You probably already know that Sherry and I try to make environmentally conscious choices at Casa Petersik, but we come at sustainability from two different perspectives. That means we don’t always agree on how far to go — and that’s okay.
Sherry’s approach is rooted in health and safety. For her, avoiding synthetic chemicals and prioritizing natural alternatives matters for our household, our bodies, and our food. She’s the one who pushed for filtered water, a gradual shift toward organic groceries, switching plastic containers for glass, cooking with safer cookware rather than nonstick coatings, and replacing conventional personal care and cleaning products with more natural options (brands we’ve used include Tom’s of Maine, Dr. Bronner’s, and Mrs. Meyer’s).
My motivation is more about energy use and waste reduction. Growing up with a dad who worked for the U.S. Department of Energy left an impression: I care about conserving resources, using less energy, and minimizing trash. I’m the one who nags about turning off lights and shutting off water while brushing my teeth, and I’m responsible for installing a rain barrel, setting up a compost bin, and upgrading to a dual-flush toilet at our house.
Neither viewpoint is superior — they just focus on different benefits — and there’s a lot of overlap between them. Still, those different priorities create a few sticking points. For example, despite Sherry’s concerns, I haven’t fully stopped accepting BPA-lined register receipts because I feel awkward refusing them at checkout. After some negotiation (and many promises to wash my hands), she agreed to let me keep that habit for now. Gotta love a flexible partner.
Another example: I’d love to add two more rain barrels in front of the house, but Sherry gently reminded me that our neighbors might not appreciate the look. I conceded that we don’t need to surround the house with large plastic containers. And while I fantasize about biking more errands, our narrow, busy roads make cycling less safe, so I’ve accepted that driving is more practical for many trips.
Being green at our house requires compromise — much like other aspects of marriage. The key is mutual respect: I understand Sherry’s reasons, she respects mine, and we support each other’s choices. Sometimes that means doing things we wouldn’t pick for ourselves just to make the other happy. For instance, I’ve tried natural deodorant even though it’s less effective after yard work, and Sherry dutifully carries food scraps to the compost bin even when the kitchen trash is much closer, because composting matters to me.
Those slightly different perspectives actually expand our overall eco-practice. Together we cover more ground than either of us would alone — a kind of complementary sustainability that broadens our household’s impact. Think of it as two overlapping circles on a Venn diagram, with the overlap being where we both agree and the separate parts reflecting our unique priorities.
What about your home? Does one person push the green envelope more than the other, and for different reasons? We’d love to hear your stories. If you want to see another couple navigating eco-living, we watched the documentary No Impact Man — it raises the stakes on green choices and showcases one family’s radical experiment (including the husband imposing some strict rules). We aren’t that extreme, but it’s an interesting watch.
Psst — No Impact Man image credit to the No Impact Man project.