Have you ever watched a ‘50s or ‘60s television show and been amazed that the neighbors know each other so well? It seems like today, we know the people that live right beside us less and less. And I am one of the guilty. There are a few people in our neighborhood that we are friendly with, but there are still others that I wave at, but I don’t know their names.
So wouldn’t it be great if there was a green way to get to know your neighbors? I am going to tell you of such a way.
Think about how many tools and gadgets you have in your garage or shed? You probably have a lawn mower and a weed eater at the very least. If you have a husband, you probably have at least one full set of tools and if you have a husband like mine, you can triple that amount.
But, then you discover that you need one specific tool for one specific job, so you go out and buy it. Or do you?
Many neighborhoods have started sharing programs. It operates a bit like a library. You offer up a list of the tools and items you are willing to share and they can be checked out by people in the neighborhood. It is a free service in some neighborhoods and others charge a low fee to cover overhead costs and even purchase new items.
If you don’t have a service like this in your neighborhood, you may want to consider starting one. It doesn’t have to be terribly formal – people can keep their tools in their own garage and you can just have a checkout sheet. You can create a flyer to inform others in the neighborhood and you are off and running.
But, this sharing program doesn’t have to stop at tools. If you live in a neighborhood where people like to grow their own produce, you can have a food sharing program. I have a friend whose next door neighbor grew cucumbers and the things went crazy. There was no way he could even begin to eat them all, so he gave her tons. And she couldn’t eat all those, so she passed them on to us.
If your neighborhood really isn’t suited for growing vegetables, thinking about starting a sharing meals program. It’s almost as easy to cook lasagna for eight as it is for four, so find a neighbor who is willing to go in with you and share suppers. You can cook one night and they can cook the next.
By implementing these ideas, not only are you being green, but you are becoming closer to those physically closest to you.