welcome to the compact.

recently i have come across a really neat idea called "the compact". from what i understand it started as a group of friends in san fran who wanted to lower their impact on the world around them by reducing, reusing, and recycling- with an emphasis on the first two. they were inspired by the folks who sailed across the atlantic to america in 1620 on the mayflower. their hope was to build a “city on a hill” that would be a beacon to the world.

here is how they explain what exactly the compact is on their blog (http://sfcompact.blogspot.com/) :

"-To go beyond recycling in trying to counteract the negative global environmental and socioeconomic impacts of disposable consumer culture and to support local businesses, farms, etc.
-To reduce clutter and waste in our homes (as in trash Compact-er).
-To simplify our lives (as in Calm-pact) "

to accomplish the above-mentioned goals, members of the compact have agreed not to purchase anything new and to borrow, barter, and buy used. i think it is particularly important to make exceptions to these rules where one's quality of life might be marginalized. the point more than anything is to live a rich and fulfilled life, to recognize that you don't need stuff to live that way, and to enrich the lives of others. 

so, onward ho!


i took this picture at the hudson river sloop festival in croton-on-hudson, ny this year. the event was started fortysomeodd years ago by pete seeger and friends! it was such an inspiring event where i was surrounded by people who love our earth, just like i do, and who care about keeping it clean and happy. being here made me feel so hopeful.