Loving the Eco-Life

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Check for co-ops in your area, too, as they usually have better selections and prices, or join a CSA (community-supported agriculture) program. So many of the problematic issues we are facing can be addressed by re-examining our value systems and aligning our lifestyles with them. A good guideline is to stick to essentials.

What inspired you to build a green home?

Common sense—who wants to live in a toxic box?

Over 150 chemicals found in the average home have been linked to allergies, birth defects, cancer and psychological abnormalities. Contaminants found in many household and personal-care products can cause dizziness, nausea, allergic reactions, eye, skin and respiratory tract irritations—and some cause cancer, according to the American Lung Association. Over the last 20 to 30 years, as more toxic chemicals have been introduced in greater amounts, the level of toxins stored in our bodies has risen. Bioaccumulation studies have shown that some toxins are stored in our bodies for life. Once you know these things, you don’t go back.

I didn’t build my home from scratch, though—I just restored an old structure with found and recycled, nontoxic materials.

What are your favorite aspects of your green home?

I love that it was built on a human scale. It’s small, but still open and airy. I love the moss deck and the living couch.

What is the first thing that homeowners should do to green their homes?

Step one is to get the poisons out: the stuff that cleans your dishes, clothes, floors, windows and body-care products. Get rid of anything other than nontoxic, biodegradable options. If you’re choosing the healthiest option for yourself and loved ones, it is usually the healthiest thing for the environment, as well.

You drive a biodiesel El Camino. Do you prefer biodiesel to hybrids?

I’m all for kicking our petroleum addiction. I like sustainable biodiesel (that means from waste grease or a local organic crop). There’s no petroleum needed and no wars necessary. I helped found an organization called the Sustainable Biodiesel Alliance (SBA) to help certify and identify sustainably sourced, harvested and produced biodiesel.
Electric cars powered by solar and/or wind are the way to go, though, especially with the new nontoxic battery technology.

What are you growing in your garden? 

A little of everything: corn, collard greens, passion fruit, blueberries, potatoes, rhubarb, onions, herbs, tomatoes, peppers, grapefruit, apples, oranges, lemons, plums, pomegranates, persimmons and various lettuces. Unfortunately, the ground squirrels already got my artichokes!

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