- Introduction: A Letter From Dave Wampler
- New Resources: Highlights Of The Latest Additions To Our Resource Directory
- Frugal Green Shopping Bags: Living Green Below Your Means
- Your Money Or Your Life Recommended Resources: The Perfect Simple Living Bookshelf
- Crisis In Balance: Simple Living America
- The Practical Side Of Cycling: Bicycling Life
- Alcohol Can Be A Gas! Fueling An Ethanol Revolution For The 21st Century
- Gems Of The Discussion Forums: Late Summer Topics For Discussion
- Being Really Green: The Dollar Stretcher
- New Vacation Law Poll & Website: Take Back Your Time
- 10 Things Americans Want: Building A Just & Sustainable World
Dear Friends,
Please accept my apologies for the delay in this, the 66th edition of our user supported, on-line Newsletter. Things have been a bit hectic of late. Life has been anything but simple.
In addition, I have to be honest and say that I often struggle with these introductions. Fred Ecks, our excellent Newsletter Editor, gave me some advice about that problem and said that I should just write about what is going on in my life. Here goes.
The past several weeks have been full to overflowing. It is harvest time and my garden (doubled in size this year) was incredibly prolific. I have been learning to can and pickle. It is also time to bring in wood for the winter — cutting, chopping and stacking, cutting, chopping and stacking, cutting, chopping and stacking. To top it off, this weekend two of my best friends are getting married. I am helping to cater the event. I've been a bit preoccupied stuffing organic dates with organic cream cheese, roasting sprouted grain bread and concocting roasted red pepper tapenade (made from my garden) to make brochette, etc. etc. etc. Congratulations to Lincoln, Alicia and their beautiful son Chiron. May you share together a long and joyful life of love.
As you can see, I have been practicing what I preach — trying to keep my priorities straight.
Nonetheless, here in the wee hours of the morning, I would like to welcome you to our Newsletter. As usual, Fred Ecks and Ann Haebig have done an excellent job in assembling articles covering a wide range of topics from Frugal Green Shopping Bags to Bicycling Life to Being Really Green to 10 Things Americans Want and much more. Thanks Fred and Ann!
I should also mention that I recently stumbled across one of the most inspirational and thought provoking books (and companion DVD) dealing with a practical, earth-friendly solution to the energy crisis and the end of oil. Please be sure to check out Alcohol Can Be A Gas! Fueling An Ethanol Revolution For The 21st Century. The oil industry and our government have been feeding us a lot of bull over the years and this incredible resource spills the beans and proposes easily doable solutions.
Finally, I was honored last week when long time friend and colleague Vicki Robin asked me to compile the Recommended Resources list for the forthcoming (March, 2009) third edition of Your Money Or Your Life. (Yes! You heard it here first!) My goal was to create the perfect bookshelf containing the best of the best resources, covering a wide range of topics for learning to live a simple, sustainable, earth-friendly lifestyle. I hope you find it useful as you travel the path of simplicity.
The Community Services on this web site — this Newsletter, the Discussion Forums, our Study Groups Database, SimpleRadio and the rest — would not exist without your support.
Because The Simple Living Network is a small, home based business that operates without government, industry or foundation support, advertising revenue, or subscription fees of any kind, we rely on user support to continue offering our services.
If you enjoy and use this web site, we ask for your voluntary financial support — any amount large or small will help!
Our goal for 2008 is $20,000. As you can see, we still have a long way to go. These funds will cover important upcoming expenses. Keeping up with the technology required to operate this web site is expensive! Old software is beginning to expire. We need to replace old equipment because it cannot keep up with the speed requirements and storage space of this growing web site. Bandwidth charges are increasing due to the growing number of folks, just like you, using this site. (I could go on....)
Please do your part! Even a small gift will make a huge difference!
Thank you to those of you who have become CyberAngels over the years. Without you, this web site would not exist.
I hope you and yours are well and enjoying the simple pleasures in life,
Dave Wampler
Founder
The Simple Living Network
Copyright © The Simple Living Network. All Rights Reserved.
Resources To Simplify Your Life & Reduce Your Carbon Footprint
- Biking To Work — Highly Recommended!
- The Carbon Free Home: 36 Remodeling Projects To Help Kick The Fossil-Fuel Habit — Highly Recommended!
- Just In Case: How To Be Self-Sufficient When The Unexpected Happens
- Greening Your Office: From Cupboard To Corporation — An A-Z Guide
- Green Living Handbook: A 6 Step Program To Create An Environmentally Sustainable Lifestyle — Highly Recommended!
- Organic Baby: Simple Steps For Healthy Living
- Organic Body Care Recipes: 175 Homemade Herbal Formulas For Glowing Skin & A Vibrant Self
- Solar Living Source Book: Your Complete Guide To Renewable Energy Technologies & Sustainable Living — Special 30th Anniversary Edition — Highly Recommended!
