In my ideal world, each "village" would be inclusive for most needs/wants except for things that simply were not available - such as coffee beans. I imagine calling the seamstress to order my one new skirt per year and a new pair of dress pants for the boys. If we needed a new bowl, I would visit the wood worker and for my wool, the shepardess since our small homestead is too wet to raise sheep. People would visit us for new toys or rustic decor for their home or for gifts. Then there would be a hardware store and a general store. (We do have these!) Of course, several farms to get most of our food needs - straight from the farms. (We are blessed to already have the farms right in our town and then grow some of our own food as well.) So in my imaginary world there would be all these microcosm worlds spread throughout so that people could support local artisans, local farms and local small businesses.
You know many of us can choose to do some of this right where we are now - it just takes effort, time, and perhaps a bit more money. (or maybe it is a just a money shift)
Our family does buy new things - books a weakness of mine for one. I am not good at buying books at our closest bookstore (about 30 minutes away). They have a small inventory. I still buy many from Amazon and that is one thing I do not feel good about doing. I do get lots of books second hand, however, at thrift stores and yard sales and borrow from the library.
(We have had this one for two years now.)
Our family earns our living primarily through our etsy sales. We make goods for others to buy. All of what we make can be composted - simply thrown in the woods without harm to the earth. We do our best to keep our prices fair so that all income levels can afford to buy.
We also make toys that we believe in. Our rustic decor and gifts are also simple and generally useful.
Our wedding line gives an eco-friendly option while adding a touch of nature to the couple's wedding decor.
We do our best to keep our ideals in line with what we sell. Everything is made with our hands except for the burlap bags the building blocks come in and the cotton bags some other toys are packaged in.
Along these same lines when our family needs to buy something new and I can't find it locally (we don't shop at big box stores), I next look to etsy or other family businesses. We bought a beautiful handmade broom that was very expensive for us (but a good price for all the work that goes into making one). I simply cannot feel good about buying a $1.00 broom that is made of plastic and will have to end up in the landfill before long. In addition, it is something I use several times a day and just having something that I know was made in a sustainable way, by an individual making their living working by doing what they enjoy, and using this aesthetically pleasing broom, adds a bit of pleasure to the task of sweeping.
I purchased healing salve from Taryn since that was something I hadn't made myself yet. It is on my someday learn-to-do list. They are a family living by the works of their hands as well.
We also enjoy bartering. I bartered this beautiful hand dyed yarn in exchange for some our toys.
Since we don't shop at big box stores, we have the mindset that we may pay more for certain things, but we buy less things overall. And that is ok. We can all make a statement, no matter or income levels, by how we do choose to spend.
Thank you so much for all of the sharing here - it is wonderful!
Warm wishes,
Tonya
I loved this post, I think my favorite so far. As I sit at my desk in my house full of store bought brand new items I think how simple and lovely life would be without all the day to day things. I often step back and think what if it was just one new skirt and pair pants a year, how simple yet amazingly wonderful life would be. Not feeling as though you need more to keep up with the neighbors or co-workers, just living simply.
ReplyDeleteSo thank you Tonya for sharing your life and family with us, you do inspire!!!
Tonya, Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this. I, too, share your vision of many many microcosms of thriving -truly- local communities. We live near to a large community of Amish, and whenever we travel down that way, I am struck by the way that they in many ways embody this. We drive past small signs at the ends of long driveways that lead to home/farm/business. And I love the idea of having a niche: one small bit of work that you, or your family does and does well. To have your life and work intertwined, not sectioned off into different compartments.
ReplyDeleteI am curious if you ever feel conflicted about being low consumers yet making your living by selling items? I often feel conflicted about this. On one hand, my goal and hope is to make lovely, quality items that are in line with my ideals, like you talked about, but on the other hand, I sometimes feel uncomfortable selling these items (I'm a horrible sales person!), because how do I ask others to buy more items, when I am trying very hard myself to purchase less. But then, as you say, more and more, I am looking to small, family businesses to purchase items when I do make the choice to purchase something new, so it is great to have those options.
