Note — This giveaway has ended. Congratulations to “Laura” who was randomly chosen to win a copy of “The New Normal.”
Today is day two of Giveaway Week, and today I will be giving away a copy of Dave Wann’s The New Normal: An Agenda for Responsible Living. Long term blog readers will remember Dave Wann as the author of Simple Prosperity: Finding Real Wealth in a Sustainable Lifestyle, which was the one and only Non-Consumer Advocate book selection. He’s also the co-author of Affluenza.
Wann’s new book promotes “An agenda that puts responsibility to our fellow citizens and the health of our planet front and center.” I haven’t actually read this book yet, but the publisher sent me a copy, which I’m happy to share. (I can always get a library copy.) Dave is a great guy, and was really helpful when we did the book club, providing guest posts, giveaway books and even sending me a word document of the entire book so I wouldn’t have to copy out passages!
To enter to win your own copy of The New Normal, write something in the comments section about something, however small that you’re doing in your life for your fellow citizens.
I will randomly choose a winner next Sunday, March 27 at 9:00 P.M., west coast time.
Click HERE to enter yesterday’s giveaway of Annie Leonard’s The Story of Stuff.
Katy Wolk-Stanley
“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without”
{ 106 comments… read them below or add one }
Is he the author of the documentary Affluenza as well? I am relatively new to blogging and have never heard of any of these books.
I think doing an environmental blog to encourage friends, family and strangers is the best way to teach our quirky ways and remind everyone of what we learned in grade school is not just theory but also practical individual change. Plus we kind of suck at being “green” sometimes.
Walking and biking everywhere I can- and encouraging others to join me! I love walking to work and seeing so many people pass by on foot, it always secretly makes me feel a part of a walking revolution!
I study to become a teacher because I believe that our society needs “multiplier” – people with ideas of sustainable living who have the opportunity to share with many people (and to be a good example for the next generations).
I try to have as much extra garden produce as possible to be sure that as many of those around me as I can touch have good, organically-raised food. It isn’t always much, but it is something.
I live as simply as possible so I can work at a part time job that helps kids who need support in reading and math. If we weren’t to live this way, I would have to go back to working a corporate job in the city.
Personally, I’m shopping the farmers’ market more consistently and have learned to can. For my community, I help my friend and her mom who have started a Cinderella’s Closet type organization to loan prom gowns to girls who might not otherwise be able to go to prom. We collect and refurbish used gowns and loan them to the girls so we can continue to use them. It’s a great experience and helps the community as well.
I try to buy local produce/dairy when offered at the grocery store…and I always stop to pick up trash in the parking lot!
My husband and I became a one car family almost a year ago. It was tough at first, but now I don’t think twice about it. Not only does it save us the extra money on gas, insurance, maintenance, etc., but there is one less car polluting the air in our city. As small as a difference as that is, I know it’s still a difference.
I try to buy locally grown produce and when I go out running I take a bag with me to collect trash. Its amazing how much stuff people throw “away” on the side of the road.
I ride my bike (or walk) and buy from locally owned businesses when I can. I also nag the students I supervise to put paper in the recycle bin not the trash can.
I am a recycling nag, especially at work. Anyone I catch throwing paper or a soda bottle in the trash gets in trouble.
I am trying to become locavore girl, which is difficult here in Anchorage, AK. We buy our eggs from a friend, and I don’t really bake with them all that often–applesauce works just as well, and I can save the gorgeous, delicious eggs for when I want to have a gorgeous, delicious egg. I am going to learn to dipnet this summer and catch us a mess of salmon, which I will then smoke most of (the fiance prefers it smoked, though I go either way) and freeze. Berrying-canning-freezing is also on the list–so exciting! I feel really lucky to be able to do all of this so close to my home.
Each year I am a volunteer online judge for a national science competition directed a middle school kids. The goal is for them to combine science and technology to improve their community. I am just finishing up scoring this years submissions and hope that through feedback and comments I will be fostering the next generation of scientists. So many of them are interested in improving the environment or dealing with human health issues – it is really inspiring.
As a future pediatrician, I’m teaching myself about environmentally and socially sustainable living now so I can pass on what I learn to my patients and their families.
Also trying to live by example – carrying reusable eating supplies, taking the stairs, etc.
Right now I am membership chair for our Friends of the Library group. With a $3Million cut in the county library funds there are no dollars to buy books. I am working with others to increase donations of cash and books and to run used book sales to raise money. I truly dread the day when people can’t borrow books from the library.