- Water Stewardship: A 30 Day Program To Protect & Conserve Our Water Resources
New Cookbooks, Gardening & Farming Titles
- Chicken Coops: 45 Building Plans For Housing Your Flock
- Deerproofing Your Yard & Garden: 2nd Edition, Completely Revised & Updated
- How To Build Your Own Greenhouse: Designs & Plans To Meet Your Growing Needs
- Mom's Best One-Dish Suppers: 101 Easy Homemade Favorites
- Raising Beef Cattle
- Raising Chickens
- Raising Dairy Goats
- Raising Meat Goats
- Raising Pigs
- Raising Poultry
- Raising Rabbits
- Raising Sheep
- Starting & Running Your Own Small Farm Business
New To Alternatives For Simple Living
- The 11th Hour: Turn Mankind's Darkest Hour Into Its Finest DVD — Highly Recommended!
- Cause For Hope: Humanity At The Crossroads
- Community: The Structure Of Belonging
- Disturbing Complacency: Preparing For Christmas
- Living Faith: How Faith Inspires Social Justice
- Soul Sunday: A Family's Guide To Exploring Faith & Teaching Tolerance
- Starting Simple: Conversations About The Way We Live
- We Belong To The Land: The Story Of A Palestinian Israeli Who Lives For Peace & Reconciliation
- What Would Jesus Buy? — DVD
- Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway? 2008 Edition
- Winning Our Energy Independence: An Energy Insider Shows How
Copyright © 2008
Reusable shopping bags have come a long way. Efforts like the Center for a New American Dream's Carbon Conscious Consumer campaign have made great strides in touting their eco-advantages over disposable bags. As a result, the same big-name grocery stores whose clerks gave me funny looks for bringing my own bags are now prominently hawking reusable bags in the checkout line.
But don't feel like you have to drop a bundle of cash for these trendy totes in order to be green. As a reusable shopping bag veteran and aspiring frugalista, I'd like to share some free and inexpensive ways to get on the reusable bag bandwagon:
- Raid your closets for backpacks, tote bags, and duffel bags. The greenest, cheapest reusable shopping bags are the ones you already have!
- Keep reusing your old plastic and paper bags. The paper grocery bags with handles are surprisingly durable and can be reused many times. To get even more use from them, I've been known to repair them by taping up small tears and stapling handles back on!
- Ask your friends for their extra paper and plastic bags. Even after kicking the bag habit, many people still have more bags than they can possibly use.
- Look for inexpensive tote bags at thrift stores and garage sales. Since tote bags are such a popular promotional giveaway item, thrift store shelves are loaded with them. Sturdy, well-made, almost-new bags can be had for a song.
- Make your own bags from scrap fabric.
- Instead of buying a special insulated hot/cold shopping bag, use your picnic cooler. As a bonus, this greens your drive — since you don't have to rush home with your perishables, you can do more errands in a single car trip.
- Many stores will refund you a few cents for every bag you bring. Over time, a reusable bag can pay for itself!
Forget your bag while shopping? Don't fret! Instead of buying a new one or giving in to the "paper or plastic" refrain, try these tips:
- For small purchases, carry the items home in your hands or pockets.
- Grab a bag from the recycling bin outside the store door. Don't worry, these are usually clean. Plus, you can feel virtuous because bag reuse is a lot greener than bag recycling.
- Unload your shopping cart directly into your car trunk.
If you do buy a reusable shopping bag, be a conscious consumer and consider the following:
- Where was it made, and under what working conditions? Was sweatshop labor used?
- Is it made of sustainable materials, such as recycled plastic or organic cotton?
- Can you get it secondhand? Used goods consume the fewest resources.
- Is it durable? Avoid cheap bags made with flimsy materials and construction. If it rips after a month of use, it's still waste.
- Does it stand upright when unfolded? Your bagging clerk will thank you!
Visit the Conscious Consumer Marketplace for more tips on reusable shopping bags.
About The Author
Kathryn Benedicto is a corporate refugee from Silicon Valley who is downshifting for a year to make the leap into values-based work. She is a simplicity activist in the San Francisco Bay Area and runs the Simple Living SF South Bay/Peninsula group as well as the Resources for Sustainable Weddings website. She can be reached by email at kfben@yahoo.com.
Related Resources
- Green Living Handbook
- Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
- Not Buying It: My Year Without Shopping
- The Better World Handbook
- The Better World Shopping Guide
I was honored when long time friend and colleague Vicki Robin asked me to compile the Recommended Resources list for the forthcoming (March, 2009) third edition of Your Money Or Your Life. My goal was to create the perfect bookshelf containing the best of the best resources, covering a wide range of topics for learning to live a simple, sustainable, earth-friendly lifestyle. I hope you find this first draft useful as you travel the path of simplicity.
The following list of recommended resources support, either directly or indirectly, the nine-step program in Your Money or Your Life.
SUPPORTING RESOURCES FOR YOUR MONEY OR YOUR LIFE
Blix, Jacqueline and David Heitmiller. Getting a Life: Strategies for Simple Living Based on the Revolutionary Program for Financial Freedom Your Money or Your Life. New York: Penguin, 1997.
Dominguez, Joe. Transforming Your Relationship with Money: The Nine-Step Program for Achieving Financial Integrity, Intelligence, and Independence (CD/Workbook Course). Boulder: Sounds True, 2005.
Merkel, Jim. Radical Simplicity: Small Footprints on a Finite Planet. Gabriola Island, Canada: New Society Publishers, 2003.
