Mike Girard - Student - Class of 2012
Sustainability Office: When did you first become interested in sustainability and how did it happen?
Mike: My mom completely switched career paths, leaving a Harvard government education behind to follow her true passion: environmental protection. Despite the sacrifice in income, this was her passion and it rubbed off on me through the stories she would tell, and the practices she imbued in me such as composting, re-using goods and limiting environmental impact. As such, I'd say I was first exposed to sustainability at 4 or 5 years old, and started to become truly interested it at around 13 or 14.
Sustainability Office: In what way do you practice or advocate sustainability?
Mike: At home, I practice and advocate sustainability with my landscaping business, Collegiate Greenscaping. Unlike some companies that may dump gallons of roundup, spread fertilizer like candy and clearcut to make a nice view, my business specializes in sustainable landscaping through the use of organic compost fertilizer, hand-weeding, employing the existing terrain and plants to bring beauty to one's property, battling invasives and making sure that no new invasive species take hold. At Colgate, I am one of the founding members of the Colgate Composting Club and will be its treasurer for the second year running this coming 2010-2011 school year. This helps me develop a deeper understanding of composting practices while passing on that knowledge to the school community, as we work to develop the composting facilities needed to break down dining hall waste into potent fertilizer. I am very excited about this club and think that it will make huge strides this year, especially working in conjunction with the new community garden and Buildings & Grounds.
Sustainability Office: How has your life improved or been influenced by sustainability?
Mike: Sustainability and the struggle to live a less environmentally-impactful life has led me to my current concentration at Colgate University - rather than simply majoring in economics, as I had originally planned, I found that Environmental Economics would allow me to pursue economics while being involved heavily and learning a lot about the environmental science issues related to economics. I believe that by marrying these two fields of study, I can gain insight into the challenges and potential solutions to our massive global warming and sustainable energy issues and contribute in a positive way to this challenge.
Sustainability Office: Why is sustainability important to you?
Mike: Watching the world disintegrate before our eyes into a plasticky, carbon-dioxide choked heap is extremely difficult; what makes the issue all the more disturbing is the massive indifference I see every day regarding this issue in terms of everyday actions. Sustainability (TRUE sustainability, not just recycling that Evian bottle every now and then) is the only way that our planet and future generations can weather the current storm. The problems we face will simply increase as our population skyrockets toward 8, 9, and 10 billion people, so I realize that taking an active role in sustainability now can make a huge difference in the future, a future that is currently in jeopardy.
Sustainability Office: What advice would you like to offer others as they strive to incorporate sustainability into their lives?
Mike: I like to compare living sustainably to voting. One person's vote will NEVER affect a vote; there are simply too many people for a single vote to have anything more than an almost infinitessimal effect on the final outcome. However, every citizen wants to see a certain future realized, and for this reason, casts their vote as a duty to their country and greater globe. Similarly, one person's choices and lifestyles each and every day have an extremely minimal impact on our environment; however, it is only if every person makes an effort to live sustainably every day (be it recycling thoroughly, re-using shopping bags, composting or buying a more fuel-efficient car) that we can make a difference: it is our duty to our planet and our children and grand-children. To become involved with sustainability movements and advocacy helps amplify our positive effect, and it makes me feel great!
Sustainability Office: Anything else you want people to know about your efforts in sustainability or about the "green" movement in general?
Mike: Colgate Composting Club is going to be the biggest news in sustainability on campus this year, so get involved! Also, I aim to bring my sustainability practices to my local community with my landscaping business, Collegiate Greenscaping. If you live in central MA and are interested in our services, please email us at collegiategreenscaping@gmail.com. As parting words: Don't overlook the easy things you can do to live more sustainably! Turning trash into potent, valuable fertilizer by composting is easy and FREE. Bringing a re-usable bottle or mug around is EASY and usually can get you discounts. Don't say it's too inconvenient, because living in an era of mass extinction is rather inconvenient as well. Do your part!
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