Becoming Sustainable
Sustainability. The meaning of this word seems to vary from person to person and is often misrepresented or misinterpreted.
Sustainability, or sustainable, simply means having the ability to be maintained over a long time period. We want our beloved Rio Grande Valley to be sustainable, to ensure that we, our loved ones and generations to come have and will have an excellent quality of life.
Collectively, we need to work harder toward making education, healthcare, agriculture, biodiversity, conservation, tourism, manufacturing, transportation, construction, retail, infrastructure and renewable energy more sustainable.
The goal is to now make these interconnected systems as sustainable as possible for the future to prevent wasting precious time, energy and resources on additional or repeat efforts down the line.
WE ALL CAN HELP
Achieving sustainability requires more than a quick fix. It takes long-term thinking and positive, value-added action. Each of us can positively impact nature, community and the economy by altering our mindset and some of our life habits.
“We but mirror the world,” Ghandi said. “All the tendencies present in the outer world are to be found in the world of our body. If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change. As a man changes his own nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards him.”
We can start by feeding our minds, bodies and spirits positive food, energy and attitudes, while reconnecting with nature and supporting economic structures that protect and respect all society and our valuable natural resources.
We, in the Rio Grande Valley, are at a distinct advantage. Our region boasts the highest concentration of organic farmers in all of Texas, according to the National Center for Appropriate Technology’s 2016 report, “Who Are The Organic Farmers of Texas.” Here are some ways to participate.
ADJUST WHAT WE EAT
- Reduce how much red meat we eat and increase our consumption of vegetables and fruits.
- Have fun by having loved ones, especially children, help us with the process, by choosing recipes, planning meals, shopping for ingredients and cooking. Healthy habits are easiest to establish in young ones.
- Support and get to know our local farmers and food artisans by shopping at farmers’ markets.
- Participate in Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs. With CSAs, consumers receive a collection of freshly harvested, healthy organic vegetables on a biweekly or monthly schedule.
- Shop at a grocery store that supports local farmers and our Valley economy.
- Patronize our community restaurants that support our local farmers. These chefs typically offer delicious, seasonal menus aligned with the most nutritious harvest of the season.
GET SOME AIR
- Reconnect with nature, a way to re-energize and reinvigorate our body, mind and spirit.
- Get outdoors. Breathe fresh air. Have some fun.
- Learn what’s in your backyard.
- Take in the Valley’s rich biodiversity.
- Learn what makes the area an epicenter for generating hundreds of millions of dollars in annual eco-tourism.
- Take pride in what we have at our fingertips.
- Volunteer to help organizations trying to conserve and preserve our air, water, soil, forests and wildlife.
DIG IN
- Plant a garden — vegetable, herb, pollinator, succulent/cacti, permaculture, hydroponic, aquaponic — or participate in a community garden.
- Plant native trees – fruit and flowering– which help balance the environment.
CUT BACK ON CHEMICALS
- Use less chemicals to better protect our natural resources and the environment.
- Read all labels to understand a product or food’s contents to choose safer ones.
- Don’t to microwave food that’s in plastic containers because we don’t want harsh plastic chemicals to seep into our nutritious meals.
“We want our beloved Rio Grande Valley to be sustainable, to ensure that we, our loved ones and generations to come have and will have an excellent quality of life.”
REDUCE PACKAGING WASTE
- Buy items that don’t have wasteful packaging.
- Purchase products packaged in biodegradable material, as it is compostable.
- Shop for lightly used items at local vintage and antique shops to avoid packaging altogether.
- Use cloth tote bags when you shop at farmers’ or grocery markets, or stores, to avoid using plastic bags.
- Strive for zero waste; recycling should be a last resort.
CONSERVE RESOURCES
- Reduce water and energy consumption.
- Take shorter showers.
- Do full laundry and dishwasher loads.
- Fix leaks as soon as possible.
- Buy WaterSense appliances.
- Wash in cold water. Line dry clothes and linens when the weather permits it.
- Unplug electronic devices when not in use.
- Turn lights off; use natural daylight instead when possible. Weather strip your home to reduce energy seepage.
- Buy Energy Star appliances.
- Switch to energy efficient lighting (such as LED).
- Generate solar power if possible.
SHRINK OUR FOOTPRINT
- Instead of driving everywhere, travel a different way and reduce greenhouse gases and air pollution in the process (and save money).
- Walk, hike, run, bicycle, rollerblade, roller skate, skateboard — exercise is an added benefit — .
- Carpool or take public transportation.
- Consider buying an electric vehicle .
BE THE CHANGE
These steps to change are simple and enjoyable and rewarding, knowing we’re joining the many who are championing sustainability of the Rio Grande Valley now and for the future.