-----. RADICALLY simple (DVD). Oley, PA: Bullfrog Films, 2005.
www.yourmoneyoryourlife.org - The official web site for Your Money or Your Life.
www.newroadmap.org - A nonprofit organization dedicated sharing the core teachings for the nine-step program in Your Money or Your life.
MONEY MATTERS — DEBT, FINANCIAL PLANNING, SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE INVESTING
Bogle, John C, et al. Common Sense on Mutual Funds: New Imperatives for the Intelligent Investor. John Wiley & Sons: Hoboken, NJ, 2000.
Clyatt, Bob. Work Less, Live More: The Way to Semi-Retirement. Berkeley: Nolo, 2007.
-----. The Work Less, Live More Workbook: Get Ready for Semi-Retirement. Berkeley: Nolo, 2007.
Mundis, Jerrold. How to Get Out of Debt, Stay Out of Debt, and Live Prosperously. New York: Bantam Books, 1988.
Swedroe, Larry E. The Only Guide to a Winning Investment Strategy You'll Ever Need: The Way Smart Money Invests Today. New York: Truman Talley Books, 2005.
-----. What Wall Street Doesn't Want You to Know: How You Can Build Real Wealth Investing in Index Funds. St. Martin's Griffin: New York, 2004.
White, John L. I'm In Debt, Over 40, with No Retirement Savings. HELP! How to Get Out of Debt and Start Saving for Retirement Now. Wesley Chapel, FL: Everlove and Bohannon Publishing, 2004.
PHILOSOPHY & REAL LIFE EXPERIENCES — ENOUGH, SIMPLE LIVING & VOLUNTARY SIMPLICITY
Andrews, Cecile. The Circle of Simplicity: Return to the Good Life. New York: Harper Perennial, 1997.
De Graaf, John et al. Affluenza: The All-Consuming Epidemic. Berrett-Koehler Publishers: San Francisco, 2005.
De Graaf, John, Producer. Affluenza (DVD). Oley PA: Bullfrog Films, 1997.
-----. Escape from Affluenza: Living Better on Less (DVD). Oley, PA: Bullfrog Films, 1998.
Elgin, Duane. Voluntary Simplicity: Toward a Way of Life That Is Outwardly Simple, Inwardly Rich. New York: Harper, 1993.
Holst, Carol ed. Get Satisfied: How Twenty People Like You Found the Satisfaction of Enough. Easton Studio Press: Westport, 2007.
Nearing, Scott and Helen Nearing. The Good Life: Helen and Scott Nearing's Sixty Years of Self-Sufficient Living. New York: Schocken Books, 1989.
Pierce, Linda Breen. Choosing Simplicity: Real People Finding Peace and Fulfillment in a Complex World. Carmel: Gallagher Press, 2000.
-----. Simplicity Lessons: A 12-Step Guide to Living Simply. Carmel: Gallagher Press, 2003.
Schor, Juliet B. The Overspent American: Why We Want What We Don't Need. New York: Harper Perennial, 1999.
-----. The Overworked American: The Unexpected Decline of Leisure. New York: Basic Books, 1993.
Thoreau, Henry David. Walden. 1854. Reprint, Boston: Beacon Press, 2004.
Urbanska, Wanda and Frank Levering. Simple Living: One Couple's Search For A Better Life. John F. Blair, Publisher: Winston-Salem, 1992, 2003.
LEARNING TO LIVE SIMPLY, DOING MORE WITH LESS & DOING-IT-YOURSELF
Bartholomew, Mel. All New Square Foot Gardening: Grow More in Less Space. Cold Springs Press: Franklin, TN. 2005.
Callenbach, Ernest. Living Cheaply with Style: Live Better and Spend Less. Berkeley: Ronin Publishing, 2000.
Conner, Bobbi. Unplugged Play: No Batteries. No Plugs. Pure Fun. 710 Games and Activities for Ages 12 Months to 10 Years. Workman Publishing: New York, 2007.
Cox, Connie and Chris Evatt. 30 Days to a Simpler Life. New York: Plume Books, 1998.
Dacyczyn, Amy. The Complete Tightwad Gazette: Promoting Thrift as a Viable Alternative Lifestyle. New York: Villard Books, 1998.
Denckla, Tanya L K. The Gardener's A-Z Guide to Growing Organic Food: 765 Varieties of Vegetables, Herbs, Fruits, and Nuts. Formulas and Techniques that Control 201 Pests and Diseases Organically. Storey Publishing: North Adams, MA, 2003.
Fallon, Sally. Nourishing Traditions: The Cookbook that Challenges Politically Correct Nutrition and the Diet Dictocrats (Revised Second Edition). NewTrends Publishing, Inc: Washington, DC, 2001.
Longacre, Doris Janzen. Living More with Less. Scottdale, PA: Herald Press, 1980.
Madison, Deborah. Preserving Food Without Freezing or Canning: Traditional Techniques Using Salt, Oil, Sugar, Alcohol, Vinegar, Drying, Cold Storage and Lactic Fermentation. Chelsea Green Publishing: White River Junction, VT, 2007.
Pangman, Judy. Chicken Coops: 45 Building Plans for Housing Your Flock. Storey Publishing: North Adams, MA, 2006.
Seymour, John. The Self-Sufficient Life and How to Live it: The Complete Back-To-Basics Guide. DK Publishing, Inc: New York, 2003.
