Rachelle Carson-Begley: All in the Family
August 03 2008
Talking with Rachelle Carson-Begley about environmentalism must be a bit like comparing notes with Michelle Obama about the 2008 presidential campaign. Of course, Rachelle is gearing up for the second season of the HGTV reality show in which cameras go behind the scenes of her life with husband Ed Begley, Jr., while Michelle’s husband pretty much has the fate of the free world in his hands. (Or maybe that’s just our opinion.)
Ed Begley’s been a die-hard environmentalist for decades. He farms his own organic produce, rides a stationary bike to generate electricity and collects rainwater in a cistern. No question about it: When he gets to talking about what we can do to save the planet, Begley’s about as inspiring as Barack Obama at a round table. But unlike the wrap of a political event, the cameras at the Begley’s never shut off. And neither does Ed.
The man never deviates from his mission. He times his wife’s showers. That’s why Rachelle Carson-Begley is such an inspiration. Not only does she give a distinctly feminine perspective on the nuts and bolts of going green on Ed’s terms, but she also—hilariously—gives him grief at the same time that she indulges her husband’s obsessions.
Whether it’s saving the planet or perfecting a Guitar Hero version of “Dead or Alive,” women everywhere can relate to this particular marital dynamic: He’s committed to a cause, and she’s committed to him. “Living with Ed” isn’t just about environmentalism, it’s also about how to maintain a relationship with a passionate man—whether he’s an uber-greenie, or a regular Joe. On both fronts, Rachelle gave us some expert advice.
ES: Aren’t you named for a famous environista?
RCB: I was named after Rachel Carson [author of The Silent Spring; sometimes called the founder of the contemporary environmental movement]. I guess in a weird way my father was an environmentalist. Not a self-prounounced one, but he loved to farm and he loved the land.
ES: Similar to your husband, in a way.
RCB: Yes, my father and Ed have a lot in common, other than their political affiliations. We always had a garden with fresh vegetables, but we lived a very urban existence. I’m an urban girl.
ES: So how does an urban girl go green?
RCB: Well, I’m saying hello to my green husband right now. And I always say that if you want to go green, find someone who’s more of an environmentalist than you and then try to impress them. But I’ve been doing this for 15 years and I’ve gotten more and more committed. Recycling was something I had to learn—for my daughter it’s second nature. It would be unnatural for us not to recycle at this point. She goes to other people’s homes and looks into their garbage and says, “Wait a minute, you can recycle this!” It’s like she doesn’t really know that other people don’t recycle.
However, I do love my creature comforts and sometimes I have to give them up. Like when we’re offered a private jet to fly somewhere and I’m like, “I’ll go!” and Ed says no. But I’m committed. We’re remodeling the house with recycled materials; I just had it painted with low-VOC paint. It doesn’t last as long, but it’s safer. So we’ll paint a little more often.
ES: When did you start getting involved in eco-consciousness?
RCB: Well I met Ed at an environmental event, so I wasn’t totally in the dark. I’d gone down the Kern River for the first time in my life—I’m not much of a nature girl—and then I volunteered at the “Friends of the River” fundraiser where Ed was the emcee. That’s how we met. But the causes that were close to my heart were women’s and children’s causes, social issues, and what I’ve come to realize is that the right to clean air and water is an issue that affects women and children, especially those living in poverty who are affected by the majority of these pollutants.
ES: How important do you think these kinds of changes are for you, personally?
RCB: It’s been everything to me. I have a television show now so it’s right in my face every single day. I’ve been living, breathing, eating it. And it’s not just what I’m doing, it’s what others are doing. Every single organization, anyone who has a new invention, we talk to all of them. It’s very exciting. And it’s not what I started out to do! I came in through the back door. I was an actress, I was going to live in New York the rest of my life and work in theater.
ES: Okay switching gears to the good stuff: What are your favorite green fashion labels?
RCB: I love Deborah Lindquist who’s using recycled cashmere and working with organic materials—I just love her line. But I live my life in clothes that you would go to the gym in—longish tops with yoga pants, they’re just so comfortable! I love the California Rising line, I live in that. And it seems like every day a new line is coming out—it’s just supply and demand. You can get this stuff in Target now!
ES: What are the best eco-friendly beauty finds?
RCB: I really like Josie Maran’s makeup, that’s the first eco-friendly liquid makeup that I’ve found that I like. The makeup is a big one since I wear it every day and it sits on my skin. And I’ve been trying a lot of different skincare lines to see what works best for me. I still want something that’s active because I’m at that age—I want anti-aging, you know? But there’s a whole change that’s happening with Josie Maran, Jurlique, other good skincare lines that aren’t using all that horrible stuff that they put into women’s cosmetics because it’s cheap—parabens and all that stuff.
ES: What’s the biggest green change you’d like to make in your life—even if it’s impossible right now?
RCB: The biggest would be remodeling the house. A total remodel using all eco products. But I want to make a house that looks like it fits my neighborhood. Everything shouldn’t have to be all futuristic and space age.
ES: What’s your favorite eco-friendly tip our readers should know about?
RCB: The biggest tip I can give anyone is read what’s in your products! Go online and look it up. Find out what a paraben is, what a sulfate is. Don’t live like an ostrich with your head in the sand. Stop living in denial. That’s the biggest tip I can give.
ES: This is an obvious one, but who’s your eco-idol?
RCB: I would be in a lot of trouble if I didn’t say my husband. But the truth is he is. He’s very committed and as many times and I’d like to have him committed he is my idol. And my namesake Rachel Carson, she was a true hero.
