Every individual can achieve something

Most of us can agree, the times they are a changing. And much of that change is being brought about by average people living seemingly ordinary lives. Take my cousin’s dwelling for example. Beyond the facade of its traditional Victorian exterior his family have created an oasis of environmental sustainability. I’m referring to something beyond the latest urban trend of fashionability.

Andy has been enthusiastic about organic products and sustainable living since his teenage years. Upon leaving high school he traveled the world, exploring his passion cross culturally. Beginning on a Kibbutz in Israel, he also explored the importance of sustainable living and community values in Egypt, Pakistan, Tibet, and Mongolia among others. He deeply embraced these cultural and material traditions to arrive at the reflective position he currently holds. As a consequence of these ideas and experiences, the house he shares with his family has evolved and continues to evolve.

Their house incorporates a substantial number of ecological features. There are solar panels to generate electricity and hot water from the sun’s radiant energy. There are tanks for collecting rainwater and recycling grey water from the kitchen. Structural improvements to the house’s interior have been undertaken with recycled building materials. Most of these are natural products like stone and untreated timbers. You will find very little plastic in Andy’s home although there are some water wise buckets and detachable hose fittings in the garden.

The evolution has continued into the next generation. His ten year old son, Phoenix tends his own vegetable and herb gardens using organic principles like crop rotation, companion planting, and the encouragement of beneficial insect species. Most of the backyard has been developed to support around fifty types of vegetable and herb. Many of these are traditional varieties which thrive under organic cultivation methods. Andy’s wife is a fantastic cook and rarely chooses anything but the freshest organic ingredients for her meals. A lot of their fresh produce is direct from the garden although they supplement this with regular visits to their organic cooperative and local farmer’s markets.

Andy doesn’t use soap like everyone else and you won’t find a conventional cleaning product in his laundry cabinet. They use a selection of household items like vinegar and baking soda to wash their floors and tiled surfaces. Their clothing is basically handmade using raw fabrics such as hemp, organically certified cotton, and fine merino wool. The kids have a few synthetic sports items but most of their everyday gear is entirely natural.

There’s no question that Andy’s heart’s in the right place. One of his favourite issues is transportation. Nowadays he chooses to avoid driving whenever he can. He admits that he once depended heavily on his car and never considered the environmental impact of additional carbon emissions. They still own a small vehicle and are considering the purchase of a hybrid.

There’s definitely a sense of transformation in the air, which no longer depends on individuals who seem isolated or unique from the majority. Andy is a pretty ordinary guy with kids and a mortgage. He doesn’t really stand out from the crowd because there’s an increasing number of individuals who agree with his values. Andy has a favourite quote which reveals his commitment to human endeavour and community spirit. Quite simply he says, “No individual can achieve everything but every individual can achieve something.”