An American food and travel writer, a reformed shopper, now living a rural, "slow" non-consumerism life in the south of France with her French husband and daughter. Poorer than dirt, but living like kings from the riches of the earth.
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August 2007-August 2008 we did not purchase anything. Only food and that was severely limited to the farmers markets and the organic co-op store. This year, we are doing an all-out No Shopping School Year: September 1st thru June 15th, we will not buy anything, not even food. We will use what abundance we have: what we preserved this summer, our garden, foraging, bartering, trading, living off what mother nature gives us.
Why am I doing this?
I embarked on this slow life after seeing the waste from two peoples lives cut short. My husband's family halved in one month and we were left to sort through their closets, sell the car, and shake our heads at the material “stuff” that lived on longer than his grandmother’s precious words and his father's new lease on life as a first time grandfather.
I realized further that we needed to do some soul searching and rid ourselves of material obligations. In fact, now after a successful year of not shopping, we will probably make it part of our lives instead of just a stunt year. This year we will cut out food shopping as well and rely on foraging, what organic food we have in the freezer, fishing, our CSA basket and what we can grow in containers on our small patio.
I am having fun with it, discovering so much about myself and our planet along the way and hopefully inspiring my close circle of friends and readers to do the same. We are happier, more content with what we have and cherish each other and what nature give us without the constraints of money in our lives.
Also, I feel more grounded and in touch with "mamie" who lived through some tough times and I am discovering her world and past generations traditions along the way. I feel very blessed to have stumbled upon this through the slow year.
5 Comments:
She's so full of rosy nature - no TV/computer pallor for her!
Riana - I am enjoying Novella's book so much! When I've finished it could I mail it to you to maybe donate to a no-spend reader of your blog?
Anna.
what a great pic ... the droplet of water looks as if I could reach over and brush it from her brow!
guess what?! I'm getting 2 chickens tomorrow! I haven't a clue about them, but JY is buying them for me at the market and bringing them. We're tired of wasting bread to the compost pile (I know, I know) and we'll have fresh eggs and fun watching the dogs chase them (or vice versa!)
Also, I've been meaning to ask you, oh wise woman ... (ha) ... now that I am munching mache from my garden, as I wash it I think of you and wonder how one doesn't waste water but washes her greens so well that she doesn't eat grit from fresh pulled bunches? soaking means the grit stays in the bowl, I believe one needs running water...which is wasteful. What cleverness have you concocted to address this challenge?! xx
anna, that would be fabulous and so generous of you! email when you are done reading it and i'll do a drawing and have you send it directly since most of my readers are in the USA; my email is riana.lagarde (at) gmail (point) com
You are so inspiring to me.
Can you help me to begin living a healthy life style??
My four year old granddaughter lives with
me and I would like to teach her to be healthy and to appreciate life.
Although I am finding it to do so living in the U.S. I am poor once was
fortunate things happened.For the best because now I am truly happy and love life and my family.Any ideas where to begin.
Thanks
Beautful!! A lovely blog you have here.
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