Thursday 27 April 2017

What do we really want?

Oh my goodness, I have had so many posts in the pipeline and then all of a sudden with the move and a change of workplace and a new garden and summer coming I completely forgot to finish them.
Anyhow, my husband the natural minimalis has brought this interview to my attention and I though I'd share it with you. Noam Chomsky has an awful lot of very interesting things to say, there are more videos on youtube where you can see and hear him talk. But here's one on what we really want for now:


Wednesday 19 April 2017

Minimalism and time



Hei everybody!

I've been posting on minimalism and things related to minimalism for the past few months quite regularly, which was great fun and still is great, because I am still enjoying the minimalism journey. Anyway, I've started a new job , which is really exciting and but also comes with a lot of workload. I was talking about time and time management before and have emphazised, that I want to have more time to relax and more time for my family. 
You might say that that will kind of result in  a bit of a conflict - working more. And you are right in a way. But the result is, that I have to change some of my routines and prioritise more. Which means that possibly the blogpost won't come as regularly as they did. I will be out with my kids and do some gardening with them and in the evening I might not always find the time to write because I am - working... 

It is definitely a good exercise for me to practise efficient time management and to focus on my priorities. In a year from now (latest), I will know how it worked out. 

But if I have to say something about minimalism or consumerism or gardening or sewing - don't worry, I won't hold back - I might just take a little longer. :) 

The joys of Gardening



Spring has hit us with full force and nature seems to be exploding all around us.
I have felt something I've never ever felt in my entire life - a strong desire to do gardening. I am probably getting old and something like that, but I find it incredibly peace full to dig and weed, to assess the growth (or non-growth) of our lawn (which doesn't even deserve the name...), to seed, and water and wait for things to grow.

I am not the only one. I've noticed quite a lot of people interested in miminalism also seem to grow things. Maybe it is the joy of creating somethings and seeing the results quickly, but I find it incredibly satisfying.

So, why not try it out yourself - if you don't have a garden, you can still grow some basil or parsley on the window sill. If you have a balcony, why not try a "wild balcony" -> pile up a few twigs with leaves and maybe even a but of scattered soil alltogether in a corner of the balcony in spring and then do not tidy it up. Just leave it there and watch, what with wind brings. Will something start to grow between the leaves? Will you have little visitors like birds? You can also try to grow some tomatoes or herbs or just a few flowers to brighten up the day. Start growing the seeds in egg cartons on the windowsill and then put them outside in a pot.

Maybe in a few weeks you can eat your own home grown tomatoes with your own basil and a bit of mozzarella and oil. With a fresh loaf of baguette. Yum! 

Wednesday 12 April 2017

Sustainability - too good to be true.


Everybody is talking about sustainability. So I am thinking about it, too.
The thing is: We are talking about it as if we had not made an enourmously destructive impact on our planet already. As if it was just a precaution. Or taking care. Let's be honest: We've destroyed so much of our planet that it is a farce to talk about sustainability. We can start talking about that when we've reached a point where the damage is repaired (if that is possible at all) and we are truly protecting nature. 
I've read an article the other day about conscious consumerism and about how it doesn't exist (and I quite agree). 
To tell you the truth, I am quite annoyed with this whole sustainability-talk. We are all pretending how much we are trying to save the planet. We buy organic food, organic clothes, energy saving light bulbs, ... and we buy on and on and on... more than ever.
But there is no sustainability in consume. The only way to preserve or save resources is not to use them. I don't make an impact on companies when I buy organic. I make an impact on companies when I don't buy certain things at all.



Wednesday 5 April 2017

A Word about "Conscious Consumerism".

found this on the net, don't know where it's from though...


I admit it, it is nearly impossible to stop consuming altogether.
I couldn't just go out and live in a hut in a forest and grow my own salads and nuts, because the land belongs to someone and you can't just go an live there (no, doesn't work, people try it again and again, doesn't lead anywhere here...). Authorities would just have you. And that's that.
So as "back to the roots" isn't quite possible I would argue the best thing to do is to make most out of the existing system. And I don't mean that in a "consume as much as you can" way, but in a "consume as little and consciously and carefully as you can" way. Consider the true cost of items (clothes, food, pots, pans, furniture etc). Buy locally. Not just apples. And only buy what adds lasting value to your life. The big danger is to "lighten" your purse and your conscience by falling into the "conscious consumerism" "LOVAS" or whatever other trap. The main thing is to consume less and to create more.

The idea of conscious consumerism is spread much further in english sources and (although it seems it only really caught on around 2012 or a tad earlier) and I've found this American Homepage which I think has some interesting articles.


https://www.newdream.org/programs/beyond-consumerism/rethinking-stuff/conscious-consumerism

Also an interesting read - to remind you that FIRST you must stop unnecessary consume and THEN think about where the rest you own should come from
https://qz.com/920561/conscious-consumerism-is-a-lie-heres-a-better-way-to-help-save-the-world/?utm_source=atlfb 

In a way conscious consumerism does and does not exist at the same time. :) Depending on the point of view. A bit like Schrödingers cat. Just totally different. :)