Sherlock, Marie. Living Simply with Children: A Voluntary Simplicity Guide for Moms, Dads, and Kids Who Want to Reclaim the Bliss of Childhood and the Joy of Parenting. New York: Three Rivers Press, 2003.
Storey, John and Martha Storey. Storey's Basic Country Skills: A Practical Guide to Self-Reliance. Storey Publishing: North Adams, MA, 1999.
Taylor-Hough, Deborah. A Simple Choice: A Practical Guide for Saving Your Time, Money and Sanity. Belgium, WI: Champion Press, 2000.
Yeager, Jeff. The Ultimate Cheapskate's Road Map to True Riches: A Practical (and Fun) Guide to Enjoying Life More by Spending Less. New York: Broadway Books, 2008.
LIVING LIGHTLY ON THE EARTH, REDUCING YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT
Alvord, Katie. Divorce Your Car! Ending the Love Affair with the Automobile. Gabriola Island, Canada: New Society Publishers, 2000.
Balish, Chris. How to Live Well Without Owning a Car. Ten Speed Press: Berkeley, 2006.
Blume, David. Alcohol Can be a Gas! Fueling an Ethanol Revolution for the 21st Century. The International Institute for Ecological Agriculture: Santa Cruz, 2007.
Clift, Jon and Amanda Cuthbert. Energy: Use Less-Save More (100 Energy Saving Tips for Home). Chelsea Green Publishing: White River Junction, VT, 2007.
-----. Greening your Office: From Cupboard to Corporation (An A-Z Guide). Chelsea Green Publishing: White River Junction, VT, 2008.
-----. Water: Use Less-Save More (100 Water Saving Tips for Home). Chelsea Green Publishing: White River Junction, VT, 2007.
Gershon, David. Green Living Handbook: A 6 Step Program to Create an Environmentally Sustainable Lifestyle. Empowerment Institute: Woodstock, NY, 2008.
-----. Low Carbon Diet: A 30 Day Program to Lose 5000 Pounds. Empowerment Institute: Woodstock, NY, 2006.
Horn, Greg. Living Green: A Practical Guide to Simple Sustainability. Freedom Press: Topanga, CA, 2006.
Hren, Stephen and Rebekah Hren. The Carbon-Free Home: 36 Remodeling Projects to Help Kick the Fossil-Fuel Habit. Chelsea Green Publishing: White River Junction, VT, 2008.
McMullan, Rory. Biking to Work. Chelsea Green Publishing: White River Junction, VT, 2008.
Scott, Nicky. Composting: An Easy Household Guide. Chelsea Green Publishing: White River Junction, VT, 2007.
-----. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: An Easy Household Guide. Chelsea Green Publishing: White River, VT, 2007.
Trask, Crissy. It's Easy Being Green: A Handbook for Earth-Friendly Living. Gibbs Smith: Salt Lake City, 2006.
Wackernagel, Mathis. The Ecological Footprint: Accounting for a Small Planet (DVD). Oley, PA: Bullfrog Films, 2004.
Wackernagel, Mathis and William Rees. Our Ecological Footprint: Reducing Human Impact on the Earth. Gabriola Island, Canada: New Society Publishers, 1996.
INNER SIMPLICITY — REVERENCE & SPIRITUALITY
Alternatives. The Alternative Wedding Book: Create a Beautiful Wedding that Reflects Your Values and Doesn't Cost the Earth. Northstone Publishing: Kelowna, BC, Canada, 1993.
Foster, Richard J. Freedom of Simplicity: Finding Harmony in a Complex World. New York: Harper Paperbacks, 1981.
Harnden, Philip, ed. Journeys of Simplicity: Traveling Light with Thomas Merton, Basho, Edward Abbey, Annie Dillard and Others. Woodstock, VT: Skylight Paths Publishing, 2007.
McKibben, Bill. Hundred Dollar Holiday: The Case for a More Joyful Christmas. Simon & Schuster: New York, 1998.
Morgan, Ernest. Dealing Creatively with Death: A Manual of Death Education and Simple Burial. Upper Access: Hinesburg, VT, 2001.
Robinson, Jo and Jean Coppock Staeheli. Unplug the Christmas Machine: A Complete Guide to Putting Love and Joy Back into the Season. New York: Quill, 1991.
Schut, Michael et al. Simpler Living, Compassionate Life. New York: Living the Good News, 1999.
Twigg, Nancy. Celebrate Simply: Your Guide to Simpler, More Meaningful Holidays and Special Occasions. Grand Rapids: Kregel Publications, 2006.
Van Matre, Steve and Bill Weiler. The Earth Speaks. The Institute for Earth Education: Greenville, WV, 1983.
Whitmire, Catherine. Plain Living: A Quaker Path to Simplicity. Notre Dame: Sorin Books, 2001.
Copyright © 2008. Reprinted here with special permission from Simple Living America
Your afternoon commute has crawled to a halt – again – though that last hundred-yard advance did seem a moral victory.
Only thirty miles to go.
You tune in to the freeway traffic and, sure enough, several cars and a big rig have collaborated to produce a truly newsworthy snarl at the choke point five miles ahead.
