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Sustainable Water Bottles at Taste of Woodstock

Sustainable. One of the most over-used words in our current culture. Today I saw a girl with a t-shirt advertising her “Sustainable Tree-House”. Earlier in the day I saw a book called something like the “Dummies Book of Localvores.” Roll my eyes. Not because I don’t believe in the inherent goodness of tree houses and buying fresh fruits and vegetables from my neighbors, but because it all seems so obvious. Without having to throw that WORD around.

Are we really so thick in the head that we don’t see the benefit of living lives that create a balance of taking and giving back at whatever level? Do we need to keep using a buzz word like sustainable that really means nothing except that we’re hip to the lingo? Do we really need a book to explain that we might consider buying blueberries and apples from Moore’s Orchard rather than buying avocados, limes and bananas from thousands of miles away?

Let’s see. We have sustainable forestry, sustainable communities, sustainable infrastructure, sustainable agriculture, sustainable landscaping. I’m beginning to think sustainable is just a way to say we’re going to keep doing what we do but put a nice eco-gloss on everything and call it sustainable. I’m sure it’s only a matter of time before BIG OIL starts using the word “sustainable” in their advertising. I’m sure they already do. I wouldn’t know because I don’t have a TV. Not because I’m trying to live sustainably and save electricity but simply because it’s too expensive. Which is not to say that I don’t enjoy Law and Order from time to time.

If we’re really interested in the big picture of living sustainably why don’t we start at a really personal level. I’ve worked with National Park Rangers with major agendas to save the planet and live sustainably take 45 minute long showers using up precious water or, who when driving around in their ranger vehicles, leave them idling and burning fuel for 15 minutes. Or I’ve seen people who hang their laundry out to dry rather than use a dryer to save electricity but who do two loads of laundry a day in the washer. None of us is perfect. Very few of us can claim to fully lead sustainable lives.

The point is maybe we should take a break from over-using the word sustainable unless we’re walking the walk rather than just talking the talk. Build a tree-house. Live in the tree-house. Plant a garden. Eat from the garden. But take care with the language. Or you’ll use it up and have to spit it out.

Sustainable. There’s no taste left there.