Come join Carol Hohle, Founder and Executive Director of Inspiration House, as she shares her personal ecological conversion experience in an interactive talk on March 27, 2011 in Des Plaines, IL.

Since the industrial revolution that began in the 1800s, the world has been on an unprecedented consumption binge. In the last fifty years alone, humanity has consumed more goods and services than the combined total of all humans who ever walked the planet before us.[2] What is behind today’s consumer ethos, and why has it become a problem? What will be required to shift the psyche and “shop” and “toss” behavior in our society to a sustainable one?

I was on a conference call the other evening and we got to talking about those “invisible” conveniences we take for granted – “disposables” – especially those paper or plastic goods that help us carry our stuff … groceries, new clothes, leftover food from the restaurant, coffee. After kvetching about this cultural conspiracy that keeps us tossing out way too much stuff we agreed to change our own habits. …

What a gift to be able to walk in the woods here in Weston, MA! Most everyday I’m out with my dog, Ellie, walking the trails and paths through the woods, fields, and orchards. I’ve seen the same scenery for three or four years now in each of New England’s seasons – winter, spring, summer and autumn – and taken photographs this past year documenting the views. …