You're less than thrilled at all this gas idling away at $4.50 a gallon. Your SUV – view-enhancing and roomy enough for the kids and then some – now seems so little like a good idea that you tried trading it in, only to discover it was worth less than you owed on it. But at least you can enjoy this cockpit view of the traffic jam.
Twenty-nine-and-a-half miles.
You and your spouse never questioned the wisdom of the home you bought further out so you could afford the spare bedroom. But now that the burden of the commute has sunk in and both of you yearn to move back closer to work, you've watched your home equity – along with the pit of your stomach – plunge into the cellar.
With the extra hours you've taken on at work, it's become a juggling act to see whether your sanity or the stress wins out. Of course, the overtime hadn't really been negotiable, given the downsizing, the new outsourcing to Bangalore, and the wobbly marketplace.
Twenty-nine miles.
Increasingly you've been questioning, "What's wrong with this picture?" And each time you stare at the same answer: nothing whatsoever is exactly wrong with it. It's a perfect picture of the Perfect Storm.
Our society, always tending towards manic overwork, materialism, and time famine, has just developed a new malaise: the current economic "adjustment." Along with all the scary talk of surging prices, hemorrhaging jobs, and collapsing home equity, one wonders whether a little more focus on basic peace of mind — a kind of spiritual or psychological balance — wouldn't give people a better chance to respond wisely to the unnerving new challenges.
Such a focus, I suspect, would serve us better than the crossfire we often see over the political minefields on the op-ed pages. We have writers zeroing in on greedy corporations and oil companies that suck us dry. Others take aim at tax-and-spend government and environmentalists who derail the economy. Or given personal vignettes such as I portrayed above, we read self-righteous judgments of how the fools should have been more prudent and less demanding of a bailout. Conversely, others describe them as hapless victims of a criminally deceptive banking industry.
As society tends toward mania, so does the blame game. Regardless of the opposition of viewpoints, I am frequently struck by the commonality of tone verging towards finger-wagging, pulpit-thumping fulmination. And I'll be the first to admit that when an argument tacks close to my own bias, I too will cheer it on.
Even then, however, what I really yearn for is more thoughtfulness. I would cast the couple I portray above as individuals who, like most folks, try to be conscientious citizens working to better themselves, their families, and the country's economic welfare. But now they're mired in crisis.
At the fulcrum of this crisis we find Simple Living America positioned to offer "balance in a complex world," contributing to the thoughtful approach and to hopes for recovering sanity in society. This fulcrum is where our outreach to the mental wellness field buoys us. Balance is axiomatic to mental wellness, and equally axiomatically this balance derives from inner centeredness rather than the ever-shifting external norms of success.
And that's the message, the hope, we hold out with the Get Satisfied campaign: external satisfaction can be a chimera, internal satisfaction is steadfast. Take the couple from the vignette: big suburban homes and SUVs were last year's trophies, but at least for these two people – as for far too many others – this year those trophies are dragging them down into quicksand.
Imagine, however, that this couple — rather than marching to the current drumbeat of anxiety and stress — tunes in elsewhere: to an inner calm voice where their own values dwell. Here they can gradually balance their finances within the perspective of the things that really matter in life: family, community, spirituality, true callings and whatever else sustains them. It is here that they will rediscover that they already have within themselves the resources to live in enduring satisfaction.
About The Author
Michael Beck, a retired schoolteacher, lives in Glendale in the Los Angeles area, not ten miles from where he was born. He enjoys travel, especially in nature, and has never met a national or state park, monument, forest, or wildlife preserve that he didn't love. He relishes foreign languages, with a soft spot for English in which he writes for fun; he reads history and popular science for pleasure and devours science fiction. He joins friends for good conversations over meals (healthy food these days) and heads a local Sierra Club program, Dine for Your Health and Your Planet's Health.
Related Resources
Copyright © 2008. Reprinted from Bicycling Life with permission from the author.
Frequently non-cyclists don't realize how practical bicycles are. They've been taught all their lives that progress means replacing human labor with machines. America's car culture is supposed to be the pinnacle of all societies, so when motorists see people on bikes, they tend to assume they're children; or if adults, they must either be weird or unable to afford a car. Many can't imagine themselves using bikes in place of their autos — to do so would a giant step backward in evolution, they think.
But cycling to work really is plausible for most people. It's not hard, and it's something you can really be proud of. I've heard lots of excuses, but in most cases people just need to open their minds to new ways of doing things. Even in those rare cases where commuting is not feasible, one can try practical cycling by running errands.
I have fond memories of grocery shopping by bike. I've carried anything from live tropical fish to large packages of meat. I've picked up milk on the way home from work lots of times. I remember buying pop, back when the cheapest way to buy it was in eight-packs of glass bottles. We used to strap those on our rear racks — high enough that the weight really affected the handling! Ah, those were the days...
Perhaps the easiest way to try practical cycling is by riding to the library, video store, or any other short trip not requiring a lot of cargo. I carry stuff in panniers — bags that hook on to my rack — but just the rack and a bungee cord will often suffice. Backpacks also work, but they can get hot and heavy.
Typically I ride in street clothes on such trips, saving the comfort and efficiency of bike clothes (shorts and shoes are the important ones) for longer trips, like commuting to work. Some cyclists aren't comfortable in public places wearing bike clothes, but others have become accustomed to it.
