Stewardship and Simplicity A Family Mission

Guest contributor Barbara McVeigh shares her family mission for 2011.

Like many, after the holiday mania, gift giving, and Christmas tree disposing, I look forward to back-to-life normalcy. But, at the turn the New Year, angst has developed that I would not consider normal. The emerging grave concerns for the future health of our oceans and lands are outweighing a lot of my own jubilant, optimistic feelings.

This past holiday season I felt the mission to simplify, reuse, buy used and actually make most of our gifts. I refused to buy new ribbon or wrapping paper, and instead got very creative with leftover butcher paper, paper bags and pre-used ribbon or yarn. I asked my husband to make wooden stilts for our two children from reused wood, a simple project that helped encourage him to be part of the family activities. And, two weeks later, my children are still excited about playing with them.

I reflect on the gifts that I received, and the homemade knitted hats, canned marmalades and relishes are the ones that stand out. They came from the heart. And, many were first projects from friends who are also deciding that back-to-basics can be very rewarding, if not merely financially, philosophically, too.

With acting on this mission, I’m learning that, as mothers, we have potentially the greatest power to foster change. In general, we are the food and clothing buyers, activity planners and kid party facilitators. If we banded together, like any good playgroup manages to do, we could really make an impact, not only on the environment, but also on our children’s understanding of resources, stewardship and responsibility.

Here are a few recommendations I’ve discovered that can help with a family mission to simplify and be a steward for the future health of our planet, our home. It’s for our kids, after all.

Plastics

Many retailers and grocers in Marin are still using plastic to bag groceries. Make a statement to management, even if you have your own canvas bags. San Francisco managed to remove plastic bags as an option. Marin should, too.

Make a statement to management or simply refuse to buy food that’s wrapped in plastic. Many of our favorite grocers are using plastics to package produce terribly inefficiently and unnecessarily. Most of these plastics are not recycled by Marin Recycling.

Some say activities with plastic beads, like Fuse Beads, help our kids with fine motor skills. Maybe so, but woodwork, sewing, knitting or clay modeling can work just as well. And, our kids will learn life skills and our landfills will be better off.

Parties

Encourage families to bring their own plates and cutlery, as a way to eliminate excess paper plate and plastic cutlery garbage. Most will respond willingly and gladly.

One savvy, close knit Marin community I know combined funds and purchased inexpensive plates, cutlery, glassware, and linens. They take turns using the items for kids’ parties and potlucks, avoiding excess, wasteful, post-party trash. A simple wash in the dishwasher takes care of the clean up.

Forget the balloons. Are they really needed to make a successful party? Instead, use fresh or potted flowers—these make great giveaways, too. Paper streamers are beautiful. We make ours from leftover gift wrap cut into triangles and hung onto a string. After, into recycling they go!

Party bags and plastic favors. Forget them! You’d be amazed how grateful many mothers will be to not deal with more little objects cluttering the house. Shouldn’t the experience of a beautiful party be sufficient for our children? Or, if you really feel compelled to gift to guests try strawberry plants, a Venus flytrap, finger knitted bracelets, a fanciful napkin ring, peacock feathers, or real honeycomb to enjoy.

Stewardship

There are numerous family opportunities to participate in helping our surrounding lands and coasts. These activities can be tremendously satisfying for both children and adults.

Marin Open Space offers many opportunities to remove nonnative species. These efforts are important to ensure healthy habitat for butterflies and other endangered species: www.marinopenspace.org

Golden Gate National Park Conservancy offers many coastal and land stewardship activities for families: www.parksconservancy.org/our-work/site-stewardship-program

And, always, you can simply model good stewardship habits. Don’t be too proud to pick up garbage you see. On one family beach outing, we spent an hour finding plastic bottle caps and other refuse. My kids were amazed at our bounty, and they felt good about saving sea life from potential hazards.

Barbara McVeigh is speaking about her New Year’s mantras on January 23, 10am–noon. "Be Creatively Simple, Resourceful and Embrace Stewardship" at Bow Yoga in San Rafael—www.bowyoga.com/events.html