Eric Park

If you've got more people and less stuff, how do you keep everyone happy?

Share everything. Share often.

A simple concept, but hard to put into practice. Sharing with close friends and family is easy and feels good. But outside of this close circle, sharing becomes awkward and inconvenient. Asking people to share can feel like begging. Offering to share can feel like a handout.

But does it have to be this way?

For me, the annual NWEI EcoChallenge is an opportunity to change attitudes and habits that have served me in the past, and try new ones better suited for the future. For this EcoChallenge, I will try to share more, while seeking interesting or under-appreciated ways people and businesses are making it easier and safer to share. (Think ZipCar, FreeCycle, and Tom's Shoes.)

As an added bonus for those supporting my EcoChallenge, I plan to match your donation to me and NWEI with a donation to a non-profit called Growing Power, a group dedicated to inspiring communities to build sustainable food systems that are equitable and ecologically sound. I recently had the honor of introducing Will Allen, CEO of Growing Power, to speak to a group of over 500 people in Port Townsend who wanted to hear about his "Good Food Revolution". Will is a soft spoken farmer who in 2008, received a MacArthur Genius Grant recipient and in 2010 was selected as one of Time's 100 Most Influential People. His story inspired me to the possibility of individuals and communities to create transformative change.

My EcoChallenge Blog

October 13th, 2011: Today, I want to share a link to an inspirational video about the collaborative consumption movement, a phrase coined by Rachel Botsman. Cut and paste this link into your browser... http://vimeo.com/14408878 The shift from owning to sharing, from hyper consumption to collaborative consumption, enabled by technology and peer communities, is accelerating and scaling fast. And is getting people to share more than just their stuff, but also their time, their skills, and their experiences. I think it's one of the most important ideas that will transform how we live and offers hope for a better future in a world of diminishing resources.
October 11th, 2011: Tonight, our family organized our daughter hannah's class to do some volunteer work at the Oregon Food Bank. The food bank does a great job of making it easy to share your time to help sort and distribute donated food. Last year, they had a sign-up to donate part of your garden plot. We never quite got organized enough to do this, but the idea that you can share your garden is cool. Which reminds me of another organization that I've been fascinated by, The Portland Fruit Tree project, which registers, cares for and harvests fruit from urban trees. The idea is that there are many fruit trees that aren't harvested, whose fruit simply drops to the ground and is wasted. As they say, "Money doesn't grow on trees, but fruit does!"
October 10th, 2011: We're a single car family. However, my in-laws used to live in walking distance so we could borrow a car from them in a pinch. But they've recently moved so I re-activated my card. On Saturday, I used Zipcar for the first time in a few years. It's become so easy! Intuitive on-line reservations, notification texts and a lot more cars to choose from!
October 10th, 2011: This entry is a shout-out to Lotsa Helping Hands. My wife, Grace, has used this online tool on many occasions to help coordinate support for friends who need help during times of family or medical crisis. In the past year, she's organized or participated in four or five "circles of community" for helping organize rides and meals for several families that have been dealing with the arrival of a new baby, or a major family medical emergency.
October 2nd, 2011: Today we decided to give our couch to Community Warehouse. They collect and redistribute donated furniture and household goods to local, low-income individuals and families in Oregon and Southwest Washington. They received the Oregon Ethics in Business award last year, and also were listed as a top 100 green company in Oregon. Check 'em out.

Comments

From: Deborah Driscoll: We're glad to have the opportunity to support NEI and all the great resources they provide! Here's to a bright future for the organization.
From: Todd Blickenstaff: This is a great idea Eric. I am happy to support it, and I hope that it goes well. I am eager to hear about it. Todd
From: Felicity Nunley: Even adults can practice "sharing well with others." I am looking forward to reading about the project.
From: Theresa North: Good luck!! It seems to me that it is always easier to give than to receive, so I like to think of recieving as a way to let others be generous.:-)
From: Jennifer Schmidt: Thank you Eric for inspiring us think about ways we can consume less and share more. Jenny
From: Penny Serrurier: Go Eric!
From: Sarah Osborn: Hey Eric! Really inspiring to see you participate in this!
From: Sandra Park: Way to go! Wahoo!
From: Antonio Lee: Behind you all the way Eric!
From: Mike Mercer: Nice job Eric. Way to head over the top! I have a tandem kayak to share if you ever want to use it.
From: Jessica Vollendorf: It's awesome that you are doing this. I'm glad I can help support the cause!
From: Paul OConnor: yo Eric, tun the heat down!

(back to list of individuals)

My EcoChallenge(s): Sharing

My Fundraising Goal: $500

My Pledge Tally: $610

$610

$500

My Pledgers

Paul Longo
Deborah Driscoll
Todd Blickenstaff
Felicity Nunley
Theresa North
Jennifer Schmidt
Doreen Ho
Linda Brecke
Penny Serrurier
Sarah Osborn
Sandra Park
Antonio Lee
Jessica Vollendorf
Dave Knaub
Paul OConnor
Katherine Hawkins
Bettina Lee