Small is Beautiful, Small is High-Tech. Now I want to propose that small is also low-tech. Why not have the best of both worlds while reducing your carbon footprint and creating a simpler life. However, thanks to my recent posts, my definition of small is getting large, so I will clarify what I am talking about first.
My recent use of the word small refers to a lifestyle. Some things are physcially smaller, such a houses and cars. A small lifestyle also includes having fewer possessions. Our days have less drama. I include as well a green component. For example, small living is burning up less gas and avoiding harmful chemicals in our food, gardens, and home products. Others call this lifestyle Simple Living or Minimalist Living. Compare this small living to living in a big city, where everything is big (roads, traffic jams, houses, budgets, commitments, etc).
High-tech products that reduce accumulation of more stuff and simplify our existance are just fine in my world. I have 300 books on my Kindle: imagine the bookshelves I would need to house them. However, when it comes to resource conservation, low-tech solutions also hold promise. Example: Wonderbag. I discovered this low energy way of cooking one year ago and still feel joy every time I use it. With winter approaching and the freezer full of garden veggies, I will use the Wonderbag all winter again, for soups. I wrote about the Wonderbag already, so won’t repeat all my accolades. Last winter I also researched solar ovens, which I will eventually make and use when I take long camper trips.
Other low-tech ideas for a simple lifestyle
- Step exerciser/yoga mat, walking – no more gym fees, no more excuses when the weather is cold
- Dehydrated garden veggies stored in recycled containers (great for the Wonderbag)
- Zero-gravity chair that doubles for camping and patio furniture
Connecting with People:
- Hands on board games or cards
- Charity crafting groups (prayer shawls, chemo caps)
- Handwrittten notes
Low-tech crafting- smaller projects that pack well and use simple equipment. Non-toxic supplies are important too.
- Embroidery
- Crochet/Knitting
- Hand sewing
- Needle felting
Note to fellow crafters: I had to let go of my obsession with Pinterest. For me, this was the number ONE most disrupting habit in developing a smaller, less materialistic lifestyle. Viewing and collecting color photos of beautiful stuff and gorgeous crafts spiked my I WANT IT meter into the red zone. I ordered lots of craft supplies, fabrics, etc this past year and have barely dented the pile. Pinterest, for me, brings out a little materialistic, self-gratifying monkey sitting on my shoulder saying, buy, buy, buy. It seems okay at first because I am hand-making things, right? However, I had no regard for the toxiticy of some supplies or the environment destroying fabric manufacturing processes. Besides, Pinterest was an obsessive habit. I gave up Pinterest for Lent but went back. Now I am giving it up for good. Forever. If I need a project idea I can google it.
Low-tech cooking:
- Wonderbag
- Throw out non-stick pans, increase use of cast-iron and stainless steel
- One pot meals
Low-tech house products
- Multi-purpose, non-toxic soaps for laundry and cleaning
- Method hand and dish soaps. You buy a bottle the first time and then refills.
after that
Health
- Essential oils for minor pains and ailments
The above lists are the practices that just popped into my mind. I am always on the lookout for more ideas too. If low-tech grabs your imagination, try these links:
Sunset Magazine: The Unplugged Home
Previous Installments: Small is Beautiful, Small is High-Tech