I try to do as many little things as possible to add up to make a difference: I shop at our local co-op and farmer’s market, recycle as much as possible, and educate my friends and family about the truth of factory farming (in as un-scary a way as possible), and about how many delicious and convenient vegetarian and vegan alternatives there are to factory farmed meat.
I run my errands together. I start at the farthest and work my way home. This way I’m just running errands once per week to save gas. And if I can’t run my errands once per week, I definately group trips together.
And I’m trying very, very hard not to forget my reusable shopping bags. They are in my car all the time.
I recycle whatever I can – paper, cartons, tins, clothes etc
I am trying to purchase more bulk items…beans, wheat, etc. to cut back on packaging and waste costs. I am also trying to get more people involved with this purchasing adventure. I am finding that cooking from scratch and staying out of the grocery store equals way less waste.
Gardening and sharing produce, and shopping at the local farmer’s market are great pleasures.
I also am part of citizens’ environmetal water monitoring program–we’re establishing baseline data for stream health, especially in local salmon streams.
I participate in trash pick-up/maintenance events and help in food bank garden with donates organically grown food to the local food bank.
I became a vegetarian four years ago which as we know is great for the environment all meals cooked at home are vegetarian so the family is involved. We bring our own bags when shopping. We try to buy items that we may need/want at Second hand stores. When I drive it is a hybrid (used to drive a big Dodge quad cab, so bad). We down sized from 2400 sq. ft. house to a 1300 sq. ft house. I’ve tried your no heat challenges and was able to do it longer than I thought possible. 🙂 I haven’t caved in like the other people in our area and bought my kid a car. She is 18 and walks to school and uses Public transportation to go to the malls with her friends. We recycle. I tried to grow a garden here at my new house but the squirrels at it. I wish I could do more and we try all the time.
Batch errands in one trip.
Check for cheap gas on gasbuddy.com and report prices to help other out.
We recycle probably 20 times more than we put out for trash. We repurpose/reuse everything we can. We donate lots of stuff – household and clothes – to our local CARE (Center for Abuse & Rape Emergencies) resale store & buy from there too as ALL profits go to the Center. We accept any and all donations from anyone and take them to the CARE store too. We garden and share with neighbors. We try really hard to buy from local stores within a 10 mile radius and to only go out once a week for errands. The less of our natural resources we use, the happier we are.
I am teaching preschool aged children who are NOT in preschool in efforts to prepare them for school. These kids live in spanish speaking households and some know little to no spanish and will be starting school next year.
I am attempting to consume as little as possible – I don’t waste foood or consume a lot of meat, I don’t drink bottled water, I bring re-useable bag to the store, I walk when I can.
I mentor a high-risk high school student in hopes of helping her graduate and pursue a higher education. I also bring re-usable bags to the store. 🙂
I now live less than two blocks from my workplace, so when I moved five years ago, I sold my car and haven’t looked back since!
I volunteer at an animal shelter. Doing a mutt strut this weekend!
I write a nice check each month to my local no-kill animal shelter. I volunteer one day a week at the food bank. I give my used clothes to my daughter-in-law who is a social worker at a hospital and uses them for patients.
There is always room for more imrovement, though.
I shop second hand for almost everything durable. Not only does that save our family money and help the environment, but thrift stores all either use their revenues for their own community programs (Goodwill) or give back their profits to other nonprofits (Value Village).
I’d like to do more, however. I’d love to read this book to get some ideas.
One of my favorite days of the week is when I volunteer at the local library. I walk into town from my house (a lovely 1 mile or so each way), and then spend a couple of hours checking and reshelving the books in the young adult section. Ever since we became non-consumer advocates, the library has been such an important part of our lives – we probably take out 15-20 books and dvd’s a week! Like so many other libraries, our local is having its budget slashed big time. So this is a nice way to give back to an organization that I love, while getting some exercise and socializing. A win-win-win situation.
I am trying to more consciously buy from locally owned businesses.
I’ve given away over 300 things since the start of the year. I want others to be able to use them while they are still good.
