At Least She's Still in Diapers

Last Sunday's New York Times Magazine section had a fascinating article on the Conlin-Beavan family - particular Colin Beavan's decision to have his family live for a year without, among other things, toilet paper.  Colin has a blog at www.noimpactman.com.  While I applaud the environmental spirit, there's something that's just not right about how self-promotional this all is.  After all, Colin is doing it for a book deal and taking his family along for the ride, seemingly against their will.

"They eat only food (organically) grown within a 250-mile radius of Manhattan; (mostly) no shopping for anything except said food; producing no trash (except compost, see above); using no paper; and, most intriguingly, using no carbon-fueled transportation."

One of the things repeated in the article is how the family lives without toilet paper.  I kept thinking that at least their poor 2 year old daughter is still in diapers.

posted by Michael Diamant

Comments

[christi]

It seems like a lot, but in the spirit of the possible windfall from the book, I'd do it in a heart beat.

I try to use as little disposable stuff as possible and then try to use as much flushable product as possible, but often wonder about all the water I'm using at the same time. I think washing out rags and mops beats leaving Swiffer rags in a landfill for the next 30 or so forevers...

[Michael]

I agree as well on the spirit, but giving up toilet paper just seems a bit too far to go to make a point, and seems so self-promotional.

[elizabeth]

If I were his wife I would be sneaking into a Starbucks every morning, not so much for the coffee but as for a bathroom with toilet paper.

[WorkmanSummer]

I had a desire to make my commerce, however I did not have enough of cash to do that. Thank goodness my close fellow said to take the home loans. Thus I received the auto loan and made real my old dream.