Definition
- Sustainable: able to be maintained at a certain rate or level
- Ecology: conserving an ecological balance by avoiding depletion of natural resources
- Root of the word "Sustainable" = sustain
- Sustain = maintain/continue/uphold; nourish/support.
- From Latin sub - tenere = 'hold' + 'from below'
What Sustainable Living means to us:
Living your life in a manner that is beneficial instead of harmful to your body, your community, and the earth.
To "sustain" means to uphold and maintain a certain balance, and in this case means maintaining the natural ecological balance between the earth and its inhabitants. Right now, we are tipping the scales of our relationship with the earth with our over-consumption of natural resources, which is leading to global warming, species extinction, water contamination, and more problems.
Balance: The only way that this can be made right again is if humans alter their lifestyles to reduce individual consumption – consumption of gasoline, plastics, paper products, toxic chemicals, etc. By reducing the amount of stuff that we consume, we are reducing our "ecological footprint" on the earth.
It's also what we consume
Which would you rather lather on your skin?
- Cocamidopropyl betaine (5 out of 10 hazard score) and Dmdm hydantoin (9 out of 10 hazard score) - both of which are found in your common brand name liquid hand soap.
- Handmade soap made from only natural ingredients like olive oil or hemp- which is better for your skin (and doesn't cause cancer!), doesn't contaminate groundwater and can support local artisan businesses.
Long-Term Sustainability
While every change you make helps, it takes more than changing your behavior for a day, or a week, or even a year. If more people can live sustainably, we can meet our needs and live satisfying lives without compromising the well-being of the future inhabitants of the earth.
Watch for our updates and see our progress as we move towards a sustainable life.
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