Ideal Bite
- Location: MT - 59718
- Marching Since: February 28, 2006
- Impact: 2,919 marchers
Our Savings
- Our friends’ carbon dioxide emissions savings: 1,873,946 lbs
- Our friends’ dollars saved: $214,012.90
As some of you may know, we started Ideal Bite to be a place for uplifting environmentalism, that didn't ask that you take sides or get into fueled (pun intended) political debates.
However, Global Warming is no longer a partisan topic. It is real. And if you are reading this, you already know about the polar ice caps melting, the increased frequency of natural disasters caused by climate change, etc. (So let's just skip that.)
Ideal Bite represents a large and growing community of real people who want to make a difference for the world at large by taking just small "bites" each day. They understand little changes add up, especially when done by many. Part of our approach has been to share our stories in our plight to live an eco-conscious life but not sacrifice too much (time, money, style). So in that story-telling light, we are both honored to share our personal "global warming" stories with you:
Jen's Personal Global Warming Story
In 11th grade, I randomly chose "Destruction of the Brazilian Rainforest" as my term paper topic. It was a VERY niche subject matter back then (1989), and I had absolutely no idea how much it was going to change my life.
Sitting amongst piles of microfilm copies and scientific journals in the library, I remember the exact "a-ha" moment. I connected the dots between the slash and burn techniques for clear cutting, and the fact that it not only created more carbon dioxide but also removed the natural "sinks" (or trees) for taking it away.
From that point forward, I have been an eco-warrior in my own ways…. Recycling here, volunteering there, and then finally devoting my professional life to saving the environment in 2001. I recently wrote my high school teacher to tell him about how that assignment absolutely changed my life, for the better.
Now, with everyone's awareness raised about this issue, I know we can help put this planet's future path on the right track. Thanks so much for joining us in the Virtual March.
- Sincerely, Jen Boulden, Co-Founder, Ideal Bite
Heather's Personal Global Warming Story
Well, I grew up in one of those places where that clear-cutting Jen mentioned was happening each and every day. Every home in town had a "This Family Supported by Timber Dollars" sign out front, and "environmentalism" was a dirty word. I spent my college summers working for the US Forest Service as a forest firefighter, and every day in the woods, I'd see big tracts of land with no trees right in the middle of the Rockies. It was depressing, but I was a little more interested in flirting with the boys on the fire crew than I was in worrying about global warming.
I'd like to pretend that I became a fierce activist at that time, but the fact is, it wasn't anything like that. It was subtle. MUCH more subtle. One fine day, when contemplating the fate of the planet, I just decided: "Hmmm. I really don't want to die."
Why'd I join the March? I'm a completely selfish individual. I like my life. I want to keep it. And this green earth is a necessary component of being able to live a long, happy and healthy one.
-Irreverently, Heather Stephenson, Co-Founder, Ideal Bite