Any bicycle will do, but an efficient one will be more fun. I well remember the first time I rode a nice bike, which I came to call a "real" bike in my snobbier moments. It was like rediscovering cycling — what a difference it made! If your bike needs work, fixing and modifying a bicycle is rewarding work. Bicycles are wonderfully simple to work on, requiring only a few special tools. Using fat, knobby tires on pavement will waste energy and make cycling less fun, but changing them to high-pressure road tires is easy.
It's fun to see how often you can replace the car with your bike, and you're getting in shape and saving money while doing it. It also gives you a lot more clout when you tell your kids to get some exercise, or to conserve resources after their 30-minute showers. You owe it to yourself to give practical cycling a try — few activities are more rewarding.
About The Author
Rich Haubert explains, "I live in southern Michigan — not many hills, but plenty of roads without traffic. I do one significant bike trip each summer. I like to ride whenever possible, and commute to work year-round. I am very much into cycling as a way of life, and when my mind drifts off it is almost always bike-related." This article was reprinted from the Bicycling Life website at: www.bicyclinglife.com.
Related Resources
- Biking To Work
- Divorce Your Car!
- How To Live Well Without Owning A Car
- The Post-Petroleum Survival Guide & Cookbook
- Radical Simplicity
- RADICALLY Simple
In 1983, David Blume wrote and hosted a 10-part how-to television series called Alcohol as Fuel for KQED, the San Francisco PBS affiliate. He also wrote the definitive how-to book on ethanol, Alcohol Can Be A Gas!, which was going to be sold on the air.
The book was at the printer preparing to go to press, and the first airing of the television series in San Francisco was underway, to be followed by release to 140 PBS stations nationwide. Big Oil got wind of the project and convinced KQED to halt the printing and cancel the release of the series to the rest of PBS.
Although there were lawsuits, KQED's oil-funded lawyers crushed Blume, and the series ended up locked in KQED's vault, while the rights to the book went back to Blume. The book sat on the shelf for the past 20 years.
Beginning in 2003, Dave set about updating the book in a big way. He raised money from individuals (not institutions or corporations) to fund his research into the current state of the art in alcohol fuels. He traveled extensively in both the US and Brazil, collecting and documenting innovations and the success of Brazil's alcohol fuel program. Four years of full-time work with a team of researchers has resulted in a completely new and greatly expanded version of the book.
THE NEW BOOK
Alcohol Can Be A Gas! (subtitled "Fueling An Ethanol Revolution For The 21st Century") is an information-dense, highly readable, profusely illustrated manual, covering every aspect of alcohol fuel from history through crops, hands-on fuel production, and vehicle conversion. It's the first comprehensive book on small- to farm-scale alcohol production and use written in over 90 years.
Internally divided into six books, the single volume contains 640 8.5" x 11" pages, with more than 500 illustrations, charts, and photos. It sports a 700-word glossary and a full index. It retains the original 1983 foreword by R. Buckminster Fuller. Alcohol Can Be A Gas! is a complete toolbox for farmers, green entrepreneurs, and activists to wrest control of our energy system from the Oilygarchy and put it back in the hands of the public.
With alcohol fuel, you can become energy-independent, reverse global warming, and survive Peak Oil in style. Alcohol fuel is "liquid sunshine" and can't be controlled by transnational corporations. You can produce alcohol for less than $1 a gallon, using a wide variety of plants and waste products, from algae to stale donuts. It's a much better fuel than gasoline, and you can use it in your car, right now! You can even use alcohol to generate electricity. Alcohol fuel production is ecologically sustainable, revitalizes farms and communities, and creates huge new opportunities for small-scale businesses. Its byproducts are clean and valuable. Alcohol has a proud history and a vital future.
For about the price of a tankful of gas, you'll learn:
- How to make alcohol from a variety of available materials - for about 47 cents a gallon!
- How to organize a profitable, driver-controlled, neighborhood alcohol fuel station.
- Ways to convert your gas engine to E-85 or 100% alcohol for as little as $50.
- How to beat oil companies by operating your own small alcohol fuel company.
- How to get 61 cents a gallon federal ethanol tax credits refunded to you as cash.
- How to correctly fill out the permit that legally allows you to make 200-proof moonshine fuel.
- And much, much more!
Alcohol Can Be A Gas! is the most comprehensive text on alcohol fuel production and use ever written. It's a complete tool kit for farmers, contractors, alternative energy users, mechanics, people concerned with climate change or Peak Oil, and anyone who thinks they're paying too much for fuel.
Would you be surprised to know:
- Detroit has made flexible-fuel alcohol cars for sale in the U.S. since 1994.
- You can fill up on alcohol at more than 1200 stations in the U.S.
- Your gasoline car can already use at least 50% ethanol without modification.
- Brazil runs 50% of its cars on straight alcohol.
- Ethanol is liquid solar energy, and we can reverse global warming by switching to alcohol fuel.
- Alcohol is 105 octane, as good as the best racing or aviation fuels.
- You can inexpensively generate your home's heating, cooling, cooking, and electricity needs with alcohol.
Related Resources
Copyright © 2008
We've got a late summer grab bag of topics in the Discussion Forums now. Some folks are discussing the merits of having no television in the Consumerism and Media forum. Another participant reports she cancelled her two ad-ridden magazines. To replace that time, several discuss what they would like to learn over the next ten years.