Thanks again for sharing - I'm enjoying reading your thoughts! ~Annie
Hi Annie,
DeleteI know just what you mean - I feel conflicted about that at times too and my husband has just become accustomed to me giving our customers a freebie or a special price:)
Thank you for sharing,
Tonya
Yes yes yes. We are there with you. Have you ever looked at abebooks.com for books? I get many of our books there - I always try to by used books before new, because new books are more paper used. Why by a new book that uses more paper, when you can find a used book already available - and usually for cheaper?
ReplyDeleteLoving reading these recent posts. ~Kristin
Thank you for the recommendation about abebooks.com
DeleteWarmly,
Tonya
We try to live along these lines as much as possible too. We buy all our clothes secondhand, fairtrade or handmade apart from specialist things such as snow suits, swimwear and undies :)
ReplyDeleteAlmost all our furniture is secondhand, thrifted or upcycled. Our dream is to live sustainably in a small community some day.
Thank you for your inspiration here on the blog and from your life :)
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ReplyDeleteGreat post! We struggle greatly with this. I try but often find myself at a big box when I just don't know where else to get something. White sport socks for example. The kids need a pack a year or so, but no local stores carry stuff like that, they carry $20 per pair organic free trade socks. What about pj's, undies stuff like that. I can sew, so maybe I need to make jammies in the summer before I end up going out and buying a bunch in September...(thinking aloud here) I am trying this year especially (the end of the tax vacation is killing us a little:) ) to really be more aware of what I buy, where etc.
ReplyDeleteOh, I don't think we are meant to get ourselves too caught up in this either - you are right - underwear and socks are tough - we happen to have a great place in our nearest kind of big town that has a bit of everything. They have great customer service, many of their workers have been there for years as well. But, we just learned that Walmart is coming - so I am not sure what is going to happen to this great store that has been a fixture in the community for quite some time.
DeleteWarmly,
Tonya
So much of this resonates with me and how we try to live. The bookstore is our downfall too, all of us love books. We do the library a lot, try to find what we want second hand and if not, we do buy new. Thanks for sharing, you are very inspiring.
ReplyDeleteI think the reuse and recycle messages have been accepted and implemented by most of the mainstream society but the reduce concept is often minimized.Of the three "R"s it may be the one we need to embrace the most!
ReplyDeleteYour ideal world sounds like my ideal world :o). I often think I was born int he wrong era -LOL. I also like to support the little 'locals' - milkman, butcher, greengrocer etc.. I loath to shop in the huge superstores but like Lisa often find myself forced to walk their isles. I do love your idea about buying off etsy, I hadn't thought about that. Thanks for the inspiration Tonya.
ReplyDeleteYour ideal world sounds like my ideal world :o). I often think I was born int he wrong era -LOL. I also like to support the little 'locals' - milkman, butcher, greengrocer etc.. I loath to shop in the huge superstores but like Lisa often find myself forced to walk their isles. I do love your idea about buying off etsy, I hadn't thought about that. Thanks for the inspiration Tonya.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this post tonya, we also try o live this way but sometimes I find that because we don't buy new we tend to hang on to things more (in case we need them some day!), and we end up all cluttered and surrounded by things we don't need that slow us down. Right now I'm thinking of the too small clothes in the loft, the scraps of wool and fabric, the extra dishes and plates at the back of the cupboard - just in case...
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone else struggle with this?
I really struggle with this. I'm in the process of a grand clearing out, and am disgusted with the amount of stuff I have mindlessly hung onto. I was raised with the idea that you hang onto stuff, as it might be needed for repairing something else (old jeans, wire), or might be needed to help someone (old furniture), or for making stuff you can't afford to buy (ugly acrylic yarn gifted by a friend, a table base, worn-out sandpaper). I am trying to ask myself whether I would honestly use something, and whether hanging on to something is the only opportunity the universe affords for me to meet a potential future need.