I volunteer at my local Council on Aging one Monday each month. I do a cooking class on inexpensive/quick cooking. I have been doing this for the past 3 or so years and I love it! I have so much fun and the people who attend seem to love everything I cook. So much nicer than cooking for my family (they seem not to appreciate it as much since they eat my cooking every night). I talk about all types of cooking techniques, where and how to buy the best and most frugal food, etc. I always tell them that if I won the lottery for big money, I would go there more often to cook. I learn more from them than they do from me. It’s a fabulous thing!
I also volunteer at my local library for the Friends of the Library. We raise money for specials kids events and library events throughout the year. We organize book sales and other fund raising activities.
I really love both volunteer opportunities. My kids help out at both of them when they are not in school. It’s important for them to give back also.
We’re making our own granola bars – reducing packaging and not eating as much processed food! I also volunteered to judge at the Regional Science Fair last week – I wanted to talk to kids one-on-one about environmental science.
I am a master garderner volunteer helping home gardeners with their questions and work on and off at the demonstration garden. We also cook from scratch, buy bulk, local and from farmer’s markets.
I volunteer at my local American Cancer Society thrift shop and also with Junior Achievement (where I try to insert a “buy local” spin and other socially conscious learning). I know all the colleagues at my local Goodwill store — which I haunt and often to. I try to “buy local” and to support local businesses. We have chickens and rather than selling out eggs — we mostly distribute them to friends and acquaintances — they are always a “hit” due to their freshness and the fact that they are blue, tan and beige — never white.
This book sounds interesting!
Our little town has a free clinic where people can see a doctor and get their meds for $10 a month if they qualify. I volunteer there and it is such a blessing to me to be able to do this.
I try to help the people around me by being positive. So often, people focus on what doesn’t work – what needs changing. I try to enjoy every day and model that for those around me.
I try to do my part by modeling for my Environmental Science (high school) students what I talk about in class – consuming fewer resources, producing less trash and less pollution, recycling graywater, shopping local, growing as much food/eggs as possible, not having to have the newest gadget/phone. My students are always impressed that their teacher is actually doing the green stuff and shows them how, too!
We regularly donate to the local Latin Center (which gives it all away at no charge) and Goodwill. I volunteered at a local homeless shelter for years and found that VERY fulfilling (had to quit when the rules changed to where the volunteers had to police the guests, as opposed to just being welcoming). Anyway, volunteering there was quite rewarding…made me extra thankful to come home to my own home/bed as well as reminded me to always be smart with money.
I work in a school that actually uses styrofoam trays. It drives me crazy and I have been working with them and talking to them to try and stop this practice. It makes me physically sick to see all that trash that will never biodegrade.
I have instituted 2 “no drive” days each week when the kids and I just enjoy life at home with each other! We also are expanding our organic vegetable garden plot this season!
Donating time and money to both local and global causes. At this particular time, prompted by the current economic situation, I am focused on feeding the hungry. I believe it is extremely difficult for people to contribute to society if they are unsure where their next meal is coming from.
Something I do for the people who are here now: I try to remember to be friendly and open to the people I interact with throughout my day. Sometimes I’ve been having a down day and one small connection with someone will be enough to turn it around. I hope I give that to other people sometimes.
Something I do for the planet and for future people: I’ve been really focusing on reducing my driving lately. I get up earlier to hike up the big hill to work, and I’ve been taking the bus to visit my boyfriend sometimes. Learning a new bus route is always a little intimidating, but ultimately very satisfying. 🙂
I just loved “Simple Prosperity”, and I would love to have this book.
We are using cloth diapers for our infant, and for the most part we’re loving it. We recycle everything we can, and save glass (which isn’t included in any regular recycling program in our community) for the once or twice a year glass recycling events in our town. At the moment a lot of space in our garage is filled with glass bottles and jars just waiting – it kills us to even think about putting it in the garbage.
I use coupons to get good deals on groceries, some of which I donate to the my local food bank every week!
I collect rainwater to water the garden, live in a teeny tiny house (less resources going for heating and etc), and eat locally and organic as much as my wallet allows.
I have begun showing up. Showing up for school board meetings, budget presentations, superintendent interviews…you get the idea. I have also begun inviting people to join me. No pressure, just an open invitation.
We donate food to the local food bank.
I volunteer at the local consignment sales. They are great ways to save money by buying used toys, clothes and children “stuff” which sometimes as barely been used. I can’t imagine buying all my daughter’s clothes and toys new; it would cost at 5-10x more.
We sponsor a child through World Vision and try to produce as little garbage as we can by choosing reusable products like cloth diapers and wipes and Pyrex dishes for food.
