Jessi Burg (she/her/hers)
CEO / Outgrow your garage
Occupation: CEO of Outgrow Your Garage
Do you have a specific area of sustainability that interests you the most? Why do you CARE about that specific area? (i.e. energy, water, waste, transportation, etc.) I tend to focus on the overlap of accessibility and sustainability, and how to incorporate it into our daily lives and choices. We need to be realistic about what systemic changes need to occur in order for people to start thinking about sustainability. Sometimes, that’s someone who lives in a rural area and does not have access to recycling or composting, or sometimes it’s someone living in poverty and their main priority is where they will get their next meal. In those cases, the question becomes more about solving the barriers to access than how to make sustainable choices.
Finish this statement: I CARE Because … In Guardians of the Galaxy, Rocket Raccoon asked “What did the galaxy ever do for you? Why would you want to save it?” and Peter Quill answered “Because I’m one of the idiots who lives in it!” Which is a good reason for wanting to save it, but also because it’s nice living in a nice place, whatever nice means to you. On a human rights level, everyone should have access to clean air and water and the fact we don’t is absurd.
What are one or two of your favorite sustainability tips or tricks that you like to share with others? Worm composting! Worm bins can be scaled to whatever sized space you have available, whether that’s an industrial sized worm bin, or a tiny Tupperware container you can keep in your bathroom (speaking from experience). Basically, anyone can worm compost! My other favorite is utilizing your local library. Anyone who knows me, knows that I love the library. It’s this huge source of information where I don’t have to buy anything and the resources are shared. Some places even have tool libraries that rent out house supplies and tools. This is a good option for when you don’t need whatever tool it is all the time- try to rent or borrow instead!
What are you most excited about when it comes to being a Women in Sustainability Member? I like that I can ask for resources, and they appear! It’s so refreshing to be part of a community of women who are willing to help each other out.
Connect with Jessi:
Email: jessi@outgrowyourgarage.com
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