Downshifting – An Epilogue
A long while back I wrote a small series on this blog on the theme of downshifting. At the time, it was something I was interested in, and judging by the visitors I get, it is something more and more people are experimenting with every day.
I think my experiment is done.
I have been a freelance writer for the better part of two years. I was more or less forced into it after the company I was working for closed down overnight. Making writing my trade was the logical choice. I went to school to learn how to write, all I’ve ever wanted was to make my living off of words. Lately, though, I’ve noticed that my motivation for putting together words has tanked.
The very thing I had downshifted my life for no longer satisfied me. In fact, some days, I absolutely hated doing it. My time had been filled up by running a freelance writing business (which only consisted of maybe 20% writing) and as a result I no longer enjoyed what I did. Most days it was like pulling teeth to put together a block of copy or a peice of content. Blogging became a chore. I can’t tell you the last time I even attempted to write fiction was. What is the point of being a writer if I don’t much enjoy it?
So I have moved writing off the center platform. No longer is my ability to produce words related to whether or not I had a place to sleep or food to eat. I am leaving freelancing and heading back into the world of full-time work. Upshifting, so to speak. But for the better. I have carefully sought out and found a position that I will likely really enjoy and will open me up to pursue better things in my life.
When freelancing, there were times I wasn’t sure what was and wasn’t “work.” As a result, I had an impossible time establishing the work/life balance that so many strive to find.
What does this mean for Not Quite Hippie? While I will have considerably less time to put towards producing content and updates, I can’t exactly pull the plug. There is, after all, a community here. A community of people who are interested in real-food defense, gardening, the politics of energy, and more. While I may be the primary content producer here, I feel it is rather bold to just say that this is mine. To just up and leave? That seems unjust. In just over a year I have found an enthusiastic audience and a topic I am endlessly interested in. Hell, you guys even decided I was your Most Valuable Blogger last year. Nope, this ain’t going anywhere.
The gardens will continue to grow and my curiosity towards a more sustainable life will always be at my center. I am expanding to include more writers in the content production process, opening up my platform to allow those who are passionate about a sustainable topic a chance to have their voice heard (Interested? Hit me up at dave at notquitehippie dot com). Formats will change, as will designs and layouts and content organization. I’ll still be here, open to your questions and ideas, always thinking green.
My new, personal focus is to bring my writing back to a place where I can really enjoy producing words. I want to write more stories for my fiction-starved audiences. I have a dozen blog project ideas that I’d love to see come to fruition.
I’d love to hear your thoughts, concerns, questions, whatever. Comment below or shoot an email to the address mentioned above.
read moreThe Generosity of Seeds
I found and posted this video the other day on the Not Quite Hippie Tumblr and it spread like wildfire through the blogosphere. I’m reposting it here because I think it has an extremely important message and is beautifully made.
Claire from Compeller Pictures on Vimeo.
Right now all of our seeds are germinating. Our indoor seed trays are packed with new life as hundreds of seeds soften, take root, and start producing their first leaves. It is exciting to watch. I feel thankful that these seeds are able to do so much with so little. One seed, a bit of soil and water, and in a few months I will have more food than I know what to do with. I give this seed the most basic, elemental essentials and it provides me with flavors and nutrients I’d be hard pressed to find anywhere else.
The above clip comes by way of the Untitled GMO Film Project that I have been following via Kickstarter for some time now (if the clip speaks at all to the rest of the film, then we are in for a treat). Our narrator - Claire – takes us through a garden and shows us plants in the autumn just before they produce and send off hundreds, thousands of seeds. These seeds are the very definition of generous. Before the plant dies for the season, it gives off thousands of copies of itself not only so it can live on as a species, but so we can also enjoy their fruits in future generations as well.
If only we could all be as selfless as seeds.
With the arrival of spring everyone is outside more. Many are landscaping their yards, washing their cars, planting gardens and all around enjoying the wonderful weather. In my neighborhood, we didn’t see much of the other people living here during the winter. No one was out on bicycles, but cooped up in cars instead. Windows weren’t open, we couldnt’ hear the conversations going on all around us. Plans were detered or modified based on the snow and ice and cold temperatures and, overall, we saw less of our friends. For the first time in a long time, I understood the idea of “hibernation.” A hibernation also felt by seeds after they give way in the fall.