I donate food and household items to Catholic Charities to help them set up apartments for women leaving domestic violence.
I started and manage the Colusa Certified Farmers Market and The Colusa County Community Garden. I build cinder block raised garden beds in the backyards of those that ask for them: EVERYONE that asks. I teach canning, drying and baking classes. I save and swap seeds. I have a produce and egg stand in front of my home…it’s not *manned*, I follow the honor system…if you can’t pay: no worries…I don’t even post prices.
I do a lot of what other folks are doing in terms of recycling, buying used, picking up trash, eating locally, etc., so no need to repeat. I do make a point of going out on recycling/garbage day and getting as much recyclable trash as possible into our own and other people’s blue bins. So what if I’m the local crazy lady!
I buy my produce exclusively from the local Farmer’s Markets – it means so much to know the people who grow my food, and to put my money directly into their hands, without any middleman!
I’m letting people cut in front of me when I drive. I’m no extreme mileage person, but letting people in saves gas and feels better than road rage!
I belong to the Compact!
I started paying attention – to what I’m buying, eating, and doing… It so simple – but requires reminding to not do things blindly… Consequently, I’ve cut way back on buying anything – especially, anything new. I read Affluenza and loved it.
A recent move reminds us of how much stuff we’ve accumulated. We’re sorting through and getting rid of (freecycle, donations, selling) so that our kids aren’t burdened with the responsibility and hard work in the future.
we shut off unnecessary lighting, use a water-saving shower head, and I’m in the process of starting a compost bin. I also have my little girls take a bath together so we don’t have to draw multiple baths (lots of water saved!) and I use baking soda/vinegar for household cleaning.
Conservation = helping others by not depleting resources as quickly.
I will be putting some furniture up on Craigslist here soon, and using all the profits from sales to donate to Christian charities.
I just spent two days with folk I actually came upon who were stranded in Walmart parking lot, helping them get car transmission repaired for free, getting food for them, and telling them best places to find things in our town. I made dozens of phone calls, took them carryout from a church dinner I attended, and took guy to Auto Zone. I went into Walmart and told the people needed help. Others (WM) were getting free motel, diapers, food, toys. There were two grandparents, two parents, two children aged 8 months and 2 years. They spent the first night in the parking lot.
I volunteer for a cat shelter! I’m a terrible person who happens to sometimes care more about kitties than people…
Hope that counts! 🙂
I do art raffle fund raisers for friends in need. Artists donate work and buy raffle tickets and we all have an amazing time and go home with new art, knowing that the money went to benefit someone who really needed it.
I am raising my kids, to be kind, respectful, foodie (but not the stuckup type), non consumers. I can not stand this latest generation of kids that has no respect for (hu)man or Mother Earth. I want at least 2 kids on the planet that act and think differently.
You must chill out a tiny bit more grasshopper. You don’t want your kids to end up judgmental. To say you cannot stand an entire generation of kids shows neither kindness or respect. I have met a lot of wonderful children from this latest generation, and I am quite confident that there will be more than 2 who think and act responsibly. I hope yours will be among them!
I am a volunteer on a board that offers free classes and lectures at our local farmers market. It is helping to create a wonderful community around the market while also educating people about preserving food, cooking with local produce etc.
Buy secondhand if at all… Say no to lots of “opportunities” that would busy up our schedule too much… And cook at home.
I give away things on Freecycle.org as much as possible. It’s the greatest thing since sliced bread! 🙂
We have the smallest trash container offered, and only set it out every couple of weeks (usually because it’s stinky, not because it’s full). Almost everything is recycled or composted at our house, and it makes me feel so good knowing that I have amazing compost for my garden and am not filling up a landfill.
I recycle goods when possible by donating clothes, toys, and household items to a local women’s shelter.
I volunteer with the school PTA (it’s amazing how many parents do not!), and read to classes.
I’m an avid volunteer – from socializing with animals at the Humane Society to providing education and outreach to the public as a Master Recycler. I’m always doing something in my community to stay connected and lend a helping hand.
I went to school in environmental science, graduated, and am now currently working at an agency that not only collects and provides data on water, biology, mapping, geology to the public for free, but also develops models and other programs for the good of the Earth. I work hard for the inhabitants of Earth, be they people or other creatures.
