Do You Want to Live on an Artificial Earth?

I found this when I was cleaning out the house where I grew up; a never opened, vintage accessory for model trains that my dad had in his collection. It is fascinating to me that a company decided to make a "life-like" version of earth and then wrap it in a box and sell it.

We don't need to make and sell everything, just because we can. Because if we do, the real Earth won't be able to sustain us. I'm a broken record when I say this, but the more we make, the more non-renewable natural resources we take.

So, with this niche example, how could have model train builders in the past or current-day builders get the same effect and have a fun, while also saving resources and money? By simply reusing.... wait for it... real earth. In most cases, the least negatively-impacting and the least expensive items are the items that are already here. And in this case, it would be the most life-like item too!