Faces of West County: Mary Munat (aka Green Mary)

When Mary, all 5’10” of her, with her even bigger toothy smile, walked into King Falafel (the best hummus joint in town), it was impossible not to feel her good energy. Mary is an old friend and very occasional pickle ball partner. Though I’ve known her for years, camped with her at Kate Wolf, lived a few doors down from her for a while, I had no idea just how engaged she was, how diverse her interests were, and what a colorful past she had, especially in her twenties. Here’s a little peek into the remarkable world of Green Mary.

Where and when were you born, Mary?

New York, New York, in 1961, which may explain some of my spasticity. People often assume I’m from New York.

Your family?

I’m the oldest of four. Girl/boy/girl/boy. My brother Stan is in San Diego, but we’re out of touch. It happens.

My sister Maggi is in Windsor, but in Costa Rico right now doing a Spanish immersion thing. I’m joining her there for vacation next week.

You excited about the trip?

Not really. I’m excited about what’s in front of me right now, like sitting with you here, or walking dogs tomorrow morning. I try to be focused on the immediate stuff.

And your last brother?

My last brother is Jonathan, the one who has struggled with mental illness and homelessness for so many years. He’s the one who really helped me build my business when I was just getting established. I’m really grateful for his help. My soul is attached to him. He was homeless in the streets of Seattle for six years. My sister and I went up there last Christmas and finally found him at a homeless service center. We didn’t recognize him at first. We brought him back down here, and the first thing he did was sleep for two months. He’s now gainfully employed with me and doing great. He lives on my property, and I’m so happy that he is safe and nearby.

Tell us about your business.

Green Mary, my for-profit business, does waste diversion at public events all over the Bay Area. We’ve done 300 event dates so far this year. I have two full-time employees, and 45 seasonal, part-time staff. We’re always hiring more.

COVID pretty much shut me down for two years. That’s why I started my not-for-profit, Goodwerks (goodwerks.org), which provides services and goods for the unhoused and underserved. We’re all about resource saving and repurposing. Green Mary, the waste diversion business, funds Goodwerks.  We have no other current funders. We supply water to the homeless encampment at Robert Lake in Rohnert Park, and we distribute good food and clothing left over from the events that Green Mary serves,and hand it out wherever it’s needed.

And you volunteer beyond that, I think.

Big time. At the Humane Society, I’ve volunteered three days a week for the past six or seven years, primarily doing dog walking and fostering. My 30th foster dog was just adopted last week. I’m there three days a week at 7 am and do anything they need.

My whole life turned around when I developed a spiritual practice through the Center for Spiritual Living 12 years ago. That jump-started me. Now, I meditate and study spiritual readings every day. It’s both my anchor and what guides me.

Hard to believe that you have any time for other passions, but what the hell, do you have other passions?

Oh yeah! Skiing, writing, reading (about a book a week), pickle ball. I’m on my way right after this to play ping-pong and do watercolor painting with a friend. Is that enough?

Did you really grow up at a ski lodge?

Yes, sort of. My parents owned a ski lodge in Vermont. We lived there during my formative years, from 12 to 17. That’s where my passion for skiing came from.

Last year I was in a pretty bad ski accident. I had five fractures (hip, pelvis, sacrum), but I’m all better now. This winter I’m part of a ski cabin up in Tahoe with a big bunch of gay men. I can’t wait to get out there on the snow again.

And there’s more! You are trying to be a bit of a bridge builder with Braver Angels. Say more.

It’s a national non-profit dedicated to fighting the polarization in our country. It helps to get the different sides of our national divide talking to each other. We have a core group that I’m part of locally. We meet as a whole mostly on Zoom, with some live workshops. We’re always looking for more reds (Republicans, conservatives) who want to sit and work together. Check it out at braverangels.org.

(From their website: “Braver Angels is a citizen’s organization uniting red and blue Americans in a working alliance to depolarize America.”)

Wow. … Let’s get a little personal now. Were you ever married?

Yes. From when I was 30-37. To a guy named Ron. We used to run a construction company together.

Of course you did. Where’s Ron now?

In Bali with his fourth wife! (Mary laughs.) I was wife #2.

Right now I’m happily single. As happy as I have ever been. I learned a new word that really applies to me. It’s arelational. (I tried to look it up, but couldn’t find it (yet) as it may apply to personal relationships.) Maybe for good. I don’t feel like I have the energy or time, or really the interest, in a relationship. I’d leave whoever would come next in the dust! No one has my energy.

Let me go dark for a minute. You’re obviously very sensitive to our climate/environmental challenges. Yet you are such a joyful, optimistic sort of person. Are you? Is it obvious to you that we’ve done so much damage to the world and that we’re actually goners with only a few generations left before the apocalypse?

Yes to both. Yes I’m joyous, because I know I’m on my right path, and I’m grateful for others doing good work.

And yes, we may in fact be lemmings headed to the plastic-filled seas, but why be cranky about it, complaining about it? For me, being focused on what does work and that serves the greater whole is so much better than dwelling on what might await us.

We could dwell on this for a while, but let’s move on. Just a few more, and I’ll let you go play ping-pong. Favorite restaurant?

All food. Except no meat. Oh yeah, and no fish. We’ve got to stop that too.

Last good book you read?

I’m reading Wish You Were Here right now. The Overstory was amazing. I like historical fiction. I just finished Magdalene. Fabulous book.

What’s the thing that people would be most surprised to hear about you?

I was a stripper for about 10 years. In Boston, Vermont, and Oakland. I was a party favor. At 29 I was finished with that. … I was dancing in the back of a limo for some guy’s bachelor party, and this young guy goes, “Oh look, she’s really old.” That was my last day of that!

Mary, you are just full of surprises. It’s Giveback Tuesday today. Who did you, or would you be giving to today?

I already did. To the Humane Society, Audubon, and Act Blue. Go Warnock!!!!

It’s been fun - and exhausting - speaking with you, Mary. On behalf of all of us, thanks for your good work and remarkable example. You’re one of the many truly inspiring people in our community, and we’re lucky to have you.