I met Ben Jervey at a recent Sustainable Symposium, where he was one of the panel speakers. He has a resume that is green meets impressive. Ben is the Web Editor of OnEarth, the independent publication of the Natural Resources Defense Council. He writes a weekly column for GOOD Magazine, called “The New Ideal.” He publishes sustaiNYC, a "reblog" covering NYC's sustainability scene. A few years back he also wrote a book (The Big Green Apple) on living a lower impact life in New York City. And he's ridden across the United States and through much of Europe by bike. Here's more on Ben:
1. three simple ways you've gone greener in your life
+ I moved from Vermont to NYC, where residents boast individual carbon footprints about a third of the national average.
+ I bike around the city, and take commuter and Amtrak trains whenever
possible. (I'm answering these questions from an Amtrak from NYC to
Vermont, in fact.)
+ When I eat meat, I like to know either the person who raised or killed
the animal. Sounds somewhat grotesque, but I think it's the safest and
best way to know where your food is coming from.
2. last green purchase
I don't tend to buy too many (new) things, but am suckered in by energy saving gadgets. I picked up a Kill-A-Watt power meter and have been geeking out with it ever since. Also love thrift stores, and the occasional new item from Nau, so that I can be taken seriously in the conference room.
[organic cotton pants from nau]
3. one green initiative you'd like to see enacted in your community
My community, Ft. Greene, in Brooklyn, has a lot going on already. A community compost project, three CSA programs within about a mile radius, great access to mass transit. [Funny enough, I live in Ft.Greene too!] I would love to see a bike share throughout Brooklyn. And this 1 Block Off the Grid program they're piloting out in SF has me a little jealous.
4. best green gift you've given, received, or coveted
Last year my parents gave me a share of the Clinton Hill CSA for my birthday. Was the best gift I've ever received. Not green gift. Best gift. Period. Fresh food every week. The diversity of which forced me to learn all sorts of new recipes. And so much of it that I could rarely justify opting for simple take-out or a slice.
5. hardest habit to break to be more eco-friendly
6. three ways you want to be greener this year
Tough question. I honestly feel like the biggest impact I can personally have right now is through my work, and I'm focusing on that more than my own personal lifestyle choices. (Though I don't feel particularly guilty about any lifestyle decisions I currently make.) Through SustaiNYC, I feel that I can help others more easily navigate NYC's sustainability scene. Through my work w/ OnEarth, we try to shine a floodlight on lesser known environmental issues and challenges that threaten local communities. And from feedback I continue to get, I've learned that the book I wrote, while a few years old now, is still helping people figure out how to live a lower impact life here in the big city.
Next week, Ben shares the scoop on dry cleaning — the greenest way to dry clean your clothes is not what you think! A big thank you to Ben for being a part of Green Swap!
Giveaway reminder! There are two green giveaways running through Monday (let's say Monday, 6pm EST.) Be sure to check them out: organic gardening giveaway + a full kit of green cleaners from ecostore. I'll pick random winners and announce them on Tuesday. Have a great weekend!
{green swap photograph by charlotte jenks lewis}
yesterday's q+a: carrie of raksha bella organic bedding
Monday's q+a: hillary of thepurplebook green
what's green swap? find out more here
