Leadership Through Serving Others at Sustaining Way

Have you truly thought about the definition of sustainability? The UN World Commission on Environment and Development defines sustainability as “…development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” Sustaining Way digs deeper, stating that sustainability starts with solidarity and mutuality. The importance of not only slowing down consumption, but also slowing down to allow space for civic dialogue and education. The future is collective, so is our need to shape it. Annie’s House Garden is just one of many ways in which Sustaining Way inspires communities to shape their future together.  

My name is Evelina Aluimos, and I am a rising senior majoring in Politics and International Affairs, as well as Urban Studies. As the Sustainable Agriculture Fellow at Sustaining Way, my responsibilities include assisting with the development and maintenance of the community garden, hosting on-site tours, assisting with food security related programs, and helping to distribute food off site. Getting to interact with the local community as well as volunteers has made this experience of working with Sustaining Way a big lesson for me in sustainable leadership.  

A sustainability leader first builds trust. Sustaining Way has been part of the Nicholtown community since 2011, and has filled the gaps that other non-profits didn’t in the Greenville area. Sustaining Way’s main mission is to look at the entire neighborhood as a system and help shape the neighborhood into a self-supporting community that is able to provide for its future. One of the ways that Sustaining Way does that is through offering free installments of backyard gardens, contributing all the materials (including the plants). Helping to install these gardens, I not only learned how to drill and saw wood, but also what a difference Sustaining Way creates in people’s lives. Through free education resources as well as consistent contact with Sustaining Way, people that choose to get a backyard garden are never forgotten. Any inquiry or concern is met with care and the desire to help.  

After that trust is established, a sustainability leader needs to be an example. Annie’s House serves as exactly that. As shown in the photo on the left, Annie’s House is an example of what a sustainable and affordable house should look like. Dual-flush systems, composting area, and electric bike charging station are just a few of the illustrations of a sustainable house. Both visitors and members of the community can see how a house built with sustainability at the forefront operates in its entirety. Seeing that these environmentally conscious swaps are not hindering any daily processes inspires others to seek the swaps, since the sustainable way is not only better for the environment but it is also better for your pockets. According to the U.S. Department of Energy solar panels alone could save households up to two hundred dollars per month, while a dual flush system can save between eighteen to twenty nine dollars per year in water bills. By having Annie’s House built in the neighborhood, the community has easy access to not only fresh produce but also help nearby in implementing sustainable practices in their households. 

But what makes Annie’s House even more special is that you can feel that it is being run and supported by people who care. That care is then spread across the neighborhood and beyond into the world. And it doesn’t take much. You don’t have to possess special knowledge or assets to care, all you need is yourself. Supporting organizations like Sustaining Way by either volunteering or donating to their website builds not only resilient communities but a resilient world.