Seeking Slow, page 5
Connecting to and understanding the seasons has been a big part of my family’s slow-living journey. There is so much inspiration to be found in nature and the seasons with regard to slowing down and living more simply. Nature does not know how to hurry; the blossoms bloom when they are ready and the leaves fall when it is time. Living seasonally gives the year a shape and rhythm of its own and a lot of comfort can be gained from familiarity with these rhythms.
HOW TO LIVE SEASONALLY
Living seasonally is easy to do. We can start by observing what happens during each season within the natural world. What changes are happening with the weather? What is going on with wildlife? Go out into nature and the countryside and look at what is growing in the hedgerows and your local surroundings, such as what flowers are blooming. Even if you live in a city, there will be seasonal things to notice. By observing nature, including weather patterns, phases of the moon, and tide times, among other things, you will undoubtedly notice yourself responding to the seasons in a different way. You can also look at what seasonal festivals and traditions are happening each month.
By closely observing each season and what’s happening outside our window, we can gain a greater connection to our immediate surroundings. It also encourages a natural affinity for the earth in general and fosters the desire to look after the land around us, and, of course, our planet. Feeling connected to something in this way is life-affirming. By embracing the differences of each season (and each month), we will find more joy in the simple things and will also be reminded how fleeting time can be.
WELCOMING THE SEASONS
In order to deepen our alignment with the seasons and nature, there are many simple things we can do. Visit a local farmers’ market and buy the fruits and vegetables that are in season. In December, feast on chestnuts, cranberries, and clementines; in June, enjoy fresh cherries, strawberries, and summer squash.
Or look at what things you can do to support your well-being and your family’s general health through the upcoming season. For example, rose hips are ready to be picked in late autumn; they are a great source of vitamin C and are considered a superfood because of how much good stuff they are packed with. You could try making a tea or syrup with them to help support and prepare your body and immune system for winter.
Finally, you can look to the seasons to inform how you use and decorate your space at home. By bringing nature into your home and using seasonal elements for displays and family activities, it reminds you of and connects you to the season, even when you’re not outside. We love to bring seasonal elements into our home, and the process of collecting pieces of nature that represent that season has become a tradition and joyous act in itself. In autumn, we collect leaves and conkers for craft projects and bring gourds and pumpkins into our home for decoration. Autumn is also the time that I start to light candles around our home again, as the days begin to draw in and the early evening gets darker. Decorating your home with seasonal nature finds is such a simple thing to begin to do with your family.
Within nature and the seasons, there are so many inspiring and creative opportunities that are just waiting to be discovered. All you need to do is step outside, look around, and take a moment to notice.
LIVING LIGHTLY
Seasonal Decorations and Activities
SPRING
Gathering blossom branches. Blossom might be the ultimate sign of spring, so bring blossom branches into your home.
Snowdrop spotting. Snowdrops are often called the “heralds of spring,” so head out to see the first signs that winter is transitioning into spring.
Stick weaving. Weave twine through a forked stick and then weave in nature finds, such as leaves, flowers, and feathers.
Sounds of spring. Head deep into the countryside and listen for the sounds of spring, such as birdsong, the hum of buzzing bees, and lambs bleating.
Lambing. Go to a local farm to see the lambs being born.
SUMMER
Flower crowns. Weave a flower crown from foraged bits of flora and greenery.
Flower pressing. Collect local flowers to press, and then get creative with the pressings.
Beach mosaic (a wonderful activity to do with children). Create your own mosaic and pictures from things that you find on the beach, including shells, driftwood, seaweed, etc.
Nature boat (the perfect activity for an afternoon by the river or at rock pools at low tide). Make a boat from pieces of nature such as leaves, driftwood, twigs, etc.
Fairy house. Get creative and let your little ones build a fairy house in the woods for woodland fairies and elves.
Here are some ideas for seasonal decorations and activities to help you connect to what is happening in the natural world. The ideas for decorations to make often involve going out into nature to collect something seasonal for the creation, which are perfect activities for getting children outdoors and exploring. Why not try starting your own family seasonal traditions?
AUTUMN
Leaf garland. Gather leaves from an autumnal walk to string up at home.
Leaf crown. Get creative and make your own leaf crown, perfect for an autumn prince or princess.
Conker necklace. All you need is thread and conkers to make the perfect autumnal necklace.
Autumn art. Use the autumn leaves as inspiration and a starting point for children’s artwork; there are many things you can make and create, from leaf animals to leaf rubbings and leaf confetti.
