Los Angeles is the land of smog, sprawl and cosmetic surgery, not known for its ecological or social consciousness. But many people, organizations and ideas are quietly fomenting revolution here. This Earth week, I'll share what these Worldchangers told me about the secretly green side of LA.
Jules Dervaes is the founder and director of Path to Freedom, a sustainable living resource center and urban homestead. This oasis in Pasadena has inspired thousands of people, including myself, to take small and large steps on the path to sustainable living. Jules sums up the focus of his worldchanging practices this way:
In our society, growing food yourself has become the most radical of acts. It is truly the only effective protest, one that can -- and will -- overturn the corporate powers that be. By the process of directly working in harmony with nature, we do the one thing most essential to change the world -- we change ourselves.____
What local Worldchanging organization, project or idea should be better known?
The idea of using the space that anyone has available, even if it's only a small patio or apartment balcony, to plant something -- a tree, a shrub, a vine or a vegetable. Where there was nothing, now there is something green. And that multiplied by millions across the city would make an enormous difference to the urban environment. Path to Freedom is modeling that concept to the extreme, but it can be adapted to one small space at a time.
What one Worldchanging practice do you most wish to see flourish in Los Angeles?
Localization. I would like to see eating locally, buying locally, working locally. Practicing such a "village lifestyle" would make a tremendous impact on our quality of life.
If you were King of Los Angeles for a day, what would you do?
If I were king for a day, I'd change the laws to make me king for life! The radical changes that are necessary would have to take hold in the next generation of residents to have a lasting effect. No miracle one-day cures are possible.
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I recommend the blog journal of Anais Dervaes, Jules Dervaes' daughter, chronicling the daily goings-on at the PTF homestead, and sprinkled with great links and resources.
