Spending three days in a meditation retreat center in western Massachusetts for labor day weekend reminded me how complex and busy my life has become in the hustle and bustle of Boston.  It is easy being green out in the woods, where you are not tempted by the daily conveniences of fancy coffees, take out foods, and the countless other goodies to consume at ones whim.  On a number of occasions I have lived in the countryside practicing permaculture and other eco-techniques like raising chickens, vermiculture, and biking as my sole mode of transportation.  While these options are available here in Boston, finding the time to fully practice being green is an incredible challenge.

Collin Beavan, also known as No Impact Man, decided to try living impact free for one year in Manhattan with his family and their story is being released on September 11th to raise awareness on how to live more sustainable lives.  The documentary trailer highlights some of the difficulties and rewards of living more sustainably and challenges individuals to look at what they eat, consume, drive, and all the other modern conveniences that have a collective impact on the planet.   For instance, Colin Beavan’s wife Michelle struggled with giving up her Starbuck coffee’s but ended up reversing her diabetes through adopting a healthy diet and walking 24 flights of stairs instead of taking the elevator.  The family initially mourned the loss of their television and other conveniences but ended up finding more quality time for each other.  Check out No Imapct Man’s tips on how to live green and the savings they made over the course of their project.