What are you learning from the seeds? How will you spread generosity this season?
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read moreIt is the end of the world and my cable went out
"Awesome like a million hot-dogs"
A solar storm from our sun is set to hit earth today. Or tomorrow. Maybe later this weekend. Scientists are saying it could disrupt electrical systems, make your cat act funny, maybe even provide some incredible looking atmospheric delights.
Worst yet, the internet might go out. People will say “oh, it’s because of the solar storm.” There might be a quip or two about how inconvenienced everyone is. The focus is that the internet goes out, no matter how it goes out, not on the fact that it could be felled by a COSMIC EVENT!
Somewhere along the line I think we’ve lost our ability to be awed by anything or washed over with complete wonder. There is no humility anymore. Humans are fucking awesome. Right?
We think that the universe should work to our standards. Really, it works the other way around.
When I was 14 my father would frequently drive me to school, dropping me off on his way to the bus station. This usually happened at some un-godly, pre-dawn hour. On one of these mornings, right as we turned the corner from Carr Street to Club Crest Avenue, the sun broke over the horizon. Nothing but the windshield existed between me and the very first light of that day. Light and heat from an infinite furnace was transmitted across a vast empty nothing for the express purpose of blinding me first thing in the morning. It lasted all of a second and I still think back to it.
It was incredible. It was awesome. It made me think about myself in a totally new way.
I hope the solar storm causes enough of a problem to have a similar affect on people.
Why have we lost our sense of awe? Maybe there’s enough science to explain everything. Maybe there is a sense of cultural shame that goes with succumbing to the absolute wonder of the universe. Perhaps there is a global mentality of “No, you impress me” rather than sitting back and allowing ourselves to be amazed by everything that surrounds us. If you know me at all, you know that I love compost and watching entire harvests rise from a single seed. I like it because I allow myself to be constantly wrapped up in the awe of it all.
To many, compost may be a pile of rotting food and leaves. To me, it is a deconstruction of fairy complicated remnants of something that was once alive, breaking down into something basic. This all comes from the soil, and returns to the soil, but I think the absolute wonder of it all is passed over by so many because it’s just dirt.
And the solar storms rage just a few million miles away from us. Far enough away so we aren’t incinerated. Close enough where a miscalcuation could destroy us. The sun has been burning for millions of years, for longer than any one of us can imagine. Meanwhile, on earth, we are caught up in the circus of who will lead us for the next four years.
Even if there was some kind of cosmic event that could change the world as we know it, would we know it was coming? Scientists tell us of the solar storm and give us a list of things we can expect. Maybe awe & wonder comes from the unexpected? From something we don’t have the tools or perspective to be able to wrap our minds around it with.
There is no awe anymore. As Eddie Izzard points out, we use “awesome” to describe hot dogs. Louis C.K. states that “Everything is amazing, and nobody is happy.” It seems only astronomers are able to be awed, and comedians are able to put that awe into a functional perspective.
I think it’s time for a cosmic experience. Nothing terribly destructive, but something significant enough to make us slow down and ask some questions about our goal here.
What are some things you’ve seen recently – daily or otherwise, that have left you completely awe-struck?
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read moreWhat Scouting’s Leave No Trace taught me about being a hippie
Badges from my days at Philmont
For close to 15 years, I was a registered member of the Boy Scouts of America. Most athletes don’t even have careers that long. Hell, in this economy, a career is lucky to span a decade. As a The other day I came across a pack tag that outlined the principles of Leave No Trace. It was carried with me during my camping, hiking, and backpacking days to serve as a reminder of what I was obligated to do while existing in the backcountry, among the wildlife, and in the undeveloped land.
During my time as a Philmont Ranger the importance of Leave No Trace very clear. Philmont is roughly 140,000 acres. During the summer something to the tune of 30,000 people come to the area to camp, hike, learn and Scout. At any given point, upwards of 4,000 people were somewhere in the backcountry. That’s a lot of traffic for a fairly small area. The only reason Philmont has been able to maintain this traffic for the past several decades is due to the conscious observance of Leave No Trace.
