Sustainability at Blooming ‘burbs
“The ultimate, hidden truth of the world is that it is something that we make, and could just as easily make differently.”
Doing Sustainability
What we’re used to is what has to change.
I’m guessing David Graeber, quoted here, would have agreed that a collective movement towards sustainability is not really easy, but that it is possible. I read his quote as saying that our daily realities (that is, the way the world functions) are an outcome of values and choices. They are not destiny and we aren’t on a path that we can’t change.
That basic insight keeps me motivated to practice a different set of values that, in turn, create a different reality. It means being more mindful of my impact on the world in everything that I do: how I eat, how I provision myself, how I get from point A to point B, how I stay warm and stay cool. I am deliberate and conscientious. Living on auto-pilot, as many of us suburbanites do, is no longer an option because what we’re used to is what has to change.
I’m using this website to share what I do because I know for a fact that there are other people out there who want to live more sustainably but aren’t quite sure where to start.
There are several ways that I practice sustainability. Basically, it all boils down to whether or not they are moving me towards a few goals:
Am I reducing my fossil fuel consumption?
Am I reducing the waste and pollution I produce?
Am I enhancing the local ecology, while also not producing a negative impact somewhere else in the world?
Below are a few areas where I can demonstrate my sustainable practices in how I manage this micro-business. Because I’m still learning how to do this, I anticipate that I will make adjustments in coming years.
If you find this information helpful, consider a tip! It all goes back into the garden:
Sustainability in the Suburbs
-
![]()
Production for pollinators
The pollinator habitat is the soul of Blooming ‘burbs and it’s the first thing I focused on when converting my landscape to something that made sense in the context of our environmental crisis. The aim is for plenty of mostly native pollinators plants to bloom from early spring to frost. The provision of habitat means that I provide water and use practices that provide safe haven for pollinators.
-
![Two rolling composters.]()
Soil management: composting and nutrient cycling
I compost food scraps, leaves and other dry matter (like stems and grasses), and any brown paper packaging I get. I avoid peat and make my own seed starter mix.
-
![]()
Clean energy/efficient use
Moving this suburban house and microfarm towards fossil fuel-free energy. I installed solar panels on my roof in 2019, and am taking advantage of the Inflation Reduction Act in coming years. I use pedal power to sell what I produce!
-
![]()
Conscientious consumption
This extends to the materials I purchase for my business. I aim to find the best choices for packaging and marketing and to buy from businesses that also are conscientious and transparent about their practices.
-
![Frog on blue vervain leaf]()
Encouraging plant and animal diversity
I cultivate a variety of native perennial fruit, nut, and flowering plants. I provide shelter and water for birds, bats, opossums, and squirrels.
