The Center for the Advancement of Sustainable Living

At Friday’s meeting CASL members gathered around a blanket that hundreds of paint swatches transformed into a quilt-like pattern. The goal: choose CASL’s exterior paint scheme. Members mixed and matched paint swatches to formulate a three-color paint arrangement for the house, trim and door. While the corn roasted on the grill, members discussed if they should paint the sustainable home an obvious green color to represent the “green” house or opt for a more fun color trio. CASL decided that three distinct colors will portray CASL’s rooted belief in creativity and flexibility better.

A long conversation among members produced 14 possible paint schemes, which allowed only one hour of daylight to make a decision. CASL members incorporated fresh tomatoes from the CASL garden to the potluck-style dinner to fuel the continued discussion.

After dinner, members voted on their three favorite color schemes. The votes revealed that two paint schemes were most favored. The first choice was a clay-orange house with a deep-red trim and a brown door; the second choice was a red-purple house with charcoal trim and a bright green door. Allie Corcoran, one of CASL’s new co-directors, offered her opinion. She said, “I prefer the scheme that uses the bright green door because it embodies CASL’s mindset of living ‘green’ in modern times.” The members agreed with Allie and raised their glasses to a final decision. When CASL completes the house, many people will exit the green door with a renewed sense of what it means to live sustainably.