Blog #1: Introduction and Ideas of Home

Hello! My name is Claire. I’m a third-year student at Dickinson College studying Environmental Studies and Educational Studies. I’ve lived in many different countries and states for various jobs and study abroad opportunities throughout my life, but I’ve always considered my home to be my hometown of Asheville, North Carolina. I lived in the same house in Asheville my entire life before graduating high school. The environment, culture, and values surrounding my home have shaped me perhaps more than any other influence on my life.

Asheville is situated in the Appalachian Mountains. While many areas of Appalachia have long histories of fossil fuel extraction and poverty, the area I grew up in has a long history of preservation and recreation. I grew up hiking, swimming, and backpacking in the public lands surrounding my city with family and friends. Connection to the natural world and time outside is a big part of my family’s values. As a child I spent hours in the yard around my house climbing trees, caring for my animals (we have chickens, a dog, and a pet rabbit), and helping my parents in the garden. In the morning before school I would run to collect eggs and harvest veggies for my breakfast. This lifestyle might seem typical of a rural upbringing, but I actually live in a pretty densely populated area. I grew up just over a mile away from our downtown. There are bus lines, bakeries, daycares, auto shops, and an elementary school all within a ten-minute walk from my front door. I also grew up surrounded by neighbors. The families and individuals on my street and those surrounding it were some of my best friends and mentors growing up. We shared meals, favors, and front porch gossip regularly. A culture of care and community is what stands out to me most about my neighborhood, especially as I’ve lived in different communities in my adult life. 

Sustainability is also a big part of my home culture. Many of the stereotypical practices associated with sustainability are a big part of my family’s life. We compost our food scraps which help fertilize the garden. We are mostly vegetarian, and walk, bike, and use public transportation when possible. We have LED light bulbs and low-flow faucets and shower heads. We try to limit our use of air conditioning in the summer and heat in the winter. We have an electric heat pump and solar hot water heaters. I also grew up buying second-hand and being told to reduce my consumption wherever possible. While these practices are important, I believe sustainability extends far beyond personal behavior change. There are many organizations and leaders in my community that have worked to take larger action on sustainability. My town is fairly politically progressive and environmental sustainability is usually a key part of politicians’ platforms. I also learned a lot about social and environmental sustainability in school growing up. However, there are also many ways in which my home is unsustainable. A high and growing cost of living combined with gentrification has made making a living in Asheville hard for many. Our schools have some of the largest racial achievement gaps in the state. At the surface, we have a lot to be proud of, but we also have deeply inequitable structures that have been long overlooked.

While Asheville will always be home for me, home has become a more fluid concept over the past few years. Since graduating high school I have lived in Costa Rica, Perú, California, Maine, and Pennsylvania for various periods of time. Each of these places has had unique relationships to sustainability, community, and care. I have loved learning about the environment, culture, and values of each of them and look forward to learning more about your homes in the UAE!