Sandy Phillips, ready to compost
Photos by Jim Phillips
Today, I’d like to introduce you to someone very special to me — my mother-in-law, Sandy Phillips.
Her story is a good one to share because she’s living proof that at in any stage in your life, you can become more environmentally conscious. She became aware of her need to be more earth friendly over time, incrementally. The more she learned, the more she has been inspired to do. And she’s done it all in baby steps that add up to make a big difference.
Sandy earned her PhD while raising two young boys. She’s done her life’s work in education — working largely with Michigan State University on continuing education, marketing development and summer studies. She recently retired but is still contracted to work part time for MSU. She is married to Jim Phillips and lives in Mason, Michigan.
I thought it would be best to let her tell you her story herself. I hope you’re as inspired by the things she is doing to love the earth as I am.
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Q: Have you always been about the green movement or is this a relatively new lifestyle for you?
A: I grew up in the City of Detroit. Through family trips to my grandparent’s farm in the Michigan thumb, I saw a very different way of dealing with waste than we did in city life. We had a garbage disposal in the city; in the country my grandparent’s composted garbage and burned trash — but they repurposed everything. Food containers, bread wrappers, plastic bags, brown paper sacks—everything they could.
My mother had a lot of these same habits but nothing to compare with my grandparents who were recyclers and composters, living a minimalist lifestyle. They had one family car, one phone, one TV; a fruit cellar in the earth was an extra cold space for fruit and vegetables—not an electric run freezer. Extra meat was canned not frozen—-a real shocker for the city girl I was and am! Eggs didn’t come in Styrofoam containers—you went out to the hen house and got them. If you needed a chicken for dinner — you went out in the backyard and got one. I nearly fainted when my grandmother broke the chicken’s neck with her bare hands. I remember seeing the chicken’s leg on the plate and losing my appetite. I much preferred going to the local A & P grocery store with my mother for our shopping!
Q: When did you start becoming more aware of green living ideas?
A: I’ve always had the “thrifty, waste not want not” thinking in the back of my mind thanks to the attitudes of my parents and grandparents; they were all much less material accumulators than I—luxuries were not on their lists of wants. They lived simply, never ate out, only purchased what they needed, and lived happily within their means.
I’ve never lived like that but at this point in my life and having realized how much I have accumulated — I’m starting to back track and reexamine a simpler, healthier, more earth friendly lifestyle. In the last couple of years, for example, I’ve expanded my recycling efforts, become a composter, and I now use reusable shopping bags (when I remember them)!
Al Gore and his concern about climate change started me thinking in new ways but the real motivator was the children’s movie Wall-e. I was horrified to see the amount of trash we as a society produce—and even more horrifying is the general attitude of most consumers which is — not my problem.
I’ve been active in the last couple of years in writing to Michigan and Illinois legislators about the amount of toxic waste dumped into Lake Michigan from the Illinois British Petroleum (BP) Corporation. I’m very concerned about protecting the Great Lakes and about Michigan buying garbage from Canada and putting it in Michigan landfills.
Q: Do you remember what first inspired you to start making some changes in the way you live? Or perhaps what was the first green change you made at home?
A: Recycling pop cans was probably the first statewide recycle effort, and I remember being pleased to participate. Newspapers, cans, magazines, etc came later. Recycling and composting are big changes for me. Also, I’m buying Mrs. Meyer’s Laundry detergent, healthier foods, and deodorant without aluminum. Next I’m going to move into greener cleaning supplies.
Her at home sorting system for recyclable materials
Q: What’s the recycling situation where you live?
A: Average—no home curbside stuff out here in the country. I drive my recycling 12 miles one way to participate in getting rid of newspapers, phone books once a year, magazines and catalogs, clear glass only, milk cartons and water bottles, detergent bottles, cardboard boxes and a new addition—-boxes from cereal, gift boxes, manufacturers boxes—in fact these kinds of boxes are my biggest recycle item. Everything comes in a box!!
I am extremely proud of Michigan State University and their new found green efforts—everything from recycling lots of items to powering down heat, air conditioning and lights. We have undertaken a major institutional effort to think and act in “green’ ways. The University built a whole new recycling plant on the campus and is definitely thinking and acting in new “green” ways.
Q: You were in Phoenix recently and got to experience how spoiled we are with our recycling setup. I heard it inspired you to think about bringing those ideas to your city. Can you tell us about that?
A:Recently, I spoke with someone from a large garbage company in the Lansing area. I wanted to enlarge the recycling efforts of their company but learned, if they can’t sell the recycled materials to someone, the items won’t get on the recycle list. I learned that’s why they don’t recycle green and brown glass, for example. I was disappointed with his response — it always comes down to a business deal not an environmental choice.
Q: You put a lot of energy into recycling. Why is it such a priority to you?
A: It has become a way of life — a priority — because we have to start somewhere in this country; we are living like “hogs” with the notion we can keep piling trash all over, pollute our air, etc without consequences. A U of M medical student said we wouldn’t have the health care problems if people took personal responsibility to take care of their bodies and minds—-another example of how poorly we are living in general. I believe change begins with individuals—I recycle and compost and think about my actions and how they are impacting the environment—i.e. Detergents, cleaning supplies etc. I can’t get rid of my car but I do drive it less and plan meetings and shopping etc so I only drive when necessary. I’m buying washable clothing over dry cleanable. I’m eating better—smaller meals, healthier choices. I want to feel better, look better and “live strong” so I can contribute while I’m here on earth. In 1964 John Kennedy said, “Ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country.” If all of us make a few simple changes, felt the responsibility to be part of the change, we could see big differences. I applaud all who care enough to recycle even one item —-and wonder about others who don’t see their role in this national crisis—both to the earth and our bodies.
Adding a load of greens from her kitchen to the compost pile
Q: You have quite a bit of land where you are, and I understand you’re composting there. How’s that going?
A: Very well. My new composter is a dream. Much better than my homemade chicken wire composter. I used the chicken wire to line the ground under the composter to keep the animals out who were living on my composted materials. I actually read a pamphlet on how to compost and look forward to the composted materials which I will spread around trees and in my garden in the spring. Also, I purchased a compost bin for my refrigerator and it has a locking lid which I really like.
Q: What are some other green lifestyle changes you’ve made?
A: Gardening this year.
Q: How does gardening play into green living for you?
A: I freeze all vegetables to use in foods I prepare at home. We are eating much more at home. I use less salt and create healthier meals. Plus, the more vegetables I can grow in my garden, the less I have to buy that are shipped in from all corners of the earth.
Q: Is shopping a different experience for you now that you know what you know?
A: I’m actually aware I use shopping as a recreational activity. I’ve really cut back on spending and shopping. I’m cleaning out closets to find things I need to use up before buying. I don’t buy unless things are on my list. I’ve found I can live just fine without a whole lot of things.
Q: What’s green living change have you made that’s been the easiest to live with and maintain?
A: All have been easy to live with and maintain—it is a lifestyle
Q: And the most challenging?
A: For me it is most frustrating not having curbside recycling and the whole Mid-Michigan mentality is very bothersome.
Q: You’re married. How does Jim feel about all this? Is he on board?
A: He is on board as long as I am doing all the work. I’m afraid he is an example of the mid Michigan mentality and even worse — he doesn’t see he has a role in making the change. He is proud of my efforts. So, I’m hoping he’ll come along some day. Trust me—if I wasn’t here, everything would go in a landfill.
Q: Are there any other things or green living tips you’d like to share?
A: Think holistically—it’s about the earth and our bodies
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