Re: Sustainability and limited budgets
Karen Mundy (karenm@vt.edu)
Mon, 17 Nov 1997 06:55:35 +0500
>Date: Sun, 16 Nov 1997 05:55:15 -0800 (PST)
>X-Sender: lowtech@mail.pacifier.com
>To: Karen Mundy <karenm>
>From: Betsy Toll <lowtech@pacifier.com>
>Subject: Re: Sustainability and limited budgets
>
>At 06:35 AM 11/11/97 +0500, you wrote:
>The
>>>> problem is a very limited budget--How can you justify being a good steward
>>>> when to do so costs you more than you receive in income or have in savings?
>>> I have a friend who would like to shop at a local grocery store rather than
>>>> the large chains. It costs her an average of $10 per week more to do so.
>>>> Her husband is a graduate student and they have two children. How do you
>>>> justify the additional expense?
>
>Dear Karen,
>
>Yeah, it's a heck of a quandary. Your friend is lucky it costs her only $10
>per week more! the small store nearest my house is, thankfully, a "natural
>foods" store -- lots of organic produce and dairy stuff, sugar alternatives
>etc. But it is real pricey! Nonetheless, I do 75% of my shopping there.
>
>Two reasons: trying to limit (tilting at windmills) the toxins, chemicals
>and carcinogens that fill my children's bodies, and providing bottom-line
>support for organic farmers and og-transition growers whose produce and
>products I buy.
>
>My struggle isn't how do I justify the extra expense -- it's how do I
>justify my supermarket chain shopping when I do it? We're on a tight income,
>we don't own a home and likely never will, wear worn out clothes and drive
>funky old vehicles. But if I'm not willing to lay my money on the line
>where my values are in the small way I can, what's the point?
>
>It's not easy, these aren't easy times, and to stare down the beast takes
>courage, conviction and determination. But I think the storm our kids are
>headed into is gonna get far worse -- environmentally, economically and
>politically -- than where we are today. So it's the least I can do. And we
>need to validate and support each others choices and commitment every chance
>we get, because it DOES matter and it IS worth it.
>
>As for your freezer -- do your best. There are no saints and no angels out
>here. We're all of us just making the best choices we can with what we have
>available to us at the moment. Anybody who gets too self-righteous is living
>a delusion. If we are sincere in learning and opening our eyes, hearts and
>minds to what's going on in the world, and then bring our consciousness to
>bear as best we can on all the decisions we make, we're on the right path.
>
>
>
>
>Betsy Toll
>
>
>betsy toll
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>
Karen Mundy
Rural Economic Analysis Program
Dept. of Ag. and Applied Economics
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, VA 24061-0401
540-231-9443
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