DeleteTry Ebay.com as well for books- often you find they are cheaper than Amazon. I now refuse to buy from Amazon because they don't pay their taxes in our country (UK)!
ReplyDeletewell, my $2.00 plastic broom has lasted me for 13 years.
ReplyDeletelillianna
I have to laugh at this, I bought a $1.00 broom and it lasted 10 years, when it started falling apart, I made it an outside broom. LOL Still in use after 15 or so years!
DeleteTonya,
ReplyDeleteReading Wendell Berry's "Taking it to the Table" and your blog this week are hand-in-hand readings. It is hard to be content with what one chooses. But, that is the trick, isn't it? We choose?
I don't think there is any judgement in your post; in fact, I think you are acknowledging that choices for you come with consequences. Sharing your opinion of how choices relate to consequences is a generous thing to do.
I read recently that discomfort comes with change. Many of the things you are sharing would cause discomfort for some. However, it is through looking at other's ideas and opinions that we learn to better understand our own. Or, perhaps we even change a little.
Thank you for taking a risk and putting your thoughts and ideas out for others to consider.
A great post, Tonya! We try to be conscious about our buying habits, but others in our family and circle of friends think we're crazy or fussy about this. It can be hard to have no one to talk things over with--I rarely mention anything about our buying decisions, as I don't want to deal with the response. We are particularly concerned with the demise of the independent bookseller, and of bookstores generally. Despite not living in a remote area, we are 30 min. from a used bookseller and 75 min. from an excellent used bookseller. We are 30 min. from a chain bookstore and 60 min. from an independent bookstore. We do go to the latter about every 6 weeks or so (try to do as many errands as possible when a trip to that town is feasible, as they also have an independent shoe store, yarn shop, and natural foods store). Of course we don't always buy a book, but if we want something particular that the library can't get, we will order it there and ask them to hold it. Once a disgruntled employee asked me why I didn't order through Amazon instead of putting her to the trouble of ordering it. Talk about not grasping the concept! I guess she thought her salary would drop from heaven if the customers went away! Fortunately, she is not typical and the other folks there are nice.
ReplyDeleteI just had this same conversation last weekend with some like minded people! Oh wouldn't the world be a lovely place? You are defiantly farther along in your quest, as we a a way to convenient Wal-mart 2 miles down the road. Although one of my new year's goals was to stay out of the store as much as possible and I am doing well with that. I think of things like coffee and toilet paper and how much we purchase for our big family, but can't do without. It drives me crazy!;) I too am an amazon book junkie. I try to actually purchase what I can through amazon, justifying it by not having to leave the house and waste gas money running. Not sure that is a good model either, but it sure is nice to have things brought to my door. Your town sounds lovely. The only mom and pop shop that survived in our town is the local hardware store and we try to shop there as much as possible.
ReplyDeleteYou should check out Betterworldbooks.com. For every purchase, they make a donation a one of a number of literacy-related charities. They carry used books, most under $4, and shipping is free! If I am looking for a used book online, I always check there first. I also love the fact that they are a small business!
ReplyDeleteI love hearing more about how you live! I wish I could say we are on the same paths but unfortunately my family is far beyond yours in self sustainability and low consumerism. We still live in town, and my son attends public school. We do have a huge vegetable garden in our yard and we try to limit consumerism where possible. I would love to hear more of your recipes for meals and baking you do for your family. I struggle with making simple hearty meals that my kids and picky eater husband will enjoy!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing more posts about your simple way of life. I would love for you to share more of your recipes for simple hearty meals and baking too, as I struggle with cooking meals my picky family will eat!
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree with this post more. For many years I felt a discontent and we have been on a journey to follow our hearts and not what society says we should want. This may seem like a silly question, but what about toilet paper and things like that? We pretty much avoid the box stores, also, but I still don't have a solution for things like toilet paper. Just curious what solution you found?
ReplyDelete