7th May
Simple living ‘is also an act of resistance. It pushes back against the assumption that more is always better, and that growth must always be pursued..’ (1)
Living simply is not just cutting back on what we consume and withdrawing in on ourselves. It is about living life where we choose different priorities.
Rather than a meat based diet or a diet of ready made meals, I choose a plant-based diet that is largely cooked from scratch. I choose to keep a sour dough starter going and to use that to make crumpets (with the daily excess of starter) and bread. It is more time consuming than going to the shop but it feels more rooted in what is natural and sustainable.
I choose to buy from local businesses – a refill shop so avoiding excess waste, a health food shop, the independent bookshop, the post office, and a independent cafe for coffee beans. I could just nip into the supermarket and do one big shop, but this feels more sustainable, supporting the local economy and therefore local community. It also feels more human in scale: small shops with people I recognise behind the counter and with whom I can have a conversation.
I choose to buy vegetables by the box from Riverford farm as it is a company that pays its staff fairly (and engages them in decision making) and farms organically and sustainably.
I choose not to buy new clothes but rather to buy from local charity shops where I can prevent other clothes being thrown out as waste. I choose to repair the clothes I wear rather than throwing them away when they tear or develop holes.
When I do buy new clothes, I choose to spend more in order to buy items that will last and to buy items where I have some confidence that those who made them have been fairly rewarded.
I choose not to buy each kitchen gadget that comes along. I choose not to upgrade my phone/ iPad on a regular basis. I choose to resist advertising and social trends.
(1) https://hazelnutcommunity.substack.com/p/the-life-we-miss-while-wanting-more?r=1r0y9l
The Green Tau 