hot:
Pool your
family’s cheques toward a good barbecue. Better yet, organize your condo
neighbours and buy one you can all use. Yes, barbecues use gas or propane, but
their ability to generate instant heat means their overall footprint is likely
smaller than heating with your oven or stove. Plus you won’t be heating your
house (tell me you only use your air conditioner when you’re really desperate,
right?). If you grill everything there won’t be a dirty pot in sight, which
always leads to happier chefs and sous-chefs. And isn’t all that summery char-grilled
food really a carbon sink?
Glenda Bartosh is an award-winning freelance writer who already has a pretty good barbecue and so donated her rebate to The Land Conservancy’s West Creek Wetlands project.