Freedom through conservation
Human life is messy, and human beings even more so. Working out our "stuff" together is no easy feat. And it's made no easier by the flood of all kinds of information into our minds, too much of which pollutes our internal lives rather than edifying our personal existence. The powerful tsunami of junk info we face daily comes in the forms of advertisements, which are pervasive, continual, and … [Read more...]
I've written before about the merits of swapping clothes and accessories you no longer want for "new-to-you" items instead. The three top benefits are: Saving money — one of the the keys to prosperity is spending less/saving more. Eco-friendly — reusing stuff helps avoid adding to the landfill. Fun! — getting together with others for a good time beats solo shopping zombiedom. But … [Read more...]
The old days are gone and there's more than a few analysts who don't see the high life ever returning. They say that the peak of cheap oil production in 2006 means economic growth is over. Instead, we can expect a continual contraction of the economy that will ultimately affect us all. Whether its fate, or karma or just chance, we're the people alive today and we're the one's who have to deal … [Read more...]
Occupiers, revolutionaries and soup eaters of all stripes have been writing in to Lindsay's List to tell me they love the idea of making, sharing and living on revolutionary soup as part of their commitment to the #OccupyWallStreet movement. But, they wonder, how do you serve up soup to a bunch of protesters without generating a lot of trash? No mess rebel Firs things first. Those who are … [Read more...]
I've received a number of queries from young moms and others who want to know what they can do to support the #OccupyWallStreet movement even though for logistical reasons — particularly having little kids —they can't get to New York, D.C. or even a local event. The rising tide of sympathy for good old fashioned, red, white and blue American protest is a refreshing addition to our national … [Read more...]
I can't think of any moms I know (and even those I don't) who would sprinkle a dose of poison on her kid's food. I can't think of any who would blow mercury particulates in her kid's face. Nor any who would wish for her child a lower standard of living in the future than she now enjoys. Who does? Moms are the super champions of kids, wanting only the best for her offspring. Your kid's future … [Read more...]
For a couple of years now we've been hearing about social enterprises, social capital and social networking. With so many of us on social websites like Facebook and Twitter, sharing things in common with old friends and new, both in-the-flesh and virtual, is now the norm. It's as everyday as e-mail. The social network While there's definitely some valid criticisms floating around out there about … [Read more...]
There's a fascinating discussion going on in bike-blog-land as a result of Elly Blue's Bicycling's Gender Gap post at Grist. Editor’s Note: This is a guest post on Lindsay's List. If you're a friend of Lindsay's, a friend of energy conservation, or just have an idea to help women live locally with a smaller carbon footprint, then send us a piece of your own through our Contact … [Read more...]
In a world increasingly hampered by economic decline, which is itself hampered by energy decline, there are few things more patriotic than simply using less energy to do what you need and want to do. From turning off lights in daylight hours to eating more foods in their natural state to walking more and driving less, there are many fairly painless ways to use less energy and still enjoy a great … [Read more...]
This past weekend I finally got to do something I've been wanting to do for a while. I joined a community garden. Ever since I moved to Staunton, Virginia, I've unfortunately had very little garden space. First I was in an apartment with no yard access, and then my boyfriend Erik (now my husband) bought me a beautiful brick Victorian city house with almost no yard space. What little space we … [Read more...]
