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"A Singular Spirit." At Square One, we believe that this term has so much more meaning beyond our organic vodka. For us, Singular Spirits are those who are doing things unconventionally in work and life—and especially those who are passionate about what they do. Gather in our Square every month as we feature people or organizations who we feel capture the essence of a true Singular Spirit. ARCHIVE of Past Singular Spirits
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Ben Jervey |
In today’s world of fast and easy information, a lot of people can talk the talk of the eco-conscious. More and more, it seems that people are including the dangers of global warming, the environmental benefits of hybrid cars and the health advantages of buying seasonal, organic produce into their everyday conversations. In reality, however, how many of them actually live by those lofty ideals and really walk the green walk? Not a whole lot, as Ben Jervey, author of The Big Green Apple: Your Guide to Eco-Friendly Living in New York City, a compilation of tips on how to lead an eco-savvy life in the city, discovered after moving to New York City. Referencing the city’s inclination towards the quick and convenient, Jervey noted, “Generally speaking, most people are interested in doing the right thing but it has to be easy.” |
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Don’t get him wrong though. Jervey isn’t looking to pass judgment on his fellow New Yorkers for not doing all they can to preserve the environment. In fact, he’s learned from his own experiences that while it’s easy to criticize city dwellers for failing to adhere to many important environmentally conscious practices, it’s also immensely difficult to live by such ideals in a fast-paced environment where the amount of available foods, products and services is almost as high as the speed of life its people run on. After all, in a city where waiting in line for your morning coffee and bagel is an extravagant waste of time, who’s got the time to research sustainable energy services?
After moving to New York to put his urban environmentalism studies to practice in 2003, Jervey found that while living green came rather easily in the rural New England areas he had lived in all his life, it didn’t necessarily coincide with the urban lifestyle he then needed to assume. Although making eco-conscious choices was an important part of life in his hometown in Massachusetts and his alma mater Middlebury College (which stands as one of the first schools to pioneer the field of Environmental Studies) such a way of life can’t be transplanted into a community where many of the environmentally friendly options are easily lost amidst the hustle and bustle of the big city. According to Jervey, however, the two shouldn’t be perceived as at odds with each other.
“Because the connections with the natural resources and natural world aren’t so obvious in a city, a lot of city dwellers may think that they’re not really a part of the environmental issue. But in terms of resource consumption, waste production [amongst other factors], cities are really the most important geographic features that need to be targeted in our environmental efforts.”
While the way people lead their lives in New York and other cities across the country may have huge impacts on the environment, Jervey has learned that the path to effect real change in these communities doesn’t lie in strictly defining what they can and can’t do. Rather, it’s about expanding people’s minds and options by showing them not only the power of their everyday decisions but also the ways in which they can adapt green practices to their lifestyle—not the other way around. And just as he reworked his normal practices to his new life in the city, Jervey also wants to show New Yorkers that they can adopt some low-impact practices without forgoing the things they love. With the release of The Big Green Apple, Jervey has since dedicated himself to reaching out to the public through other outlets he believes would better connect to the city’s residents. This past summer, for example, Jervey has helped organize CitySol, an educational initiative of Solar One, the city’s environmental arts and education center, that aimed to showcase and celebrate a greener New York through a series of sustainable music and arts festivals. Jervey will furthermore soon launch an online directory of green businesses and services available around the city.
“The new style of environmentalism is a lot more encouraging in showing that the better way doesn’t necessarily have to lesser your quality your life… it’s not asking people to compromise the coolness or comfort of their lifestyles. It’s just trying to show that a greener life can be a better life.”
