The 4 R’s of Environmentalism: Repair
Previously- The 4 R’s of Environmentalism: Reduce
Typically people go from Reduce, to Reuse, but I think we should add another R between those two: Repair. Repairing the things we have and use is crucial to protecting the planet. When we get in the mindset of owning things that we can repair and learning to repair the things we own, our quality of life continues to improve; we tear down the myth that living an environmentally responsible life decreases our quality of life.
The first step is beginning to reduce the things we buy and reduce packaging by switching things that last longer, such as the safety razor. After we have begun to use products that are longer lasting, it makes more sense to repair them if they become worn out or damaged. My partner was in the military, and while he was in, he was issued some very high quality boots, ones that would be very expensive if he had bought them. He wears them everywhere, especially in the winter. He wore them In Iraq, and Afghanistan, and he’s worn them in the Rockies, and the Olympic Mountains, and on rock climbing trips around the world. The soles have been worn out through our adventures, but when needed, he takes them to a local cobbler. Not only does this shop do a good job resoling the shoes, but we support the local economy and it’s actually less expensive to repair quality shoes than to keep buying new pairs of lower quality shoes.
I take medication for a chronic illness and over the years it has made my weight and size yo-yo, which has often made it difficult to keep clothing around. However, a few years ago I tried investing in higher quality clothing, repairing it when it wore out. If my size changed I would either look up a local tailor, find one on craigslist, look on local community Facebook groups for people who did that kind of work, or ask around to friends and see if they knew anyone. Doing this not only was I able to keep the clothing I liked in good repair, I was able to meet some great people, and help some people in my community save up for great things. I paid one woman to alter some dresses for me, and she used the money to save up for a trip to Zimbabwe to go build wells. Another woman I paid to fix some skirts was able to fulfil a lifelong dream and move to NYC. I was able to save money and not buy an endless stream of clothings, keep the classic pieces I already had, and make sure they still fit and that I looked great.
Another great way to participate in repairing is to learn the skills you need yourself. Need any small repairs or alterations in your favorite clothes? Learn to sew at a local class. You can also go the route I did, and find someone on Craigslist or around your community who will help you with alterations. Most communities also offer classes at Community Centers or Learning Annexes from sewing to carpentry to home electronics, so that you can find a way to fix your own furniture, repair your devices, or whatever small things need fixing instead of immediately tossing them out if they aren’t perfect. Not only could you become the go-to person in your family, group of friends or neighborhood, but you could be the person who organizes or inspires others around you to change their lives, switches up their buying habits, or also learn new skills!
Another great reason to get involved in these programs is that it shows the community that there is a need for them. Many of these types of programs are taught by volunteers. Workshops and lessons, shared space to learn and use tools, co-ops, and classes are often nonprofits or run on donations, and if people don’t use them they get shut down. So instead of having the guy at Geek Squad do some easy fixes on your laptop, why not learn to fix it yourself and support a program that also gets other people in the community involved? Many of these programs are also a great resource for low income people who can’t afford to just take it to someone else, and to kids and teens who are developing interests that may someday blossom into fields of study or careers. Also, for some of those kids, it keeps them from activities that kids can get up to when their creative outlets are shut down.
Most of us can’t feasibly reduce all worldly possessions from out lives, nor do we want to. However something attainable, and even desirable is to reduce the amount of low quality products that were “designed for the dump”, and to instead invest in long lasting items that we can enjoy for a long time! We may even have to save up for these types of things, but even from an aesthetic, and not just environmental, perspective, these type of things tend to be classic and timeless. Also, from and financial standpoint, because they are classic, we are much less likely to spend money replacing things as fashions and trends change. Overall, reducing and repairing make sense for us in the long run!
