consume/maintain/create

It is possible to split up all your time into either

consuming

maintaining, or

creating.

recently statistics have demonstrated that we each spend some incredible amount of time each day consuming media. We also consume food, clothing, etc etc. In fact anytime that you are not actively doing something, you are probably consuming resources in some way.

The next stage up from this is maintaining. The bible for maintaining is How Buildings Learn by Stewart Brand. Architects might create buildings, but it is the day to day maintenance chores that keep them alive. You maintain whenever you water a plant, or mow a lawn, polish shoes, or clean your house, paint your railings or clean out your gutters.

The next stage up is creating. This is the pinacle, though it is debateable what exactly is included. Is it bringing up a child, or planting a tree, writing a book or telling a joke. But it is bringing something new into being, creating something that would not be there but for you.

This all goes some way to describe my discomfort with green consumerism. There is nothing wrong with using your retail choices to make a positive impact on the world. I like to spend my money in shops that I think are worth keeping. I like to buy thoughtful and long lasting products. But the greener option is to maintain things, rather than buying new, and even better is to grow your own, knit your own or make your own.

We become greener by doing less consuming, more maintaining and more creating.