Let’s face it: We live in a disposable society. One reason is that things aren’t made like they used to be — that is, so well made, you likely wouldn’t have to buy another any time soon, or if you’re lucky, ever.
Certainly many manufacturers that don’t want consumers to be satisfied with one and done keep coming up with so-called new and improved products to get people to buy more, more and more.
Of course, there are accidents, or a part that needs replacing even for something that was indeed well made. But the owners don’t have the wherewithal to fix it themselves.
The easiest solution often seems just to haul it to the transfer station. And as we all know, landfills keep getting filled.
Ah, but then there are those handy folks who show us that indeed a lot more things can be fixed than we all thought.
That’s what happened Saturday at the Fix-it Fair organized by a local group, Drawdown Montague.
People brought knives to be sharpened, clothing that needed mending, plus lamps, space heaters and a dehumidifier that weren’t working.
Tamara Kaplan of Montague opted to bring the dehumidifier rather than trash it at the dump. To her surprise, it got fixed.
“This is what it’s about, neighbors helping neighbors,” she said.
For the handy people at Drawdown Montague, it was more than being neighborly. They wanted to demonstrate at this free event — donations were accepted — that fixing things is something people can do for the environment at the local level. The group and others have held other fix-it events.
Drawdown Montague’s inspiration came from a book: ”Drawdown: The Most Comprehensive Plan Ever Proposed to Reverse Global Warming” by Paul Hawken.
When it comes to global warming and other problems, it’s the little things that can add up to help the environment. Walk more and ride less. Compost if possible. Make one’s home as energy-efficient as possible. Reuse and recycle.
And if at all possible, fix it.
Here’s a friendly reminder Dec. 2 is the deadline to submit nominations for the 2019 Greenfield Recorder Citizen of the Year.
Readers have already sent nominations. But for those who haven’t, we want to know who you feel is deserving of the honor.
It could be a person who has held a position of prominence or someone who has worked tirelessly behind the scenes. And it could someone who has been nominated in the past but wasn’t chosen.
The process is simple. Write to the Recorder either via email to Editor-in-Chief Joan Livingston at jlivingston@recorder.com or via mail to Recorder Citizen of the Year, P.O. Box 1367, Greenfield, MA, 01302-1367. Include your name, address, phone number and email, and the same information for the person you are nominating.
Give a short written statement about why this person should be Citizen of the Year to help the selection committee make its decision.
The winner will also be the guest of honor at a Dec. 20 breakfast at Deerfield Academy hosted by the Recorder and Franklin County Chamber of Commerce. The person will receive $500, half of which will be donated to a charity of the honoree’s choice.
Readers, we want to hear from you.