There’s a lot that sucks right now. Here’s three things that make me feel better.
My city composting initiative subscription
First, because it feels like voting for something good in the world. I live in Raleigh, which is super devoted to southerness, and the south is not that hip. But the fact that this exists, that it’s operational and affordable, means that lots of useful stuff that would otherwise be trash is now being useful dirt.
It feels good when I can clean out the fridge and put all the stuff I didn’t eat to work. It feels good when I can shred up all the fliers full of stuff I don’t need that’s trying to guilt me into spending money I don’t have, and turn them into nice basic dirt. It feels good to not throw away so much of the produce I’m trying to use more of.
If there’s one in your city, go for it, dudes.
Hungry Harvest
Another subscription I have. They deliver a big box of overstock fruits and veggies to my door every other week, for about sixteen dollars. They tell me in an email what’s coming each week and I can add to it or change things out, but to be honest I like being surprised so I usually don’t check it.
It’s an easy way to get delicious seasonal foods--some of them that’d be too expensive for my general poorness, like when I got four blood oranges a few weeks ago, or this week when I got starfruit and a big bag of mixed greens.
They’re rescuing produce that’d never get to the consumer otherwise, they’re helping out farmers by creating that market, and it’s almost always seasonal, always good, and always cheap. And that feels good.
Check if they’re operational in your city.
Humans have always been humans
I’ve been watching a lot of BBC historical reenactments lately as an escape from the news, and the biggest takeaway I’m getting is that people have always just been people. They’re scared of unknown futures, and every generation thinks it’s the end of the world but it’s not. They’re innovative since the beginning, and new tech always causes upheavals that eventually settle down.
And people always eventually come back to useful old ideas and jettison non-useful ones.
So while I’m shredding junk mail to make dirt, while I’m eating seasonal veggies, while I’m growing things in the yard, I’m linking myself to this long chain of useful histories and wholesome living, and not to all the assholes who keep trying to invade my brain every time I look at Twitter.
What makes you feel better about the world right now?
