Uncategorized · 7th July 2010
Editor
by Shannon Hayes
Editor's note: The following is only a portion of a larger article posted on the Yes! magazine website. View the complete article here.
Henry David Thoreau’s observations about the imprisonment of wealth were spot on: “The
opportunities for living are diminished in proportion as what are called the ‘means’ are increased,” he wrote.
That day, I saw people who cared about the Earth, who wanted a better world. But their power to act
according to these concerns was limited to their purchases alone—to buying solar panels, buy local campaigns, buying new light bulbs. They could try to buy some of their beliefs. But they couldn’t live them.
I suppose that is the deepest wealth in the radical homemaking lifestyle. By needing less, we are free to live our beliefs. To us, this seems ordinary. To someone else, a values-driven lifestyle might seem an extraordinary act of bravery.
We need that bravery. Now. Worrying about our planet while adhering to local zoning codes or social norms forbidding ecologically sensible behavior is a recipe for disaster. Such laws require citizens to commit an ecological injustice by using a disproportionate share of our Earth’s resources. They scream out for civil disobedience. As Thoreau reminds us, “break the law. Let your life be a counter friction to stop the machine.”
Go on and live dangerously. Hang out the wash.
For those who might be curious:
10 Easy Steps for Becoming a Radical Homemaker
Commit to hanging your laundry out to dry.
Dedicate a portion of your lawn to a vegetable garden.
Get to know your neighbors. Cooperate to save money and resources.
Go to your local farmers' market each week before you head to the grocery store.
Do some spring cleaning to identify everything in your home that you absolutely don’t need. Donate to help others save money and resources.
Make a commitment to start carrying your own reusable bags and use them on all your shopping trips.
Choose one local food item to learn how to preserve for yourself for the winter.
Get your family to spend more evenings at home, preferably with the TV off.
Cook for your family.
Focus on enjoying what you have and who are with. Stop fixating on what you think you may need, or how things could be better "if only."