Leaf mandalas. Gather all the beautiful colors of autumn to create outdoor leaf mandalas.
WINTER
Winter wreath. Gather greenery to create your own winter wreath.
Homemade Advent calendar. There are many simple ways you can mark the passing of Advent.
Popcorn and cranberry garlands. Making homemade popcorn is such fun, and it’s very easy to string together with cranberries for wonderful, natural Christmas decorations.
Orange slices. Bake orange slices to make into decorations to hang from the tree or make into a garland. This activity will also make your home smell gloriously festive.
Foraging for greenery. Go for a walk to forage for as much greenery as possible to decorate your home with.
NATURE THERAPY
Seasonal living and spending time in nature go hand in hand, and there is something about being out in the wilds of nature that can’t be replicated by anything else. Writers, composers, and artists have been trying to capture the majesty of nature for centuries. And recently, the Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing, has started to become more popular in Western culture.
Perhaps due to urbanization or the fact that many of us spend our days sitting behind a computer, there seems to be a resurgence of people wanting to reconnect to nature.12 Many of us are realizing that spending time in nature has a positive impact on our well-being. Nature therapy, also known as ecotherapy, helps a person in a stressed state by using the restorative effect of nature for physiological relaxation.13 By spending time outside in fresh air, reconnecting to the wilds of nature, we begin to feel relaxed and calm. Research is being done all the time into the regenerative properties of being close to nature and how it can help improve mood and alleviate depression and anxiety, and nature therapy is becoming increasingly popular with mental health-care professionals. Some health-care professionals are even issuing “nature prescriptions” for medical conditions, such as high blood pressure and diabetes.
Time outdoors in a big expanse of nature can’t but help put any problem into perspective. It reminds us that we are all part of something greater and bigger than ourselves. By acknowledging that time spent in nature grounds us and enhances our well-being, we are also reminded to enjoy the nature that is around us as much as possible.
Sustainability
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When slowing our homes, we also need to consider reducing our environmental impact. There are two key areas to examine to live as sustainably as possible: our conscious shopping habits (this applies to everything from shopping for food, housewares, and clothing to luxuries and cleaning and beauty products) and how responsible we are when disposing of any waste we create.
CONSCIOUS SHOPPING
Once we have gone to all the hard work of decluttering, we don’t want to fill our homes with “stuff” again. We can drastically reduce how much we consume if we buy less and choose well. Buying low-cost things that aren’t well made is a false economy (where we think we are saving money, but actually, we end up spending more because the items need replacing more frequently). Along with affecting our expenses, these choices also impact the resources of the planet. When we understand that resources are finite and that our actions have consequences, for everyone and our planet’s well-being, the context of how we buy things is suddenly very different, and of course influences the choices we make as consumers. When shopping, there are some helpful questions that you can ask yourself when considering a purchase:
» Do I really need this item?
» Do I need to buy it new, or can I buy or source it some other way (secondhand/vintage/antique)?
» Is the item well made and will it last?
» Do I know where and how this item was made? Is it ethical?
» What is its environmental impact?
» How is this item packaged? Is there a lot of extra packaging that this product doesn’t need? Can I buy an alternative that creates less waste?
SLOW FASHION
When it comes to our wardrobes, it seems that a buy-and-throw-away attitude has become more prevalent because of the proliferation of fast fashion options. Since 2000, clothing sales have approximately doubled, whereas the number of times we wear an item of clothing has decreased significantly.14 “Slow fashion” is a term that was conceived in 2008 by sustainable-design consultant Kate Fletcher. She wanted to address the speed of the entire fashion cycle, as well as look at how environmentally friendly the production of a single item of clothing is.
The rapid consumption of clothing created by fast-fashion retailers and the carbon-intensive supply chains and production processes result in the fashion industry’s carbon emissions being greater than the international aviation and maritime industries combined.15 We have come to expect to pay a certain price for mass-produced clothing, but with the spotlight being shone on the workings of the fashion industry, now is the time to stop and question the true cost of low-priced clothes.
Originally, there were two fashion collections a year: autumn/winter and spring/summer. Through the onset of “fast fashion” and the ability to quickly and cheaply copy catwalk looks, lots of high-end fashion labels have increased their number of collections in order to stay one step ahead. Some fast fashion brands have also added “micro seasons,”16 and there can be as many as fifty-two collections a year, meaning there can be something new to entice us into their shops every week. Collections have only increased because there is the appetite to consume more.
