Minimalism and green living both promise of fulfillment in the face of hyper-consumerist culture. (Credit: Steve A Johnson via Flickr)
I'm wrestling with the intersection of minimalist and green lifestyles — attracted by minimalisms promise of a clutter free home and mind, but rooted in the packrat mentality of a reusing green junkie.
If minimalists can be green, what do I do with all this stuff?
My green cleaning habits and cosmetic drawer provide inspiration. Homemade household cleaners and DIY cosmetics live up to the minimalist promise of fulfillment in the face of hyper-consumerist culture: a few ingredients combined the right way beautifully meet all my needs.
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There must be other synergies!
So despite (or perhaps because of) the fact that my home is bursting with saved bits of this that, I resolved that this year's spring cleaning will be a minimalist face lift. Donated are the pants from grade 11, our amassed mismatched kitchen cups and three boxes of books that probably weren't on the "timeless treasures" list. I've joyfully recycled a large crate of hard-to-recycle items and safely returned a couple cans of almost empty paint and a small bag of expired medications to the appropriate places.
I won't ever be a perfect minimalist. The kid's art table still offers a selection of bottle tops and bread-bag tabs, inviting creative young minds to make recycled masterpieces. And given our commitment to whole foods, I'll always have more than a minimal selection of kitchen stuff.
But I'm not scared to strive for minimalism anymore! I could even take a Be More With Less Mini-Mission.
And responsibly clearing out items we don't use often, never wanted or didn't even know we had has made room for better living.
The marriage of minimalism and green living is imperfect. But at the heart of both paradigms is a desire to live lightly. Here are my five tips for being a green minimalist:
- Acquire only what you need. And choose used before new.
- Buy the best your budget permits. Broken items are wasteful clutter.
- Clear out unessentials. Less stuff means reduced dust and improved environmental health. Fewer emails allows more time for baking bread.
- Share. The sharing economy connects communities, while cutting back on consumption and clutter.
- Donate. Need I say more?
Sincerely,
Tovah Paglaro, Queen of Green
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5 Comments
6:22 PM
Hi Tovah, thanks for your article! I hadn’t really thought of minimalist and green lifestyles conflicting. I feel like minimalistic living IS green—only buy what you need, and donate items you no longer use for other people’s use. One person’s junk is another person’s treasure! Thanks again!
6:59 PM
I was inspired by this article! Thank you
6:15 AM
Hi,
Sorry if my answer is too harsh but you people are just wannabes. If you were really interested in the nature, you would actually do something significant in your surroundings, not just ponder theoretically and philosophically and most importantly virtually on the Internet.
All these things and activites that you mentioned are totally normal things, not worth talking about BUT doing and not making a FASHION out of it! At least for the people who do not live in so developed economies such as Canada, these things are pretty much every-day life.
Have people really forgotten how to live there? I mean you have so much beautiful nature, so why do you have to make programs like 30x30. Isn’t it just natural to go outside to buy food, walk to work or go out with friends?
Veronika
3:06 PM
Hi!
I just wanted to say thanks Tovah for writing articles like this one! I think it’s really inspiring and comforting to know that there are people ready to make changes in order to help protect and better the environment.
Let’s keep working towards a healthier sustainable planet!!
9:21 PM
Love the idea of sharing more! Instituting more co-op living amongst our neighbours. Recently we wanted to make waffles but don’t have a waffle iron. We borrowed a neighbours and invited them over for a fun social breakfast.
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