When I spoke with Joel Spedding last month, he was suffering from green lethargy. While the idea of being transformed from posh, carefree, urban consumer into a posh, mindful, urban hippie had its allure at the onset, he was dragging his feet a week into the project. I voiced the suspicion that he had fallen victim to smelly tree-hugger stereotyping. He didn’t argue otherwise.
Preparing for our first follow-up since his green mini-revolution, I was nervous that I would have nothing to report. I was afraid that our second interview would present no results better than a half-hearted “I, um, recycled some cans on Saturday?”
Readers, let me tell you; I didn’t give the man enough credit.
Joel now recycles glass, aluminum, and plastic. He has begun replacing all of his household cleaning supplies with Seventh Generation’s natural, more sustainable line. He is making an admirable effort to weed out any groceries that come individually wrapped, “snack sized”, or bundled in wads of unnecessary plastic packaging. He’s walking more and driving less. He’s learning how to preserve fresh produce and reduce food waste.
On the phone, he is eager to tell me about all of his discoveries and accomplishments. “I’m not as tired as I used to be. I was working out constantly, and was always sore and exhausted at the end of the day. Now I’m staying in good shape without having to run all of the time or crash diet. It’s the food I’m eating. It makes me feel so much better than I used to.”
He hasn’t done anything drastic, and he certainly hasn’t blown his budget. The changes he made are simple and easy. He’s cooking one or two meals a week from fresh, organic ingredients. He’s replacing snack foods with yogurt, fruit and oatmeal. He drinks more water and passes on beer. To Joel, who is body-conscious and overworked, the rewards are worth the effort. Even the way he sounded over the phone (first thing in the morning, I might add) made me feel energized by association.
And he’s not stopping here, either. Next on his to-do list; making space in his 9th floor apartment kitchen for more fresh food and a finding a small compost bin that he can use as a middle-man between dinner and his dad’s suburban garden. He also wants to sample the delights of local farmer’s markets and find ways to add variety to his new diet before he suffers from juice and celery burn-out. Luckily, Wichita has an abundance of local food suppliers and organic food stores. The challenge will more likely become fitting all he finds into two cupboards.
Despite all of this, what impresses me the most is the natural ease in which he talks about some truly monumental developments in his daily routine. “I’m using the same water bottle now. I mean, what’s the point of buying more?” I melted. If only everyone in the country could be so commonsensical!
After I hang up the phone, I sit in awe at how much one person can improve in a single month. With only a few suggestions and a little bit of amiable nudging, Joel Spedding has probably cut his carbon footprint down by a quarter. If he can go this “green” in a downtown high-rise apartment, what can you accomplish?
Check in next month to see how this 23-year-old restaurant manager is developing into an Eco-Superhero. (Somebody get this guy a cape and a phone booth!)
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