His quest for answers will lead him and three friends across the country to film a reality TV show-documentary called “The Green Seed Project.” The idea is to find out what both experts and amateurs are doing to save energy and live more resourcefully, whether that’s catching rainwater, growing food, inventing electricity-saving appliances or building more fuel-efficient vehicles.
“How we’re living isn’t very smart because there’s so much waste,” said Dinsmore. “I want to talk to everyday people, and to a lot of young people who have ideas about how to change that.”
The 26-year-old Tracy resident will travel from the Bay Area to New York City with an environmental scientist, an actress and another crew member. They’ll talk to inventors, entrepreneurs, homeowners and youth to learn what they’re doing to make their community more sustainable. They also want to hear what questions young Americans have about the environment, climate change and the world of “green” living.
The four leave next month and plan to arrive on the East Coast four weeks after they embark on the 2,500-mile trek.
Dinsmore, who works for a public relations company in Tracy, plans to use his seven years of experience in film and marketing to get the show on a major network station and bring in about $300,000 in sponsorships to tape, produce and advertise it.
He needs to raise $70,000 just to get on the road. So far, he’s raised a small fraction of that. He said he’ll bank on his marketing skills to drum up the rest.
Our Town: What sparked your interest in the environment and alternative energy?
Curtis Dinsmore: I have always been interested in the climate and the environment. I grew up outside for most of my childhood and still love spending time outside. I was always taught that we have to take care of the planet, and I guess that has always stuck with me.
OT: One of your goals through this project is to talk to everyday people about climate change, not just the experts. Why do you think that’s important?
CD: (Because) they will let us know the important questions that we need to answer in order to help them become more sustainable. They all have different daily requirements and needs that they have to take into account.
OT: What are some ways people in Tracy can “green” up their lifestyles?
CD: You can walk, ride your bike, or carpool whenever possible. Having a garden to grow some of your own food greatly helps. Carry a reusable coffee mug … and you will receive a discount at most coffee houses when you use your mug instead of their paper cups. Carry your own utensils and use them instead of disposable kitchenware at many restaurants. Change your light bulbs and appliances to energy-efficient models.
OT: Why is all this important?
CD: At work, we’re always trying to be more efficient, to get more of the job done in a shorter amount of time. With the environment, it’s the same concept: How can we stop being so wasteful? Plus, if more people realized how much money they can save by being environmentally responsible, I think we’d see a lot more people changing their lifestyles.
• In the Spotlight is a weekly feature in Our Town. This week’s interviewer was Tracy Press reporter Jennifer Wadsworth. To nominate someone for In the Spotlight, contact Our Town Editor Justin Lafferty at 830-4269. Meet Curtis Dinsmore
• Age: 26
• Family: Sisters, Jen, 31, Denise, 30, and Mindy, 28; and brother, Clint, 25.
Years in Tracy: 15
• Education: Bachelor of arts in film and visual culture from the University of California, Riverside.
• Favorite quote: “You must be the change you want to see in the world.” — Mahatma Gandhi
• For more on the Green Seed Project: www.greenseedproject.com
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