Garden Girl

Being 2 weeks away from moving into a new home has engendered some thoughts about need vs. convenience vs. want in my purchasing habits. In a way, I’m very much looking forward to having 600 sq. feet of living space divided by two people because I think it will keep my spouse and I very honest about prioritizing our material thing-age.

Regular readers of the amazing No Impact Man may already be aware of some interesting studies he’s cited indicating that, up to a degree, creature comforts beyond our needs ease our stress but having more things far beyond that point, in fact, decreases human happiness and *adds* stress to our lives (we have more responsibilities, more worries, more ego investment in our things and less time & energy for human contact).

So, voluntary simplicity is not just a good thing to do to reduce pollution and resource use, it’s also a good thing to do to increase one’s own well being and happiness.

I can’t emphasize enough how going greener hasn’t been a deprivation for my family– it’s actually made us more content, healthier & more joyful.

Still, moving does mean getting some things for the new abode and where *do without* won’t do, I’m looking for the most ethical buying choices I can make.

There’s a huge amount of waste in the big box store system.
There’s the waste of resources in the insane amount of packaging, shipping and overage and the waste of human potential in using labor purchased under unfair and often inhumane conditions.

(If you want to shock yourself, take a moment each time you throw out a piece of plastic this week and think about where it came from, how it was produced and where it will end up. Then multiply that times how much plastic you’ll go thru in your life. Now you know why I eschew shampoo and conditioner for natural bar soaps that come unwrapped and liquid deodorant for LUSH brand deodorants.)

So, I may have to go to Lowe’s for my new shower head, but I’m buying my house numbers from an artisan on Etsy .
Some other things I’ll be getting from my local Goodwill or Goodwill online.

Re- use is another way to walk a little lighter.

Buy an old thing

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