No Impact Man

My first movie of the year was the American documentary, "No Impact Man"(2009).

The documentary is about a family living in NYC trying to live without harming the environment for a year. No disposable products, no chemicals, no transportation including elevators, no trash, no electricity,..so forth. 

Collin, who started this project, wanted to go extreme so that he would know what's actually possible and what's not after trying himself. 

(His Blog:No Impact Man)

Getting food locally and no getting food thats been transported by vehicles turned out to be great. They now know who actually grow what they eat. They've visited the farm and they've spend time with the cows that give milk which they drink everyday. 

Also no laundry machine brought a fun time to the family. They put water, natural detergent, and the dirty clothes in the tub and the family all walked on them! The daughter seemed to be having such fun!

I think No TV and having their own plot was a great idea for their daughter too. The parents started having much better time with their daughter by taking her out to the plot, letting her play with the dirt and learn how things grow. 

I was moved by his comment he made after having his own plot for a year. He said something like this. 

"Now we are back to eating the same thing we ate when the project started, like root vegetables and squash. It's not like turning the calender and know a year has past. Before, we were disconnected in the city from the natural rhythm. And I didn't know how much it feels good to be connected."

Of course, there are things thats very hard to keep doing like no electricity.Food get spoiled with no fridge in summer, it gets freezing in NY in the winter, living only with candle lights looked very inconvenient. 

But they tried all these for a while and they have learned what they really need and what they can live without. I think thats what's very inspiring and cool about them. 

And it's not just for the environment but it's for themselves. Like Collin has lost I think 20 pounds without going to the gym once and his wife is no longer at risk of becoming diabetic. 

I've read an article in a Japanese magazine about what it is to live "organic" and I really liked this comment.

To live organic is to live with the "originals" - things that are not processed, things that are as they are. 

I totally agree. "Organic" isn't anything new or trend, or a cool thing. It's just how humans have lived for many many centuries - not adding artificial stuff to everything. 

Soon in the future when I start living on my own there are many things I'd like to change in my current life style. It's hard when I'm not in charge of the house right now.. 

Anyway that was a good movie. I have many things to learn from them!