Melinda Moulton “As One We can Make the Earth a Healthier Place to Live”
Main Street Landing
Burlington Free Press Article – December 27th, 2009
By Melinda Moulton
‘Working as one, we can make this place we call ‘home’ a more healthy and productive environment’
Most of us realize we have the power to make the Earth a healthier place to live. And if given the choice, we would prefer to live healthier lives and create healthier lives for our family and friends. It’s basically inherent, I believe, in human nature to want to be healthy.
Unfortunately, we live in a world where so many things around us are not healthy. 2010 promises to be the year most people around the world will be thinking about what kind of life they and their children and grandchildren will be living in the next 25 years. With global warming affecting and altering our climate, we can expect to see a lot changes. The human race is scared.
Just the other day my home town of Huntington experienced 87-mph winds, which was a historic record. With climate change we are going to experience more severe weather. This is not an arguable point any longer.
So what do I plan to do in 2010 to contribute to a healthier planet? This fall we re-insulated our ceilings, which were 40 years old. It only cost a few hundred dollars, but the difference is amazing, and the upstairs of the house is so much warmer. For so little, we got so much in return.
We plan to replace our old wood and gas furnace with a new system in the spring in order to be more efficient. We are considering installing solar hot water, but because we heat primarily with wood, which also heats our water, and the wood comes from our own forest, we might decide to wait.
This year we put up an extra cord and a half of wood, and we completely turned off the gas system in the fall. We are solely on wood heat. It is true that by turning down the thermostat just a few degrees, you can save a lot of energy. I’m also putting up curtains on all my windows, because it really does make a difference. We have always hung our clothing out on the line in the summer, and this year Vermont approved the “Right to Dry” so folks cannot be told they can’t hang out their wash. I’m rigging up a system so I can dry my clothes inside in the winter to avoid using my clothes dryer.
I would like to reduce my transportation miles, and I should be in a carpool. The tough part for me is my schedule, but it doesn’t help my conscience. I must make the effort this year to reduce my auto miles, because it has a negative effect on the environment. I will continue to be an advocate for rail and public transit and work hard to see that our rural communities are served at some point in the future. My lifelong dream is to see passenger rail back in Burlington, and 2010 might actually see us one step closer to that reality.
I plan to continue to support our local economy and in particular our local food producers. We eat mostly organic, simple, unprocessed foods that are fresh and local. I bake bread and make most of our meals from scratch. It is easy and less expensive and doesn’t take that much more time.
I am not purchasing anything online this year, instead heading into our downtowns and shopping at our local stores. I believe “localism” is going to become even more important over time, and all of us need to support each other financially. Next time you want to purchase something, visit a locally owned store and remember the person who owns that store is a Vermonter, and your dollar will remain in the state and support our economy.
Our water comes from a dug well, and it runs via gravity feed into our house, so there is no energy involved in getting water. We have two Morgan mares, and we use their manure to fertilize all of our trees, shrubs, plants and gardens. I am strongly opposed to chemical pesticides and have never used them. I just saw the film “Chemical Reaction,” and it explains the effects of pesticides on our environment and personal health. I would really like to see chemical pesticides outlawed in Vermont.
I have many birdhouses and feed the birds from late fall to early spring. I will continue to manage our field and our forest in a way that supports wildlife and birds. This year I want to increase my birdhouses because the bluebirds are coming back. We have few biting insects in the warm weather because of our bird population. We have a few bats, but I want to install more bat houses to encourage more of them because they are such wonderful creatures who thrive on mosquitoes. With global warming we are going to see more ticks and biting insects, and we might even see more poisonous snakes and spiders. Birds and bats are important in keeping these things in check. Anything you can do to encourage and support your bird and bat populations is a good thing indeed.
Another way to help is to serve on boards or volunteer your time to support organizations that are doing good work. In Vermont we have many outstanding nonprofit organizations that are caring for our environment and are devoted to social justice. We can participate and help each other by giving our time, our energy and our ideas. This year, if you have some time, get involved and make a difference. You will be surprised at how much you enjoy working with other people for a common cause and how fulfilled you will feel in return.
There are lots of things I would like to do in order to be a better steward of the Earth. Sometimes it feels overwhelming, so I take small steps and do what I can. Every little bit helps, and it all adds up.
Vermont is a special place. When we reach out for a hand to hold, there is always one close by. And when we offer our hand to help another it never goes unnoticed. Give of yourself and don’t be afraid to ask of others, and together, working as one, we can make this place we call “home” a more healthy and productive environment in which to live, work, play, love and thrive.