RECYCLING: Not Just For Treehuggers Anymore

It appears the global trend of recycling has finally spread from its roots in the houses of treehuggers and aging hippies into the mainstream and beyond. In the last week alone there have been multiple reports of urban pioneers showing respect for mother nature. The urban pioneers I am referring to are not the young professionals who venture outside of their friend's comfort zones by moving into a rough area of the city and constantly talk about how great it is except for the violence and the drugs and the boarded up rundown houses. No, the urban pioneers I'm talking about are the true pioneers. Men and women who shun all the modern conveniences of shelter and security in favor of a life out in the elements, living off the land and what they can steal from the Kroger store at 901 N. Lombardy.

You might be asking right now, 'where is this happening?' or 'it's not in my neighborhood is it?' Hold on to your seats but I personally know of three separate events in three different neighborhoods of the city this week alone.

EVENT #1: I was first made aware of this phenomenon on a little excursion into downtown last weekend. I was trailing behind Lane as he sought out the perfect photography angle on a building downtown. Focused on the buildings lines Lane barely noticed an urban pioneer engaged in an impressive act of recycling. The man pictured here was so dedicated to the cause that he was pushing this whole cart of recyclables up the hill on Franklin St. I didn't stop to ask him whether he was taking them to some recycling center because I didn't want to break his concentration as he precariously made his way up the street but I am sure he could not have had any other destination.

EVENT #2: A few days after the downtown incident I was made aware of another act of environmentalism by one of Richmond's urban pioneers. In the Jackson Ward neighborhood a resident came home to find a man sorting her recycling that was left in the backyard. It is great to see that instead of the regular schedule of sleeping in Monroe Park all day, spending the evening stealing alcohol from various 7-11 stores and then drinking away the rest of the night some of our outdoor dwellers are constructively using their free time to help local residents organize their recycling.

EVENT #3: The last example comes right from the very alley behind 2703. Some of you might recall an earlier post that discussed the guerrilla gardening movement that is flourishing in the Fan. While some guerrilla gardeners have done such things as plant flowers along alleys other have taken it upon themselves to hang birdhouses up and down Hanover Ave. I'm happy to report that one renegade guerrilla gardener has apparently noticed the poor quality of soil in the alley behind 2703 and has taken it upon himself (or herself but I really hope not) to spread some human organic matter along our back fence. Some people might be initially appalled to see evidence of a human making a #2 in their backyard but I say 'thanks.' The sunflower seeds that I recently scattered in that same spot will probably flourish with the addition of human compost. I'll probably have the best sunflowers in the neighborhood thanks to this selfless urban pioneer. Of course I can't really prove that this generous act was done by an urban pioneer but I can't fathom any non-urban pioneer dedicated enough to do what this person did. If you drive through the alley today you will see a little yellow flag planted in the human compost that simply reads, 'THANKS.'