Author: bfields

There are multiple reasons as to why I decided to focus my blog on sustainable transportation. My interest in the subject was originally piqued when me and two fellow Greenbelters, Evan Hucke and Campbell Lomel, embarked on our yearlong Greenbelt Cookbook project. I have no skill in the cooking department, so my work centered around driving to grocery stores around the Greenville/Travelers Rest area, in order to see which locations were of the highest quality, cheapest, and most accessible. That made me wonder: is what I’m doing actually sustainable? Every one of us sustainability-minded folk has that existential crisis. It’s just part of learning about what possible mistakes you’re making in your quest to live more sustainably. It’s no secret that the United States’ infrastructure system has been built to be car-dependent, and I had actually been interested in looking into that for a while. Most of us have to use a car to complete many activities throughout the day, such as going grocery shopping. This is especially true for those of us living on a college campus. Anyways, that’s a lot of reasoning behind just one of the causes of me writing about sustainable transportation. Phew! The other reason is because my car has since broken down, and it is currently under repair at a shop. Let’s jump right in!

 

Living without using a car at college is not new to me. In fact, I had chosen to use my car minimally as part of my Lifestyle Change project earlier in the semester. I just didn’t expect that part of the challenge to become my actual life. Gone is the luxury of being able to drive anywhere on campus because I don’t feel like leaving my cabin earlier to walk. The prospect of going on a Cookout run, even, is a distant memory. Since I’ve lost my car, I’ve been forced to think a lot more about what sustainable alternatives (or just any alternatives) are.

 

Walking

Walking is sort of a no-brainer here. It will always be the most sustainable mode of transportation, and we as humans have relied on that for millennia. While walking might take the longest time to get from Point A to Point B, that leaves other opportunities to be explored. Walking gives me more time to enjoy the outdoors or listen to music while on the go. Many Furman students and campus visitors alike enjoy going on a lake walk. I know this for a fact as I see someone walking nearly every time I leave Greenbelt. According to healthline.com, walking has many physical and mental health benefits, including burning calories, boosting immune function, and clearing your head.

Bicycle

Another common sustainable alternative is to go about by bicycle. Obviously, biking everywhere is easier than walking in terms of accessibility. Most people probably wouldn’t want to spend the entire day walking to Swamp Rabbit Cafe, as an example, but it is quite enjoyable to bike there. It is also relatively easy to learn to ride a bicycle. Although a bike can be difficult to maintain, it is still a strong sustainable alternative to driving. Biking, just like every other sustainable alternative to driving, is a great choice because no nonrenewable are burned and it reduces air pollution, per biofriendlyplanet.com.

Skateboard

My personal favorite alternative to driving: skateboarding. Essentially a scooter with no handlebars, a good longboard can take me from Greenbelt to Plyler Hall in just five minutes– going uphill. Skateboarding is not as accessible as riding a bicycle, but it requires less maintenance. It is also the least safe mode of transportation of the three; going on a steep downhill on a skateboard is not recommended. For those that are just starting out on a board, I would suggest wearing a helmet and/or knee and shoulder pads. According to sustainability-times.com, “manufacturing skateboards uses fewer materials than manufacturing bikes, and if its techniques are mastered, skateboarding can be faster than commuting on a bicycle.”

 

So, which of these three alternatives is the best? That’s the best part of it, you can decide– or even come up with another alternative! I have not been able to drive for a while, and the thought of driving to the music building or to get dinner is in the rearview mirror. Get out there and see which sustainable alternative to driving is the best for you!

 

Works Cited

Walking

Biking

Skateboarding

Many of us know the basics of sustainability and/or caring for the environment– less carbon dioxide emissions, more renewable energy sources, eat less meat, eat locally, etc. This being said, the question must be asked: how many of us actually have a practical solution to address any of these issues or goals? If you don’t have a degree in Sustainability Sciences, you might not have a solution. After all, it is difficult to account for the advancement of every single person in an environmental, economic, and social sense. However, one doesn’t need an advanced degree to understand the basics of farming. Working at Oak Hill Cafe and Farm this past summer taught me everything I needed to know.

Oak Hill Cafe and Farm is a farm-to-table restaurant on Poinsett Highway in between Furman University and downtown Greenville. Taking a quick glance at Oak Hill from the outside, it looks rather unassuming. After all, it is situated right next to a gas station on the right, Hakim Persian Rugs on the left, and an old apartment complex behind it. However, once I actually visited for the first time, I found that it was more of a quaint, urban-style restaurant with a small farm in the backyard.

I originally chose to work at Oak Hill Cafe to find something to do over the summer, as summers in Myrtle Beach can get quite a bit dull. However, I was unprepared for everything I would experience during my time there. I spent long hours and longer days tilling soil, weeding, planting new seedlings, harvesting old ones, washing vegetables, and fending off ant bites, often alongside my fellow Greenbelter Kerry Black. I might sound as if I’m making out my experience at Greenbelt to be negative, but I have learned very valuable lessons from my internship! This has led me to believe that farming done sustainably is arguably the most effective strategy to make a positive environmental impact on the world.

 

Why, you might ask?

It’s easy! This type of farming without use of harmful elements like pesticides and insecticides, also called subsistence farming, has been around since circa 8,000 B.C. (NatGeo), so it’s not like this is a relatively new concept. However, its popularity is starting to be revived after a decades long period of near insignificance due to the domination of big agribusiness. It is inspiring to know that there are an increasing amount of “pockets” of sustainability that exist where it previously seemed impossible, as my mentor Haley Disinger recalled. One would not expect a space wedged in between a gas station and a rug store to house a well-operated and sustainable cafe and farm, but Oak Hill Cafe and Farm is making it happen. It is my hope that other creative thinkers– not just those with a college degree– become inspired to act in a sustainable fashion just as I have!