I feel so useless in a solarpunk way because I hate hate hate gardening so much. So much of my childhood was spent gardening, and I hate 90% of what can grow in my area. Maybe it’s the equivalent of having a tantrum, but I just refuse to do it anymore. Then with the craft thing I’m so slow at knitting and not that great at it to begin with… Is there anything I can realistically do that will matter?
Hey, thanks for reaching out! It sounds like you’re having a hard time, which is totally understandable. It’s hard to feel like we’re making a difference in the face of everything going on right now.
Good on you for knitting! I (mod S) also knit! Mainly because it is a great way to fight those feelings if uselessness, because look! I made a scarf for my friend! They’re gonna be so warm this winter! If you’re feeling frustrated because you feel like it isn’t going fast enough, try small projects like hats for preemies - hospitals usually take them, but if your local one doesn’t, there’s organizations that help with distribution.
I know there’s a major focus on gardening in the solarpunk community, but there is so much more that must be done. In my opinion, the single biggest focus of solarpunk is community building. Because yeah, on our own, we are pretty limited in what we can do, but we are capable of so much more when we work together.
Some things to do that are absolutely solarpunk:
If you haven’t already, learning how to mend your own clothes is an awesome way to extend their usefulness. @wastelesscrafts is an absolutely fantastic resources for mending, and youtube has many tutorials on just about everything.
Learning how to repair and maintain other stuff you have is also great! Sometimes a piece of furniture just needs a little sanding and a fresh finish to look fantastic. Learning how to take apart, clean, and reassemble small appliances is good too, it can really help extend their lifetime. I promise most of that kind of stuff is easier than it may seem. Again, youtube has so many videos on just about anything you can think of. (If you’re doing anything like that to something that uses electricity - make sure it’s unplugged first!!)
Once you know how to do some of these things, you can also reach out and offer to trade skills or to teach others. Community building!
There is likely an organization or five somewhere near you, that have a cause you agree with. Go find them. Email, call, show up where you know they are, whatever is easiest. Tell them you want to help, tell them what you are able to do, and have at it. Most libraries, at least in my area, accept volunteers, but if that isn’t something you want to do, they may have info on other places you could check out - libraries are often a gathering place for the whole community, and have connections with groups in the area.
Don’t want to get involved in an organization or there isn’t one you’re interested in nearby? Look around. Maybe there’s a stream nearby, or a street, or a little patch of land, where you can pick up trash. Pick an area and adopt it. Visit regularly, get to know it, care for it as best you can.
The Seven R’s - Rethink, refuse, reduce, reuse, repair, re-gift, recycle
This a chance to take a step back and examine your life. What do you need and want in your life? Are there different choices you could make that would lead to a more sustainable lifestyle? Rethink what you need. Refuse what you don’t. Reduce what you do need. Reuse what you have as much as possible. Repair what you have. Re-gift what you don’t want. Recycle only what cannot be dealt with another way.
Buying locally sourced foods is great, but it applies to other things as well. Finding local craftspeople and supporting them is a great way to get really cool stuff, while also being more environmentally responsible.
The most responsible option is the thing that is already made. This can mean shopping at thrift stores and yard sales but it can also mean asking around in your community.
I’ve gotten huge amounts of cardboard for my garden by asking my neighbors to save it for me, same with egg cartons to hold eggs from my chickens. A friend of mine had a whole bunch of extra sheets and was asking around to see if anyone wanted any. Again, this helps build community.
Alcohol based cleaners (like hand sanitizer) and a little elbow grease will remove sharpie. A metal scraper can do wonders with paint and stickers. Covering it up also works, but that can be a bit riskier, so do what you feel is best. Don’t let them spread their hate.
Celebrate every achievement, no matter how small
It’s hard to feel like we’re doing enough, I get that. The world is literally on fire and not nearly enough people care. But hey, guess what? Something is better than nothing. Every single baby step taken is just that - a step. Did you switch to a reusable water bottle, instead of buying plastic? Good for you! That’s a step! Did you walk or take public transportation rather than drive somewhere? Fantastic! Did you talk to a neighbor and arrange a skills trade? Absolutely amazing!!! You are making changes and those changes are having a real impact, no matter how small. The world is better today because of every single one of those steps. Be proud of what you have accomplished. Look forward to everything you will accomplish.
In the face of a world that feels increasingly hostile - be kind. Everyday we face choices where we can keep doing what we’re doing, or we can stop and help. We can help a neighbor carry groceries. We can help that kid up who fell off their bike. We can help a lost pet get home. We can move a trash can that has been blown into a street by the wind. We can hold doors. Even a smile and a kind word, a compliment, can change someones day. We can slow down, look around, and choose to be kind. And that is radical and punk as hell.
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