Creation Care

Resources for a “No Impact Lent”

Week 1: Buy Nothing New

Websites

Books (all available via the Minuteman Library Network)

  • Not Buying It: My Year without Shopping by Judith Levine

  • The Moneyless Man: A Year of Freeconomic Living by Mark Boyle

  • No Impact Man by Colin Beavan (see “Chapter 7: Conspicuous Nonconsumption”)

Week 2: Reduce Waste

Web

Film

  • The Story of Stuff, originally released in December 2007, is a 20-minute, fast-paced, fact-filled look at the underside of our production and consumption patterns. The Story of Stuff exposes the connections between a huge number of environmental and social issues, and calls us together to create a more sustainable and just world. It’ll teach you something, it’ll make you laugh, and it just may change the way you look at all the Stuff in your life forever.”

Books (all available via the Minuteman Library Network)

  • Plastic-Free: How I kicked the plastic habit and you can too by Beth Terry

  • Life without Plastic: The practical step-by-step guide to avoiding plastic to keep your family and the planet healthy by Chantal Plamondon and Jay Sinha

  • No Impact Man (see “Chapter 3: What You Think When You Find Your Life in the Trash”) by Colin Beavan

Week 3: Transportation

Web

  • MassRIDES, a free program of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) with a mission to reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality…MassRIDES partners with employers, colleges, and universities, to provide free commuter programs, resources, and solutions to help commuters and employers make smart transportation choices.

  • Massachusetts Bicycle Coalition (MassBike) promotes a bicycle-friendly environment and encourages bicycling for fun, fitness, and transportation.

  • Metropolitan Area Planning Council Trailmap, “[A] comprehensive map of pedestrian and bicycle facilities throughout the MAPC region and beyond. The data on this map tool has been collected from a number of sources including city/town trail data, land trusts, DCR, MassDOT, openstreetmap, and other sources.”

Books (all available via the Minuteman Library Network)

  • Two Billion Cars: Driving toward Sustainability by Daniel Sperling, Deborah Gordon

  • No Impact Man (see “Chapter 5: How to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint and Anger Your Mom at The Same Time”) by Colin Beavan

Week 4: Eat Local Food

Web

  • EAT-Lancet Commission Brief for Everyone “presents a global planetary health diet that is healthy for both people and planet. Discover the report’s key takeaways and specific actions that we all can take to contribute to the Great Food Transformation.” This site also links to podcasts, recipes and other resources related to climate change and diet.

  • Seasonal Food Guide – Massachusetts

  • MassGrown Map – Massachusetts farms and farmers markets. Note for the map resource: Before heading to a farm, farmers’ market, or CSA location, check the website or call to find out whether, how, and when you can access it.

Books (all available via the Minuteman Library Network)

  • The Pure Joy of Monastery Cooking: Essential meatless recipes for the home cook by Brother Victor-Antoine d'Avila-Latourrette

  • No Impact Man (see “Chapter 6: The Cabbage Diet Saves the World”) by Colin Beavan

Week 5: Energy

Web

Apps

  • JouleBug is “the easy way to make your everyday habits more sustainable, at home, work, and play.”

Books (all available via the Minuteman Library Network)

  • No Impact Man (see “Chapter 8: Click and the Lights Go Out”)/ Colin Beavan

Other Resources

  • Learn more about Arlington DPW‘s curbside recycling program – e.g., what’s required, what’s allowed, what’s not – and special programs for composting and textile recycling.