What does green mean to you?

We hear the phrase “go green” so often it has become a cliché. But what does it mean to be “green”? What are we really talking about when we talk about sustainability? And what would a truly self-sufficient community look like?

In the rush to take action, to be “environmentally friendly,” these fundamental questions sometimes get glossed over. After all, everybody knows what green means. Right?

Maybe. But if you ask five people what a sustainable lifestyle would look like, chances are good that you’ll get five different answers. For some, it would mean doing the same things we’re used to (two cars for every family, meat with every meal), but in a new way (hybrid cars, organic beef).

But for others, it’s a more radical shift — doing more for ourselves, living more like our grandparents and great-grandparents did, and maybe even giving up some of the things we’re used to.

One thing is clear, though: Sustainability, in any form, starts with self-sufficiency. Instead of relying on factory farms on the other side of the world or financial institutions on the other side of the country, we can all make choices that strengthen our local community. We can grow more of our own food, bank with local credit unions, support local businesses.

In short, we can keep our choices — and our lives — closer to home.

In this issue of Boulderganic, we take a close look at some of the many issues surrounding sustainability, offer some possible answers from local experts, and invite you to consider what green means to you.

Check out the full list of stories here.

Respond: info@boulderganic.com

Share this!