I’ve been writing about sustainable living since the 2011 launch of Fresh in the Delaware River Valley,  the predecessor to Sustainable Choices at sustainablechoices.net. In 2019, I published a book on the subject designed to make it easier for nearly anyone to live in a way that’s healthy for them, the planet, their local economy and their community. That book, Choosing Sustainability: Your Guide to the What, Why and How, is available for order at bookstores everywhere AND right here on this site. Just go to Purchase Your Copy.

I believe that there is power in personal decisions, especially when many of us begin to move in the same general direction. My writing on sustainable lifestyle choices is informed by my own incremental journey toward a holistically sustainable way of life. Like most of us, I still have a long way to go.

So far, I have become an organic gardener, growing vegetables, herbs and fruit in every available nook and cranny of the yard. I reduce our household’s organic waste by composting most of the year (until the ground is frozen solid). I make green cleaning products and seek out other products that are organic, natural, healthy or otherwise sustainable. I make an effort to “love my local” by shopping at independently owned stores, banking local and even investigating opportunities to invest in local companies. I try to limit the amount I consume (not always easy). That can mean shopping less, but also trying to repair whenever possible, upcycle, reuse, recycle and purchase products that have minimal or recyclable packaging. I use my utility bill to invest in renewable energy, take steps to be energy and water efficient at home and drive a fuel-efficient hybrid, which has been awesome at saving me money on gas. I plan to trade it in for an EV at some point.  I’ve explored ways to share, barter and consume collaboratively. And I support my community when possible, through volunteer work and activism.

My other life

A writer by trade, I owned Bankhouse Communications for more than 20 years, offering marketing communications consulting, copy writing and graphic design services (the latter, through my partner) to a wide range of clients. My work has been published in newspapers, magazines and, of course, online. I’ve even won an award or two. I left the business to paint and pursue my own writing projects addressing various aspects of sustainability. Next up will be a book on the how and why of managing personal waste. Stay tuned!

I hope that Choosing Sustainability and sustainablechoices.net will help you find intriguing, useful information — and a bit of inspiration — as you continue on your own sustainable journey.

Mindy