How I was raised…
My father was conservative and used the word “steward” quite often with regard to money, our resources and the environment. I would not call him an environmentalist by today’s definition. He would not like it if I did either since he associated environmentalism with people trying to slow down capitalism. Every year we would go on a camping trip during the summer to either the Smokey Mountains or to some other campground. In the Smokies, I remember him getting me a T-shirt that stated- “Take only pictures- Leave only footprints.” While he did not mention environmental impact- I know that was part of the message.
My mother was a little bit more progressive. She helped me with my science project with my father since she was a science teacher. One of them was a Solar House. Another was a business plan on how to use kudzu to make profit. We got to work in the yard together and she taught be how to recycle and compost.
Neither of them claimed to be saving the planet by doing these activities. It was conveyed to me that it was common sense.
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