As promised in the first article, this one is supposed to make the purpose of this project I have undertaken clearer. First, I would like to tell you that, while I had quit my job when writing the first article, now I have bought a new bike and quit my home too. Having a little bit more than a few dimes on my bank account, I guess we could call this luxury homelessness. 

Low emission travelling 

The first principle of this blog is low emission traveling. Most of us now by now, that machines, such as airplanes and conventional cars are very bad for the atmospheric climate system which we have only a few years from now to make sure to keep below the moderate goal of a 2 degrees Celsius rise relative to the late 1800 hundreds. 

Using our feet is of course as low-tech as it gets and is obviously an important means of transportation in this category. Travelling by bike, a purely mechanical vehicle, is in this category too. But where to set the limit, when it comes to means of transportation that actually do emit greenhouse gasses?

I take the pragmatic approach to this, since I sense that even slightly radical solutions to our climate change issue tend to discourage many people from even doing anything. We need significant steps taken by the majority, rather than a few radicals going all in and using no combustion engine driven vehicles whatsoever. Therefore, since we will still be travelling long distances in the future over somewhat short time-spans, I consider buses and trains to be within the category of climate friendly means of travelling. Airplanes are clearly not, and feet and bikes won´t take us to faraway countries unless we all stop working and become dedicated wanderers instead.

Feasting on weeds 

The second principle of project urbanite in the wilderness is to feast on weeds, eat the wild, or, technically speaking, foraging. Foraging is a passion for me that has opened up a world of exciting tastes, a lot of healthy outdoor activity and a sense of wild-life and treasure hunting!

Apart from revealing an exciting world of foods and tastes that has become lost though all around us, and the addictive practice of going foraging in nature, the practice of foraging is, of course, one of the few clearly climate friendly ways of sourcing your food. No energy-requiring machinery is used to let the plants grow by themselves, no ruminants or other anaerobic conditions of significance are created, when they grow, and no areas of rainforest or other land are used to grow fodder for the wild plants! In short: eating wild plants means lessening the ecological damage being done by our industrial system of production. 

I am not advocating the complete abolishment of industrial agriculture, but a substantial reform of our food culture, of which foraging plays a significant part. By foraging we can reduce our greenhouse gas emissions to zero, though very few of us, (no one?) will ever get to source all of our food from wild plants. In essence, together with growing your own food, foraged food is the most climate friendly cuisine. 

Connecting 

The third principle of this project is connecting with people around me. Any project aiming at societal change, great or small, must consider how to strike the balance between making things happen on the ground and communicating the message behind the practice. Worst case scenarios are the single individual reforming his or her own ways but being introvert about it, not communicating with others about the choices made, and, at the other extreme, advocating all the right answers to the problem but not actively applying the principles to oneself. Striking this balance, I think, is crucial, to make societal change happen.

Obviously, not communicating your view severely limits the influence of your efforts. And, obviously, not practicing what you preach, would likely mean your audience will turn their deaf ears to you or think the message does not apply to them either. Surely our political system and technology will fix the problems, not individuals? Putting aside the moral offensiveness of preaching a message hypocritically, millions used on research agendas and earned on books, articles and public lectures fall short of delivering large scale change, if you don´t apply your principles to yourself and thereby miss the opportunity to inspire other people, who then also will not inspire others, etc.. No ripple effect, no waves, just a standstill. It is the little strokes that fell great oaks, not the pointed finger.

This point is stated hypothetically, of course, but is both crucial and highly relevant, when applied to a segment of the elite communicating the issue of climate change: would you who make a comfortable living out of talking and writing about climate change, perhaps, make your own emissions go down, as your earnings go up? Thank you. Otherwise the money would be much better spent.

Connecting is simple, in principle, but can be hard, especially if you are a bit to the introverted side. The question for me is, what sort of activities will be best suited for me to strike this balance personally? Both non-economic social connections and economic transactions are relevant to me. (I am currently without income, after all) The ideas are the following: gathering wild plants for restaurants; participating in, or organizing, foraging events; continuing my public presentations on the relationship between food and climate change; and, finally – on a note not to overestimate the value of planning – to be occupied by the life happening to me, rather than by making other plans.

Food is a great means of connecting. It brings us together much rather than divides us, and I will make a promise here: that if you demand it of me, then I will make you a meal. (and if you do this apparently without any clear encouragement, then maybe you read the article). 

Lazing on a Sunday afternoon 

Lazing on a Sunday afternoon is the phrase of the fourth principle. It´s the title of a song by Freddie Mercury, and for me it expresses the silliness that I wish to practice as part of this project. I won´t go off to all activities mentioned in the song, such as to work on Monday morning, but perhaps to honeymoon on Tuesday? However, I will be very likely to ride my bike on Wednesday evening. I don´t know about waltzing to the zoo, but perhaps I will go on a Sunday car shopping trip Yes Men style (with you?), or try to find a smørrebrød cargo bike race somewhere not Copenhagen, where the first of such crazy events took place in late May this summer.

In essence, the Lazing on a Sunday principle is the no-principle principle, the going-with-the-flow-and-not taking-my-plans-too-seriously attitude, aiming at a holistic approach to life in all its aspects. The principle can, despite the name, be applied on any day of the week. 

Personal Development goals 

For myself, personally, I have set some goals that are very relevant also for the project: getting rid of my grumpiness (first step, I recognize it´s there); getting rid of my “office neck” the muscle tensions in the region of my neck caused by too much time spent producing letters like those you are reading now; and, finally, I will make an effort to become more of a hedonist, taking myself and my projects less seriously. Life should be lived primarily for the moment, right? It´s gonna be interesting, (for me at least) to see how this goes.

Next article

Maybe you found this article to be too moralistic, (like the first). I have good news for you then. In the next article the fun starts: it will bring the story of the beginning of my journey.