The Road Not Taken--And Why It Matters!

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth.

In that book about building a sustainable city that I loved so much, Superbia, there is a section about taking an "asset inventory" of your neighborhood. This is how you discover who has tools to share and who knows how to fix a flat tire and who would be willing to open a home-based daycare facility so that you can look to each other first for what you need, keeping money and favors and support completely local and thereby increasing your community's self-sufficiency.

All good. I think about when I hosted one of my Open Garden events back in the spring and my neighbor, one of the very few who has hiked the entire Appalachian Trail, and his wife (who had served as a critical home-based support system for him, and joined him on several legs of the trip) gave an outstanding presentation about sustainability on the trail, complete with the cooking of a meal right on my front lawn, the demonstration of the tent and pack he used, and the way he purified water. I have not been able to stop thinking about what an incredible resource of knowledge and experience these neighbors are, and wondering about the valuable life skills the many neighbors we have in this soon-to-be-city could teach and share, especially with our children, as we strive to become more sustainable.

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same.

My research about sustainability keeps revealing one other very important ingredient of a sustainable city: Sustainability builds from both the top down and the ground up.

Yes, there can be government mandates and programs and incentives, but, ultimately, what makes a sustainable city successful is the moment when individual citizens realize that "they" are not going to take care of our mounting social, economic and environmental issues (and, especially with a new city, there will be many priorities and little money). There is no "they." We are the "they."

A number of years ago, I had a writing assignment for the American Cancer Society, during which I questioned whether or not there was a free hat donation program for children who lost their hair due to chemotherapy treatment for cancer. There wasn't. It nagged at me, and finally my older daughter said the simple words, "Why don't you start one?" The very next day, she and I plunged into the world of non-profits. We ended up collecting hats from around the world and distributing thousands of them at six children's hospitals across the United States. Yet, just when the program was really beginning to gain real traction, we stopped. And after these last few years of feeling disappointed in myself for doing that, I can finally say honestly what happened.

I never asked for help.

It's as simple as that. I needed it. Running a non-profit requires skills I don't have, mostly those in legal, accounting, and bookkeeping. Need a big vision? I got vision. Need a press release? I'm all over it. Need a brochure or other marketing materials? Done. Need someone to foster relationships? Pass the phone. But get me into bureaucracy, endless meetings or extensive, detailed paperwork, and I'm drowning in my own incompetence, my friends.

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I pasted the poem that I've included in this post (titled The Road Not Taken, by Robert Frost) in my journal when I was 17. It has been my guiding light throughout my life. And so, here I am, having just turned 45, at yet another crossroads. I see an untrodden path, filled with opportunity for Dunwoody, for which I think I may have much to offer. I have road-tested many of the sustainable suggestions you read about every day in the media. I know what doesn't cost much and what works. I know what some of the things are that are tripping folks up about making seemingly small changes. I know how time-pressed we all are and how much we would like to make a difference if it were only easy. And I know where some of the resources are that can make it easy. Lastly, and probably more important than I realize, I am insatiably interested in this topic.

But I absolutely cannot do it alone.

If you are out there, feeling some sense of identity with some of the things about which I've written, and you think there is a "they" that will make Dunwoody a beautiful, more sustainable city, I have to give you the news. There is no "they." There is only me, and you, and others that may have this nagging, growing feeling that if we don't choose the path less traveled, no one will.

Here's what I would like to do, if I had the right "community assets" (that would be you) beside me:

Create a Sustainable Dunwoody Action Team

The Vision

This independent, non-government organization made up of citizens of Dunwoody will help to increase the sustainability of the City of Dunwoody, thereby improving quality of life, resource security and independence, economic vitality, and social equity.

The Team

It takes a village, or, in this case, a city to create true sustainability, so, in essence, as citizens of the City of Dunwoody, we are all on this team. However, in order to increase efficiency and make sustainability just a little bit easier for everyone involved, a Sustainable Dunwoody Action Team would spearhead the efforts. This team, consisting ideally of nine volunteer members who donate five hours per week (I know, not near enough, but that’s a total of 45 hours a week, instead of zero, dedicated to sustainability), would include:

• One bird's-eye-view strategist, charged with researching Best Practices in sustainable cities nationwide and worldwide, building links between entities, and encouraging the implementation of low or no-cost solutions that will yield enormous short-term and long-term benefits.

