Living Simply

Our purchases have an impact upon the earth and the life on it. Living simply is not living without but rather knowing you have enough.

It is estimated that we need to curb our emissions by 70% or more. Technology is lagging behind demand and is priced out of range of many of us. Conservation is the best way to reduce our impact upon life on earth. Below are some of the things that you can do to live more simply.

Make Christmas gifts rather than buying them. Donate money to groups working to eradicate hunger on behalf of your friends and relatives.

Ride a bicycle to work. Walking and riding the bus rather than driving a car.

Buy fluorescent "twist" bulbs to replace old incandescent bulbs.

Use a clothes line instead of the dryer

Stop watching TV. Use the extra time to acquire a useful craft which can be traded in a community barter system. Do something for the community.

Stop being a "consumer" and start being an active citizen

Vote with your dollars by not spending them on products that you don't really need

Grow a garden

Stop buying chemicals for cleaning. Use baking soda and vinegar to clean with.

Wear warm clothing and turn down winter heat.

Caulk and weatherstrip doors and windows

Use cold water instead of hot whenever possible

Take quick showers instead of baths

Limit or eliminate your use of "disposable" items

Become a vegetarian one day a week

Don't buy prepared foods, buy bulk

Avoid using anything made of plastic foam. It is often made from CFCs, and it never biodegrades

Reduce your use of air conditioning

Enjoy sports and recreational activities that use your muscles rather than gasoline and electricity

Rent or borrow items that you don't use often

Maintain and repair the items you own

Eat vegetarian foods as much as possible. Meat makes less efficient use of land, soil, water, and energy - and cows emit 300 liters of methane per day. One pound of beef requires 280 gallons of water to produce while a pound of soybeans requires 7 gallons.

Start a garden; plant a garden instead of a lawn

Talk to friends, relatives, and co-workers about preventing global climate change

Get involved in local tree-planting programs

Write letters to the editor expressing your concern about climate change and environmental issues

Spend time seeing, hearing, and rejoicing in the beauty of the Earth. Feel your love for the Earth. Make serving the Earth your first priority

Learn about the simpler, less resource-intensive lifestyles of aboriginal peoples

Learn how to play an instrument

Learn about your local environment and protect it

Think often about the kind of Earth you would like to see for your grandchildren's grandchildren