At our Leadership Great South Coast program day “Understanding our Place in Climate Mitigation and Adaption” our speakers Mark Wootton and Eve Kantor from Jigsaw Farms, Graeme Anderson from Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions and Jason Thomas, LGSC Alumni encouraged us to explore how to live more sustainably and as community leaders challenge the status quo on carbon neutrality. As noted by Graeme, “We need to build communities that we want to work and live in and make decisions today that leave us better off in the future.”

Sounds simple, but is it?

It should be – we should be able to waste less, buy less, recycle, reuse, refit and regenerate, although how does this fit with Australian consumerism?

Consumerism is the theory that individuals who consume goods and services in large quantities will be better off. Some economists believe consumer spending stimulates production and economic growth. Our speakers discussed how consumerism is destroying our environment. As the demand for goods increases, the need to produce these goods also increases. This leads to more pollutant emissions, increased land-use and deforestation, and accelerated climate change. Rather than thinking bigger is better or that you must spend money to make money – why not focus on making your little patch the best it can be?

The cheap t-shirts that you need to replace every 6 months compared to the expensive merino wool ones that will last you for 10 years – what is the better option?

As community leaders we can make small steps to influence how we spend our money – which effects supply and demand – as well as spread awareness and educate how the actions of every individual impacts our environment. Our goal should be to make small changes today so in the future we can help others to make small changes. Theory states we all change our behaviour when ‘it works’ (proven difference), ‘I want to’ (better off) and ‘I can’ (easy and nothing is holding me back). “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”

Thank you to our hosts Mark Wootton and Eve Kantor from Jigsaw Farms for welcoming us to your farm and sharing your journey with Leadership Great South Coast for the past 11 years and allowing us to plant 601 trees to reduce a little bit of our carbon footprint; Graeme Anderson for sharing your passion and knowledge and the self-confessed lazy gardener with a spreadsheet Jason Thomas for inviting us to your home and encouraging us to live more sustainably by making small gradual changes.

Anna Sanderson 2022 LGSC Participant