LOVE

National Hanging OutDay is April 19th.Success is often the result of taking a misstepin the right direction. – Al Bernstein12 - www.westcountygazette.com - 4/16/09By Laura ShaferWhy on Earth (Day) do we needanother national anything to do withlaundry day? Alex Lee, founderof the New Hampshire based nonprofit,Project Laundry List www.laundrylist.org started this day in1998 to call attention to the fact thatwith our changing climate, Americansneed to be reminded that more thanchanging light bulbs, more thanbuying a brand new Prius, the simpleact of hanging out one’s laundry to airdry will reduce carbon emissions andlower energy bills and a whole host ofother good things. This day is also tobring attention to the fact that a hugepercentage of our nation’s populationis prohibited from using a clotheslineby their Homeowners Association.Some homes forbid it in theirdevelopment’s original Grant DeedCC&R’s, mostly starting in the 1950’s,about the time builders began phasingout line drying areas, as modern “timesaving” dryers took over.I celebrate NHO Day because whenI found out that there were othersout there who shared my passionfor hanging laundry on the lineoutside, I knew my private little artproject of photographing laundryon clotheslines could bloom into abigger than art picture, as I joined adedicated group of people working allover the world, as individuals, and ingroups, to reverse global warming, tostop the patterns that will ensure ourgrandchildren’s grandchildren have aless pleasant future than we do, if theyhave any future at all.I started my business LineDry.com in 2007 with my husband, aftertwelve years of taking pictures oflaundry, because it was hard to findgood clothesline products in stores,and it was a way to do importantenvironmental work and dove-tale itwith my on-going art project. Maybeif people could see laundry on a lineas beautiful and interesting, as I do,they might hang out. That moment inspring, or fall, the light before a storm,the new leaves and the green towels,then maybe they would rememberhow fun it is to be between the lineson a hot day, smelling that warm cleansmell, knowing you are helping ourclimate, helping your budget, andeven toning your upper body muscles.It really is a fun service we get toprovide. We offer low-cost and highend options, taking in mind efficiencyand aesthetics. There is an air dyermodel for everyone’s budget andneeds. The whole rest of the worldline dries pretty much all the time.Now please don’t feel guilty if youlove your non-solar dryer, but don’tyou want to have the choice? To usea line, and then maybe finish it in thedryer for a fraction of the time to softenthe stiffness? On those hot summer(and spring and fall and yes even inwinter) days where the air alone willdry most of your laundry in less than45 minutes, the time spent hangingout, is a moving meditation that canput you in touch with an ancient ritual,a chance to see the world, a chanceto save the world. Small actions,repeated, yield big results. That’s whywe need a National Hanging Out Day.So celebrate all of you who neverstopped hanging out. Know thereis a day to recognize your steadycontribution. And to any of youwho aren’t yet back on line, we’ll behanging out at the Sebastopol Farmer’sMarket April 19th and 26th for any ofyour clothesline needs, and showinga few of our recent photos of Who’sHanging in West County. You canalso see our ad in the WCG and visitour store and gallery online at www.linedry.comLet laundry wave!