• Three grant researchers/writers, to serve as resources for non-profit agencies, institutions such as schools or places of worship, and neighborhood associations in need of grant money for sustainable improvements (such as school gardens, common area greenspace improvements, bike rack installation, recycling program implementation, etc.)

• Five topic-related project managers:

Sustainable business—This person will serve as a liaison with organizations such as The Partnership for a Sustainable Georgia, Southface, Dekalb Recycling and more to help connect corporate sustainability champions with available resources and opportunities.

Sustainable food—This person will encourage the planting and maintenance of gardens and fruit trees, the support of regional farms (such as the connection between school and farms, and the growth of farmers markets and CSAs), and the development of classes to teach food-related life skills such as gardening, cooking and preserving food.

Sustainable transportation—This person will work to increase the safety of our community for alternative modes of transportation such as walking, biking, and mass transit. Ways to do this include increasing bike racks, advocating for the enforcement of existing state laws regarding crosswalks, making connections between schools and Safe Routes to School.org and peds.org, encouraging the addition of bike lanes, and beautifying MARTA bus stops through civic sponsorship (such as by scout troops and places of worship).

Sustainable greenspace—This person will cast a wide net to uncover and identify all possible greenspace opportunities throughout our city and provide visionary recommendations and resource-liaison for ultimately increasing the community connections, health, vitality and beauty of our city.

Sustainable neighborhoods—This person will help residents find solutions to increase their energy efficiency, increase their food and energy independence, decrease the toxicity of their neighborhoods, reduce water use and watershed pollution, and connect citizens (especially those who may feel marginalized or who are in need) in more robust and potentially satisfying ways with the wealth and diversity of human resources within our community.

The Budget

Unless there is an accountant experienced with non-profit agencies who can document and monitor our efforts as a 501(c)3 organization (which means we would be able to accept donations and apply for grants), then I'm thinking this is a purely volunteer, zero-budget endeavor.

The Immediate Opportunities

• Encourage Dunwoody to join Chamblee and Doraville in requiring LEED-certification for all new commercial buildings that are 20,000 square feet or greater.

• Encourage the launch of a city-wide public recycling program.

* Start a database of private fruit trees that residents may want a team to help harvest next year (August through October) to donate food that is currently being wasted to those in need (like the Portland Fruit Tree Project.)

• Develop a downloadable Sustainable Dunwoody Tool Kit for residents to include:

* Home resource conservation info

* Local food/farms/CSA info

* Class info for urban homesteading skills (gardening, rain barrel-building, canning, cooking, etc.) such as those offered at the Oakhurst Community garden (www.oakhurstgarden.org)

* Green service company resource list

* MARTA bus and train info

* “Plant a Seed for the Future” tip sheet with fruit and vegetable gardening info

* “Take a Sustainable Step Forward” tip sheet with simple, sustainable steps you can take today to make a difference at work, at home and in your neighborhood

So, in short, where I go with this is up to you, and anyone to whom you may forward this post (I know this blog is not that old yet and my readership is still quite small). With some help, I think a lot can happen. Without it, I'll muddle forward, but slower and with more focus on simply bearing witness.

Although at many times I feel very alone here in Dunwoody with how much I care about the myriad issues regarding sustainability, I know I'm not. I know that every day that I leave my home on bike or foot or I push that manual mower or I shop at the farmers market, I am going to meet other people who feel the same way and I am going to believe once again, that yes, we can build a beautiful city.

Did I mention this stuff is actually fun? I'm a big fan of fun, and I gotta' be honest with you. I'm having more fun lately than I have had in years. Join me.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

What would you like to do on the road to sustainability? What is your area of expertise, or interest? What skills and relationships would you like to grow? Feel free to email me at freshbakedcopy@mindspring.com. Whatever you have to offer is more than what we currently have. No amount of time is too small. In fact, I'll develop a list of "Power Hour" things-that-would-help for anyone who has just one hour to give.