living simply

july 2013

my goal is too live as simply as possible and to be fully immersed in the things I love. I strive to have as small a footprint as possible and to find ways to end my reliance on non-renewable resources.

I have started a native and medicinal plant nursery and I want the business to be sustainable. which in short means that it will economically support me (and hopefully others later on), be environmentally friendly and have a positive social aspect.

I am fortunate to be able to set my own schedule and determine what I am going to work on each day. I have daily chores each day that come first: chickens, dogs and cats that need feeding and fresh water, and plants that need watering. I love the work I do and every day is extremely satisfying. unless it rains and then it is difficult to get work done.

I don't have a regular 9-5 paying job, I work for me and I work hard. I forget to take time off. that is probably the biggest challenge of working for yourself and working from home.

I don't need much money as my house and land are paid off and my expenses are very low. I  make money by selling things I no longer use. I also take truck loads of metal to the scrap yard and get cash for it. it keeps the metal out of the landfill and the metal gets recycled and I get money for it. 

I always try to buy used items when I need things and I always use them until they break or wear down. I also try to buy things locally and from independently owned stores. if I can't find what I am looking for, then I hit the big box stores. my favorite places to find things are craigslist and ReStore. I generally find everything I need (other than food and clothing). I don't often find items the first time around but eventually they come up for sale. and the things I am buying aren't impulse items so generally I can wait. I do prefer to buy most of my clothes and shoes new though.

when I buy food, I like to go to the local farmers market and co-op store. I bring my own bags and buy as many items in bulk as possible. I avoid prepared food that comes in plastic containers. it is way more expensive and in my area the plastic is not recycled.

foggy morning in the catskill mountains of new york