Take this online quiz to learn how you can reduce your carbon footprint. Celebrate the way your organic gardening hobby helps the earth.
Have you ever considered how many global acres it takes to sustain your lifestyle? How many earths would we need if everyone lived the same lifestyle as you? National Public Radio attempts to answer these fascinating questions by posting an online interactive quiz that examines our lifestyle choices and renders a final tally that graphically reveals the consequences of our consumption.
Global acres refer to the amount of biologically productive land it takes to sustain an individual. If your lifestyle requires more than 4.5 acres to sustain, your score will reveal that you need more than one earth to survive.
A quiz subject can enter several pieces of information on several subjects, ranging from the electricity one uses to one's transportation choices and the impact of the food one eats.
Time for full confession and disclosure: I was horrified to learn that it would take 4.9 earths to sustain my lifestyle. I ranked well in some areas, but poorly in transportation and home. Fortunately, the kind authors of the quiz provided ideas to help me improve my score.
How are we reducing our carbon footprint with our organic gardening choices?
- Increase your produce consumption: It takes 11 times more fossil fuels to produce a pound of meat than a pound of grain.
- Reap what you sow: Eating out is a treat, but increases your environmental footprint. Prepare and eat food at home.
- Buy organic: Organic foods are good, locally grown organic foods (your garden!) are better.
Take the quiz, and drop me a line if your tally is less than 1.5 earths. I’d love to hear about your green lifestyle.