I do organized volunteer work, but I also try to follow the Brownie creed–“do a good turn everyday”–and try to help people on the spot if something needs doing. Things like carrying groceries or offering someone a ride can make a big difference in someone’s day–especially your own.
As a family, we try to go through old clothing at least every 2 months and send out whatever we don’t need to local clothing and food banks. As well, I also help many people out at my local library.
However, I’d like to think that my getting a good education will help citizens as well. My dream job is to work as a museum curator, which requires a pretty substantial education in the art history field, so I’m hoping that one day people will view an exhibition I will have planned and curated and feel happiness at experiencing it, seeing it, and marvelling at the fact that such beautiful art exists.
I volunteer at the local GRADS program for teenage mothers who are finishing high school. I love cuddling the babies!
I donate my clothes and my toddlers clothes to a local woman’s shelter. In addition, I try to reduce my consumption and waste production by reusing.
After moving to an apartment, we discovered there was no recycle pick up. We are so used to doing recycling that we just could not consciously throw away plastic, paper, cardboard, etc. So now I made trips to recycle places. We also reuse water bottles. Watch the amount of running water usage.
i put quarter in expiring meter
I started a family garden with my sister and mother who live nearby. This is our first year but we are hoping to grow enough to share with the neighbors.
My moms group and I are raising money to support a local organization (cleanwaterfortheworld.org) install more purification systems in rural communities where children are dying of water born illness.
We pick up trash when we’re walking on trails. We built birdhouses for the elementary school. And, we work consistently as a family to reduce our wastes!
I have been making more of an effort lately to be there for my friends, to be a good listener and to not offer unsolicited advice.
I shop at Farmers Markets and support the local economy as much as I can. I try to add to my community by walking more with my children and driving less, making ourselves present and active members of the neighbourhood and putting faces on the sidewalk. I also make it a point to smile and say hello to every person we pass while we walk. I want our neighbourhood to not just look like a community but to feel like one. Small steps.
Giving away more than I buy from Goodwill!
I take the bus or walk wherever I can. And when I do drive I try to be extra-courteous by letting people merge in, giving them extra space, and just generally being friendlier on the road. It goes a long way to preventing road rage and your own sanity!
My family sponsors a child in Venezuela. We use cloth diapers on our daughter to reduce the amount of waste we produce.
Reuse and recyle.
I recently started a Community Action Book Club where we read books about certain issues, and then plan some sort of service or action based on that topic. It’s going really well, and I’ve met many interesting people through it!
Although my subject area is science, I think the most important thing I teach is character. I hope I’m helping in small ways to mold future citizens who will realize that with rights and privileges come responsibilities to each other.
I don’t really throw much away. I send clothes to secondhand or consignment shop, plastics and electronics get recycled (though it is tough to always make sure these things are being ethically recycled), and loads of things, from clothes to movies to appliances to extra coupons, get donated to local free events. One woman’s junk is another’s treasure.
I head up an ecumenical Earth Keeping group consisting of about 12 different churches. We meet almost monthly to discuss ways of “greening” our churches and sharing that information with others. It’s a great group of people and, tho we are now fairly small, we are steadily growing.
I have read articles related to this subject but not this book. I would love to read it.
I make afghans, baby clothes, and chemo caps.
It may not be much yet, but we do actively participate in the local free markets, to try and keep things we can’t use moving through people who can use them.
I also just opened up one plot in my yard as a garden for someone who doesn’t have the space/light for one.
I buy local whenever possible. I’d say our family is about 85% local for food. We buy all local produce, dairy and meat.
I volunteer as a Brownie leader, even though I don’t have any of my own kids in the program anymore and we donate all our used clothing that is still in good repair.
I’m so happy to have found this blog. I’m trying to focus my live on living my values, composting, recycling, buying less, using less. And I’m teaching my nieces to do the same by explaining to them connections between their actions and the rest of the world, for example, global warming and energy use. Now, they run to shut off the lights when they leave a room so that they can help protect the polar bears’ habitat.
we pick up trash wherever we go! our toddler is totally into helping 🙂
Cloth diapering was the biggest thing we’ve done to cut down on trash. Reading up on disposable diapers also opened my eyes to other environmentally friendly practices. Even something simple like turning off all the lights when we leave is something we have conciously changed. Our friends decided that instead of movie night at our place every Friday, we’ll do board games and keep the TV off- I know this’ll be good for our friendships too :]
I enjoy living responsibly and am alway interested to learn new ways to live gently on our planet.