I just started reading No Impact Man (the book, haven't checked out the blog yet) and it just strikes me again that I want to do something like that.
My DH is interested in environmentalism and has willingly taken a lot of steps to be more earth-friendly (some of those steps were kind of difficult for him, particularly giving up cleaning products and paper towels). But we still live a mainstream American life, albeit with more stuff going into the recycle bins than in the trash.
I once offered a fancy candle set that I got as a generic gift for Christmas from someone, I saw it as just more clutter, on Freecycle. The lady that picked it up said it was great because she doesn't use lights anymore, and she's always on the lookout for candles. I thought, wow, she doesn't use lights. I would love to give up lights! But DH just wouldn't go there.
I once, before the candle thing, had the idea of turning off our electricity (entirely, from the circuit breaker or whatever it is) for the day just to see what it was like and what challenges we had. DH was not interested. (Probably the main objection for him would be lack of access to the computer).
I'm not complaining about DH, more about myself. I keep getting these urges to do extreme things. The only reason I haven't campaigned to sell our (one and only) car is that we are part of a CSA and there is no other option to get there (no public transit and we have no friends who could drive us). Honestly the CSA wouldn't be our only problem but it's the only one that seemed non-negotiable to me
Yes, I know all about taking the steps you can take and moderation and blah blah blah and we're doing stuff (and sometimes I realize it might be more than I think we're doing ... but sometimes I realize it's less). But does anyone else have the urge to go extreme? Does anyone else DO extreme stuff?
My urges wax and wane but never go away entirely. I've posted some stuff on MDC before and I've always been kind of talked down away from making any big changes. But there's something in me that wants to just quit it all and move to Tanzania and work to help people there, or do subsistence farming, or something.
My DH is interested in environmentalism and has willingly taken a lot of steps to be more earth-friendly (some of those steps were kind of difficult for him, particularly giving up cleaning products and paper towels). But we still live a mainstream American life, albeit with more stuff going into the recycle bins than in the trash.
I once offered a fancy candle set that I got as a generic gift for Christmas from someone, I saw it as just more clutter, on Freecycle. The lady that picked it up said it was great because she doesn't use lights anymore, and she's always on the lookout for candles. I thought, wow, she doesn't use lights. I would love to give up lights! But DH just wouldn't go there.
I once, before the candle thing, had the idea of turning off our electricity (entirely, from the circuit breaker or whatever it is) for the day just to see what it was like and what challenges we had. DH was not interested. (Probably the main objection for him would be lack of access to the computer).
I'm not complaining about DH, more about myself. I keep getting these urges to do extreme things. The only reason I haven't campaigned to sell our (one and only) car is that we are part of a CSA and there is no other option to get there (no public transit and we have no friends who could drive us). Honestly the CSA wouldn't be our only problem but it's the only one that seemed non-negotiable to me
Yes, I know all about taking the steps you can take and moderation and blah blah blah and we're doing stuff (and sometimes I realize it might be more than I think we're doing ... but sometimes I realize it's less). But does anyone else have the urge to go extreme? Does anyone else DO extreme stuff?
My urges wax and wane but never go away entirely. I've posted some stuff on MDC before and I've always been kind of talked down away from making any big changes. But there's something in me that wants to just quit it all and move to Tanzania and work to help people there, or do subsistence farming, or something.
histle2 and we don't use disposable products at home. i'm investing in a real (safety, not straight!) razor 
and i already use cloth everything. i've been searching for a butcher who will wrap my food in paper, and i'm looking for cheesecloth so i can wrap cheese from the cheese shop directly in it. i love the idea of bringing containers to the fishmongers, too 
. i'm hoping to start getting raw milk in jars there, i do here in canada, and making our own yogurt from that, making sourdough, and canning into glass + rubber ringed jars. we're trying to make our garden feed us, and i'm on the fence about chickens. i'm trying to make everything we need in terms of my children's clothing, warm blankets, hats + mittens etc. i make our toothpaste, laundry soap, salves, and we use soda + vinegar for our hair. i hope to learn to make soap this autumn, and learn to quilt as well as sew good clothing. i'm hoping to do lots of thrifting for things we *need*. i live with techno boy though, and he has a hi-tech career, so we are becoming increasingly bizarre. i also live in london, uk, and am not likely to stop very soon, so there isn't anything that looks like goats + land for me! not yet anyway. i am happy living without a car - but london has amazing transport.
. there are also lots of blogs on urban homesteading. what's your partner's job like? is he happy with it? could he live somewhere where you could pursue your interests, or could you pursue them where you are?
It is actualy somethign I worry about a lot. What would happen if our entire ifrastructure collapsed?
subbing.