One woman sought and found two simple living email buddies. Others could add to this topic and hook up with like minds as well, or search the Simplicity Circle database to meet people in person.
Three discussions are relevant to preparing your home for the winter. One is about energy use of your home and a related discussion includes energy use for travel as well. The third asks for frugal decorating ideas.
The economy is on everyone's minds in the Money forum. Contributors are discussing what they've seen in the media. One article considers the troubles of the day that include oil prices, the housing crash, and the related credit crisis. The other article focuses on debt and its effects. Separately, another discussion compares two books from authors who experimented with living on minimum wages. Finally people are reviewing the new movie I.O.U.S.A. (www.iousathemovie.com). These topics make for lively and interesting discussion. Join in!
CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT THE INTRODUCTION to our on-line community. Then join the fun!
About The Author
Ann Haebig is a part-time geek, part-time bicycle advocate, and dedicated follower and promoter of the Your Money Or Your Life program. She lives in the San Francisco Bay area with her partner, cat and recently adopted guitar. Ann can be reached at ahaebig@pobox.com.
Related Resources
- More Mudpies
- The Power Of Community DVD
- The Circle of Simplicity
- The Not So Big House
- Little House On A Small Planet
- Your Money Or Your Life
Copyright © 2008
Editor's Note: This article is an entry from The Dollar Stretcher Blog, reprinted with permission.
Lately everyone has been touting their 'green' credentials. You don't have to look too hard to find someone talking earnestly about 'carbon footprints' or expounding on renewable energy. I admit that some of them seem a little phony to me. Here's why. Their lifestyles don't match their rhetoric. In other words, their walk doesn't match their talk.
When the conversation turns to environmental issues, I have my own 'green test'. It's my way of finding out whether the person really cares about the environment or is just mouthing something that they read in a magazine or heard at a rally somewhere.
I'll ask if the person shops at garage sales and thrift stores. It takes natural resources to make most things. Buying used means that you're not consuming those resources. That's real environmentalism.
The person who's really concerned about the environment will make sure that items they no longer need are given a chance for a second (or better still, a third) life. Donate your used items to a thrift store, hold a garage sale or sell them on eBay. Just because you're through with something doesn't mean that it can't be useful to someone else.
I'll try to find when was the last time that they fixed something instead of replacing it. Often I get blank stares on this one. "Fix it??" You know the people I'm talking about. If the least little thing goes wrong, they're out shopping for a replacement. Never mind that a repair might be easy. Or that the problem might not affect how they use the item. They've never had a screwdriver or pair of pliers in their hands. They wouldn't know how to use them if their life depended upon it. But now they have their excuse to buy a new one. And they're not going to let tossing one more item into a landfill stop them from impressing the neighbors with their affluence!
You see, I've known many people who have been good to the environment. But many of them never thought of it that way. They were just living frugally. Looking for ways to avoid spending money came naturally. That meant fewer purchases. Considering alternatives before throwing something away was automatic. It's just something they did without thinking about it. In the process, they walked gently on the Earth and only consumed what was necessary.
Personally, I'd much rather talk to the person living a thrifty lifestyle than the expert in carbon offsets. I find that I learn much more practical info that I can apply and benefit from. I learn things that can actually make a difference in my life. It may not impress the dinner party crowd or make me look smart or important, but it does make a difference for the Earth.
Keep on Stretching those Dollars!
Gary
About The Author
Gary Foreman is the editor of The Dollar Stretcher.com website and newsletters. Not only does the site host thousands of articles on various ways to save money, but you'll also find a vibrant forum where people share their dollar stretching ideas. Visit today!
Related Resources
- The Not So Big Life
- Living Cheaply With Style
- The Consumer's Guide To Effective Environmental Choices
- The Ultimate Cheapskate's Road Map To True Riches
- The Ultimate Cheapskate's Road Map To True Riches — 7 Audio CDs
Copyright © 2008
As the nation celebrated July 4th, a new poll found that most Americans don't have or don't feel they can take time for "the Pursuit of Happiness," and more than two-thirds support a law that would guarantee paid vacations for American workers.
The scientific telephone sample of 1,002 Americans was conducted by The Opinion Research Corporation, a leading professional pollster, during the week of June 23, 2008 for Take Back Your Time.
The poll found 69% of Americans saying they would support a paid vacation law, with the largest percentage of respondents favoring a law guaranteeing three weeks vacation or more. Take Back Your Time advocates a three-week paid vacation law. Americans under 35 (83%), African-Americans (89%), Hispanic-Americans (82%), and low-income Americans (82%) were the strongest supporters of such a law, as were residents of the Northeast (75%) and the South (72%). 75% of women and 63% of men support a paid vacation law. 74% of families with children support such a law. Every demographic showed majority support for a law. Overall, only 27% of those polled were opposed to a paid vacation law.
Americans were asked how many weeks of vacation are best to prevent "burnout." 52% said they need three weeks or more and 82% said they need at least two weeks.
Disturbingly though, the survey showed that among working Americans, 28% took no vacation time at all last year, half took a week or less, and two-thirds got less than two weeks off. The median time off for all workers was 8.2 days, far below the three weeks that most cited as the optimum to prevent burnout, much less actually relax and enjoy themselves.
