Brock about Town

for the opportunity to talk about my documentary A Decent Home -- and about my love of home and my hatred of greed. Our week of screenings in Iowa -- including two sold-out screenings tonight and tomorrow night at FilmScene in Iowa City -- has landed right in the midst of a lot of news coverage about some just passed legislation here in Iowa, and it’s a good time to be talking about what matters. To talk about taking this conversation away from left and right, Democrat and Republican, and to center it on people, home and the communities we love -- and how to defend fundamental American values from greed and predatory investors. —Sara Terry

Jake Chapman’s legacy. And he’s cheap. Only cost 500 bucks for his vote. —Taylor A. ONE OF THE THINGS I love about living in Iowa City is its commitment to reducing, reusing and recycling. Most American towns this size don’t have electric buses, multiple vegan restaurants or such a strong cultural predilection toward preserving the environment. That predilection does occasionally result in things like being late to work because a bunch of hippies caused a traffic jam while picketing the Oscar Mayer Weinermobile (a thing that actually happened to me in 2016), but for the most part, it’s awesome!

However, as with anything you’re passionate about, it’s easy to go overboard. So, without further ado, here is my guide to saving the planet without losing your mind.

• Thrift responsibly. Buying secondhand clothes is a great way to save money, reduce your carbon footprint and avoid supporting the exploitative fast fashion industry, but it’s not for everyone. For example, the girl I saw buying sexy lingerie from the secondhand section of

Ragstock. Remember that pit-stained 2XL Hawaiian shirts are not, in fact, appropriate for every occasion.

• Be considerate of those around you. If you want to save water, take shorter showers, not no showers. If you want to avoid exposure to chemicals, try natural deodorant, not no deodorant. If you want to reduce plastic waste, use a bamboo toothbrush, not no toothbrush. (Jason who has the cubicle next to mine, this one is for you, buddy.)

• Put your health and safety first.

“Liberating” discarded food from grocery store dumpsters is fine, if we’re talking about bruised apples or canned soup that’s a little past the sell-by date.

Not so much when the food in question is slimy, green-ish chicken breast. Biking everywhere to save fuel is a good idea, but after two bottles of organic fruit wine, it’s probably a better one to lock it up and call a cab. I’m sure Gaia will forgive you.

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