If it works for the great outdoors, then why can’t it work for everywhere else? Could the principles of Leave No Trace be applied to your day to day life? The ideas behind LNT are to reduce one’s impact on the environment they inhabit and to then eliminate all evidence of their presence after they leave.
Plan ahead and prepare. The Boy Scout motto is to Be Prepared for whatever situation may arise. Sometimes, preparing doesn’t have anything to do with bringing the right equipment, but by taking an extra five minutes to plan. If the forecast says rain, bring an umbrella. If you’re going to be out of the house all day, think for five minutes about everything you think you will need that will keep you from having to make extra trips home. Clothes for the gym, a sack lunch, your own coffee mug – five minutes can save you quite a bit of time and waste down the road.
Camp on durable surfaces. Some places just make for bad campsites. Rocky, unlevel terrain. Harsh winds. Setting up camp in the middle of a meadow will leave you exposed to the elements, and it will all but destroy the ground you sleep upon. Not everywhere is designed to sustain people, no matter how much technology and engineering we apply to it. New home developments may seem like a good idea right up until we think about how to water those homes and deliver power and the stress those homes will put on local traffic.
Just because a house can be built doesn’t mean we should be living there. How much energy is required to make your home livable? Maybe it’s not the campsite that needs to be more durable. Maybe we need to be more durable.
Dispose of Waste Properly. You’re responsible for every piece of trash you generate. From food packaging to meal leftovers and everything else you come up with, all of it leaves the backcountry with you. Failing to do so just puts the burden on someone else. It also leaves a bad impression and an even worse example for hikers who come after you.
The dumpster isn’t always the best way to dispose of your trash. Think about what you’re throwing away, what will become of it after it leaves you? At home, recycle. Consider composting. The best way to reduce the amount of waste you end up throwing away? Don’t even invite it into your home to begin with.
On a California beach
Leave What You Find. Take only photographs, leave only footprints. Doing anything else would assume that you are somehow superior to the natural world (you aren’t) and you are robbing something for all those who come next. I can only wonder what I missed out on because the generation ahead of me didn’t leave what they found.
Everything you use today is one less thing that someone else can’t appreciate. Be mindful of your consumption.
Respect Wildlife. When hiking, it’s easy to come across wildlife. A squirrel, a deer, maybe something bigger or more obtrusive. Somehow, we’re OK with seeing the wildlife in the wilderness. But when a bear or a mountain lion comes traipsing into the suburbs, we feel violated. Where is the line between what is wilderness and what is not?
Furthermore, how can we expect an animal to understand this boundary. In the end, who is really being the nuisance? The animals? Or us?
Minimize Campfire Impact. To ensure a campfire is completely extinguished, it is advised that the ashes are spread by hand and the fire pit is deconstructed. When building a fire, smaller is better. Smaller fires are better to cook on, easier to control, and more comfortable to be around.
Smaller fires got the job done while burning less wood. Overall, the less used the better.
If the Scouts didn’t practice Leave No Trace, there would be nothing left of Philmont today. My time spent at Philmont, with the Scouts, and with the principles of Leave No Trace have no doubt formed a lot of these “hippie” opinions I carry with me today. Is it possible to live a less impacted lifestyle while so far from the wilderness?
Absolutely. It is just more of a challenge.
Can you leave no trace?
read moreTiny Houses – how small is too small?
via tinyhouseblog.com
Lately, I’ve been seeing more and more attention given to the idea of the Tiny House.
It’s rather refreshing, especially in our McMansion era of homes with massive lawns and out-of-control utility bills, accessed through an endless network of asphalt at the edge of yet another suburban town.
Many find it nice, really, owning a home that they can call their own. Other’s take a Durden-esque criticism to it: a big house that you need to fill with things and keep from falling apart – debt upon debt upon debt.
But what if you weren’t living in a big house? Could you fit everything that was truly important to you within a few dozen square feet? Could you live in a Tiny House?
TINY: A Story About Living Small (Teaser Trailer) from TINY on Vimeo.