A growing body of evidence suggests that burnout is just one of the negative consequences of too little vacation time. Studies have firmly established that men who don't take vacations are 32% more likely to die of heart attacks and women are 50% more likely. Lack of vacation time doubles rates of depression for women. After vacations, workers gain an hour per night of quality sleep and their reaction times are 30-40% faster, improvements that last for several months.
"American work-life is out of balance and this poll shows people know it," said Cecile Andrews, chair of the Take Back Your Time board. "The only difference between dinosaurs and American vacations is that dinosaurs are already extinct. We are losing the breaks we need to stay healthy, avoid stress and bond with our families. It's certainly a shame that neither Presidential candidate has addressed this issue. Maybe this poll will get them to take notice."
Take Back Your Time has launched a new website at www.right2vacation.org promoting the idea of a paid vacation law.
Mixing hard science and a lighthearted touch to make a very serious case, the site includes the latest research on the impacts of too little vacation time, as well as more than two dozen humorous posters that can be downloaded, printed and posted to call attention to the campaign and ways to get involved.
For further information, contact John de Graaf at jodg@comcast.net or Joe Robinson at joe@worktolive.info.
About The Author
John de Graaf has been writing and producing award-winning television programs for several decades. In addition to Affluenza and Escape from Affluenza, the highly acclaimed PBS documentary series, he also produced Running Out of Time, For Earth's Sake: The Life and Times of David Brower, Circle of Plenty, Green Plans, and Genetic Time Bomb, among many others. John is also the co-author of the book Affluenza: The All-Consuming Epidemic with David Wann and Thomas H. Naylor.
E-Mail: jodg@comcast.net
Web Sites: Take Back Your Time Day, Right 2 Vacation
Related Resources
- The Motherhood Manifesto
- Take Back Your Time Handbook
- Affluenza
- Escape from Affluenza
- Affluenza: The All-Consuming Epidemic
Copyright © 2008. Reprinted from Yes Magazine with permission. Copyright © 2008
We took on the question: Are Americans divided? What we found was surprising.
Large majorities of Americans agree on some of the most important issues of the day, from health care to war. "10 Policies for a Better America" shows an agenda most of us can agree on — whether we think of ourselves as red, blue, or some other political color.
Explore the polling data, then read the YES! take on the most important policies for a better America.
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73% Say corporations don't pay a fair share of taxes.
A FAIR TAX STRUCTURE AND INVESTMENT IN AMERICA IS A GOOD START TOWARD ECONOMIC RECOVERY. READ MORE...
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65% Believe same-sex couples should be allowed to marry or form civil unions.
AND AMERICANS BELIEVE WE NEED TO BRING THOSE ADJUSTABLE RATE MORTGAGES UNDER CONTROL. READ OUR PRO-FAMILY AGENDA...
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59% Would like the next president to do more to protect civil liberties.
AND AMERICANS WANT A COURT ORDER BEFORE SOMEONE LISTENS IN ON THEIR PHONE CONVERSATIONS. HERE'S HOW TO PROTECT OUR CONSTITUTION...
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79% Favor mandatory limits on greenhouse gas emissions.
WE WANT SERIOUS INVESTMENT IN GREEN POWER, TOO. AND MASS TRANSIT. READ OUR PLAN FOR A STABLE CLIMATE...
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64% Believe the government should provide national health insurance coverage for all Americans, even if it would raise taxes.
ARE YOU LISTENING, SENATORS MCCAIN & OBAMA? READ MORE...
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73% Favor abolishing nuclear weapons, with verification.
LET'S ABOLISH UNILATERAL ATTACKS ON OTHER COUNTRIES, TOO. HERE'S OUR PLAN...
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69% Believe we should use diplomatic and economic means to fight terrorism, rather than the military.
WE CAN LEAVE IRAQ, AND AVERT WAR WITH IRAN, AND INSTITUTE A SANE FOREIGN POLICY. HERE IS HOW...
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74% Favor voluntary public financing of campaigns.
IT'S ABOUT GETTING OUR DEMOCRACY BACK AND LETTING VOTERS, NOT CORPORATIONS, CHOOSE OUR LEADERS. READ MORE...
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87% Support rehabilitation rather than a "punishment-only" system.
ISN'T IT TIME WE QUIT PUTTING 2 MILLION AMERICANS BEHIND BARS? HERE'S WHAT WE CAN DO INSTEAD...
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64% Believe that on the whole, immigration is good for the country.
BUT WE'D LIKE NAFTA RENEGOTIATED SO FEWER PEOPLE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE U.S.-MEXICO BORDER ARE THROWN OUT OF WORK. READ MORE... |
Ready to act? Forward this email to your friends and family—or send it to your entire email list?
Ask your local, state, or federal candidates what they are going to do about the items on this American people's agenda.
Explore the interactive version of this agenda and download the poster. It's free. Make as many copies as you like, and give them away. Or order our printed posters for just a buck each.
Election season is the time when our voices are most likely to be heard. Use this agenda to keep your issues on the front burner, and to show your elected officials what "we the people" expect from them.
Sarah van Gelder
Executive Editor,
Yes Magazine
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