MAY '09 - The Nyack Villager

The Lifetime
Garden
by Jon Feldman
In recent memory, can you think of
something beneficial you’ve done
for the environment? Even something
simple, like using products
with earth-friendly chemicals, driving less or
picking up litter.
Do you Recycle?
I try. I truly do. But…I get complacent and
confused. is in one bin, that in another.
Tie these up, leave those loose. I never seem to
get the pick-up date right. I do know its every
other ursday, but I never know which one is
the other ursday.
I’ve lived the mantra of ‘Reduce, Reuse, Recycle’
my entire life. My personal recycling reticence
creates an impediment to my identity.
After all, my supermarket visits usually include
reusable bags. I turn off lights in a room even
before I leave it. I feel conspicuous using
paper towels rather than cloth and cringe
when choosing plastic over paper. Worst, is
the guilt felt when buying a plastic toy instead
of searching out a similar wooden one. And,
when those toys require batteries, I am moved
to downright self-loathing when making the
choice of disposables over re-chargeables.
I know better, but sometimes
I get paralyzed by indifference.
I was getting concerned that this behavior
wasn’t simply a ‘slip’, but that
I’d strayed. Could I have stopped
caring about the Earth? But recently,
and just when I was ready to recycle
the mirrors in the house in order to
avoid having to face myself, I was moved by the
energy and environmental call to action championed
by our new president. His focus on the
‘economics of ecology’ re-awakened my spirit
and re-ignited my commitment towards more
responsible consuming and disposing. My selfesteem,
and mirrors, were saved.
e transformation was quick and enthusiastic.
I’ve re-acquainted myself with my garbage.
I challenged my trash. My bins have made it to
the curb more regularly and I include a greater
percentage of eligible materials than ever before.
e best part is, I’ve managed to ease up on
myself, forgiving my past failings to applaud
the acts of humanism that are returning faster
than the advancing Spring.
Further inspired, and after threatening to do so
for years, I’ll re-activate my composting pile
this summer. Seriously. Composting isn’t hard,
or smelly, or gross. Removing your non-meat
food scraps from the kitchen pail will significantly
reduce your personal landfill footprint.
I credit Mr. Obama’s initiatives for my reprieve,
as another small, but noteworthy, achievement
of his remarkable agenda for the first 100 days.
Following in this new and exciting spirit of nationalism,
I will gladly provide information to
anyone interested in starting a compost space.
Who knows, you could become an environmental
hero without having to leave your home.
Email me, just don’t ask me to bring your bottles
and newspapers to the curb.
Jon Feldman is the owner of G. biloba Garden Environments.
Reach him at 353-3448. ✫
Community Notes start on page 14
Saturday, May 16, from 6-8pm. Tickets $5pp at
the gate. Info: www.regretthehour.com
1st Sundays Classical Music Meditation, Phil
Greenspan Film Festival, Weekly Compassionate
Communication Circle, AA Meetings, Nicotine
Anonymous Meeting, Buddhist Meditation.
For details call Mary Heckler: 845-358-4601 or
visit www.forusa.org
MUSICWORKS COFFEE HOUSE
Join us for a fun filled Friday evening of live
music and poetry, from 7 to 9pm at Nyack High
School on May 15. Admission $5, baked goods
and beverages will be available for purchase and
Community Notes continues on page 19
18 The Nyack Villager May, 2009