When I worked as a Ranger at Philmont several years ago, my existence was more or less that. During that summer everything I owned either existed in the back of my Jeep Cherokee or was skillfully packed into by Kelty. When I was on duty I’d hike about with everything from my closet to my bed to my kitchen pantry packed into a few thousand cubit inches. When I wasn’t, I was able to travel everywhere from Santa Fe to the Grand Canyon, always on a whim, still able to camp out or sleep in the back of the Jeep when it was time to retire for the day.
It was a true sense of freedom, which was ideal for a 20 year old. Sure, I’d be reliant on outside sources for things like showers and laundry, fuel and food. Beyond that my time was my own and my job was to guide Scouts through the New Mexican backcountry and prescribe them methods of not being eaten by mountain lions, dying of hypothermia, or getting really lost.
Point being: that summer, I could go anywhere all because I didn’t have the large, permanent things that typically tie people to one spot: beds, sofas, televisions, tax information, etc. However, I know that a lot of people like the idea of having a shower or a bed prescribed to them.
With the Tiny House idea, people are showing they can do so much more with so much less. By living in smaller spaces they are, quite literally, reducing their footprint. Tiny homes, many of which are portable, don’t necessarily have the power and water hookups that a typical home would have. Many of them run on solar power, have small reserve tanks for water, and use propane for heating and cooking.
Storage presents another challenge – meaning every purchase decision has to be considered. Where are you going to put the things you buy?
I’ve seen many Tiny Houses designed to be on wheels, built right on top of trailers. Depending on the skills and resources you have available, a well built Tiny Home could cost you a few thousand dollars. Significantly less, and far more earth friendly than the option of an RV. And, if you wanted you could build the house on a trailer and have it move with you.
I’m not entirely sure I could live in a Tiny House. It might be a part of the American sickness I could never shake: compartmentalization. A room with a reason, everything in it’s place. I’ve been working every day to make do with less. Use fewer resources, being smarter about acquiring things. The Tiny House idea revolves primarily around the idea of living simply through having less – the fewer things you own, the less you have to maintain, the less debt acquired. Still, it would take some getting used to.
And, frankly, I love the garden.While mobile gardening is possible, I’d rather have a plot of soil I can work with and enrich over time.
Could you live within a Tiny House? What are you doing to live with less?
Greening your resolutions
Think not only of how this year’s resolutions can better yourself, but how you can use them to better the world around you.
Taking resolutions one step further gives us options
What would happen if you took your resolutions one step further? You’d be surprised. Not only would you be doing your community a favor, but the resolutions stand a chance of surviving past January.Common resolutions look like the following:
- lose weight/ get fit
- save money
- more time with family/friends
- travel more.
- Curb your meat consumption. Ideally, all of the way down to zero. The word is out that meat isn’t great for you, is anything but awesome for the environment, and the meat that eventually makes its way to your plate is loaded with antibiotics. By moving meat from the center of your plate to an occasional side dish you’ll be taking about 1/3 off the top of your grocery bill. Those 10 pounds you resolved to lose? Dropping meat will definitely drop those. You’ll also find yourself with more energy to do things like, say, exercise! Or be active. Or, ultimately, sleep better.
- Consider the energy. From moving your car to heating your home, we spend a surprising amount of money on fuels. Everything we consume requires energy of some capacity to be produced. Keep this in mind when changing your consumption habits. Take shorter showers, modify your home so it is better insulated, ride your bike to work or consider working remotely a few days a week. I anticipate a lot more remote workers and telecommuting this year, its up to you to convince your employer that it is an option worth exploring.
- Cook at home. Sure, you’re saving money. But you’re also preparing foods that are better for you and you can cook extra to save for another meal. You also have the option of sourcing locally grown and organic foods – supporting your farmers and smarter growing practices. When planning menus and shopping for food, try to think beyond of “what do I want to eat” and more into “what is available?” Eat within reason by eating within season.
- Cultivate communities. Either through participation or facilitation, by just starting conversations about green and sustainable lifestyles works to change people’s minds and habits. This past year I’ve enjoyed hosting a few parties with food-based themes, showing off my garden, and working through this site to show both friends and strangers that living a more sustainable, self-sufficient lifestyle is well within everyone’s reach.
This year, think one step further.
