Tag Archives: simple living

Collective Action

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Much of what I write about here falls under the broad categories of cooking, gardening and sewing and of course, the all-encompassing category of self-reliance.

The little things that I do every day contribute to my overall philosophy which is summed up in the byline of the blog – ‘A Simple, Sustainable Life’.

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It is important that we should never underestimate the value of the little things that we can all do each and every day.  However, sometimes we need to look beyond our own backyards and get involved on a larger scale.

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8 days ago on 30th November several major Australian cities and regional centres saw significant numbers of school students, young people and adult supporters marching for their future – a future generated by renewable energy, not coal.  I marched in support of these intelligent and articulate youngsters.

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I am somewhere towards the rear of this photo which was taken today.  There were many, more more out of view of the camera.

Thousands of people marched again today and will continue to do so until our state and Federal governments take serious action on climate change.  The most pressing issue is to have the proposed Carmichael mine by Adani in the Gallilee Basin stopped.

There will be more events in the coming weeks.

All of the research shows that a clear majority of Australians support this action so please consider being involved.  Stand up and be counted and let the politicians hear our collective voice.

Meanwhile, I have made another batch of strawberry jam.  That is 8kg of strawberries made into jam.

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My Own Advice

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Today I am swallowing some of my own advice.

In my last blog post I talked about not trying to meet prescriptive minimalist goals.  I eschewed the extreme attitude of Bea Johnson at Zero Waste Home as being not for me quite early in my minimalism journey.  There are numerous other extreme ideas such as wearing the same dress every day for a year.  I applaud the people that choose to push the boundaries and carry out these ideas but it is not for me.

However, I have been somewhat seduced by things such as Project 333 and Plastic-Free July.  I have discovered that the life I live does not necessarily meet the lofty ideals of these and similar sites.

I think that part of my ‘problem’ which is not really a problem at all is the fact that I am a well-rounded person (not necessarily in the physical sense).  I dabble in range of strategies to live simply, reduce consumption as well as saving money and resources and have done for quite some time.

It is those ideas and strategies that I try to share with you here on the blog.  The little day to day things that may not look like much but add up over time.

There are many others out there who are doing the same stuff every single day and I want to encourage you to do the same.

There are no numbers that you have to achieve, it is not a race but simply an invitation to live the best life you can.

That is enough talk from me – from tomorrow I will be back to sharing some of the practical things that are part of my routine.

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Home, Sweet Home

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You may have noticed my absence for a few days.  I have been in Sydney for work but am now safely home.

2015-08-20 01I stayed at the Four Seasons Hotel.  Depending on which site you read it is 4 or 5 star.  However, I found much of the experience over-the-top and excessive.  The lighting in the foyer would illuminate an entire village in a Third World country.  The extravagance was overwhelming and I can honestly say that I am relieved to be home.  Give me the simple life any day.

There seems to be an ever-increasing competition between luxury hotel brands to outdo the opposition so this type of experience is not limited to this particular hotel.  I wonder how many people actually find this appealing.

What are your thoughts and experiences?

Book Review – Down to Earth

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Since I have begun to look seriously at the stuff we own I consider every purchase we make carefully.  Books are no exception and this has been particularly so since I bought my Kindle about a year ago.

However, last week I bought a new book.  It is ‘Down to Earth’ by Rhonda Hetzel.  Rhonda writes the blog of the same name and you can check it out here.  When I first started reading Rhonda’s blog about a year ago, she made reference to the book she was writing and I dismissed any thoughts of buying it as the blog had heaps of information.  How could there be anything new? Besides, I really didn’t not want another book to take up space in my house.

006After seeing a copy of the book, I was convinced it was worthwhile and would make an excellent reference book.  This was not a knee-jerk reaction and after due consideration I purchased it at Rosetta Books in Maleny.  This is our local bookshop and it is where Rhonda will be a guest for the Queensland book launch on Wednesday 14th March.

The book is 325 pages of wisdom bound into a linen-look, hardcover volume measuring 18.5cm x 23.5cm.  It is an easy-to-handle size resource which I will use frequently.  The information is presented in a logical format with a comprehensive table of contents.

007Rhonda has written a well-rounded guide to simple living suitable for all ages and stages.  The title of one section is ‘Ages and Stages’ which explains, with outstanding clarity, the relevance of simple living during various decades of our adult life.

This is not a glossy coffee table book, it is a gentle, honest guide to the benefits and value of simple living through one woman’s eyes.

008I would commend this book to anyone who is interested in simplifying their life.  Whether you are well along the way or merely contemplating embarking on the journey, there is value in this book.  As Rhonda says on the first page,

“I was pulled into simple living before I knew what it was.  It crept up on me using the smallest of steps and didn’t reveal its true beauty and real power until I was totally hooked.  I was searching for a way to live well while spending very little money.  What I found was a way of life that also gave me independence, opportunity and freedom.”

Come and be hooked, too.