Society will always be interested in fashion, partly because nothing expresses our identity as much as the clothes we wear, but we are beginning to realize that we cannot continue to consume fashion at this pace. Most of us are aware that there is a problem with textile waste, with the majority of clothing ending up in landfills within the first year of being purchased. However, a lot of the damage is happening at the beginning of the supply chain, from how we grow and harvest fibers to the water and chemical footprint and dye pollution.17 Also, social sustainability is a big concern. Most of our clothes are made overseas with 97 percent of production being sourced to developing countries. Who is making our clothes? Are they paid fairly? What are their working conditions like? According to Global Fashion Agenda, “Over 50 percent of workers are not paid the minimum wage in countries like India and the Philippines.”18
It's our responsibility as consumers to become more conscious about what we buy, the fashion supply chain, and how something is made. We need to ask the important questions, like “How can this piece of clothing be made at such a low cost?” and “Do I really need another pair of shoes?” Trying to choose items that have minimum impact on the environment can be a challenge, especially if things aren’t clearly labeled, and may be beyond our budgets; however, there are practical things we can do to join the slow fashion movement and reduce our clothing consumption.
LIVING LIGHTLY
Conscious Consumerism
By shifting our thinking and by making a few small changes we can reduce our impact on the planet through the consumer choices we make. Here are some simple ideas to help you become a more conscious consumer.
Buy less and choose well. By referring to the phrases “buy less and choose well” and “quality over quantity,” we can aim to buy things that are well made and therefore will last longer. It is also helpful to think about the longevity of an item and buy timeless pieces that you will be able to use over and over again. If we invest in trend-driven items, we are more likely to not like an item when it goes out of style.
Buy secondhand and vintage. This is a good environmentally friendly option, especially for clothes and furniture, as the carbon footprint is a lot less than a newly made item. With so many great charity shops and thrift stores, you can get most items secondhand now, from books and children’s clothes to crockery and DVDs.
Get the most out of what you already own. Try to take extra-special care of your belongings and really wear out things. You will find that you automatically buy less when making the most out of the items you have. Once clothes and shoes are worn, or if items get damaged, they can be repaired or recycled.
Cherish inherited items. Hand-me-downs and inherited objects from friends and family are a great way to reuse items. We have lots of inherited items in our home, particularly where furniture is concerned. I love that we have my husband’s great-grandmother’s Ercol chair and that we have a bureau that used to belong to my great-grandmother. It’s these items that personalize our home and give it character.
Be mindful when shopping for growing children. Remember to be mindful about how many toys we buy for our children—they don’t need as much as we think they do. Toys, clothes, and books can be passed on to friends or donated to charity when they have been outgrown. In terms of clothing for children, it can be challenging shopping for a growing child and buying items of clothing that will last. Try to always look for simple shapes and buy a size up when possible. Items that are originally dresses can later be worn as tunics or long tops.
Look for ethical labels. Do research and look at how an item is labeled to help identify how ethical a product is. Depending on your purchase, look for accredited labels, including fair trade, organic, cruelty-free, vegan, etc. Regarding beauty and skin-care products, if you are unsure, look at the listed ingredients.
Think about packaging and reduce your use of single-use plastics. Single-use plastics include straws, food packaging, drink bottles, and takeout coffee cups, lids, and stirrers. There are simple alternatives that are easy to implement, such as paper straws, reusable drink bottles, and reusable coffee cups. Gradually, countries are reducing and banning the use of plastic bags, so get in the habit of bringing your own reusable bags for grocery shopping. Try to buy fruit and vegetables that aren’t packaged in anything. If your local supermarket is still packaging items, shop at your local independent grocery store or farmers market. For bagging individual fruit and vegetables items, you can buy reusable muslin fabric bags.
Try to shop locally. Shopping locally helps reinvigorate your local community. Often, local independent retailers support other local business, keeping the supply chain local.
Remember that your consumer choices have power. By consciously deciding what you want to spend your money on, you are effectively voting with your wallet. You have the power to boycott companies and products that aren’t being responsible or ethical. And you also have the power to support companies and shops that give back by donating money to good causes.
REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE
It makes sense that by reducing what we consume, we will automatically reduce our waste too. Once we have cut back on our consumption as much as possible, it’s good to make sure that any waste we create is disposed of in the most environmentally friendly way.
It is natural to feel a bit daunted when looking at things like environmentalism and reducing our waste. In fact, even the term “zero waste” feels unattainable for many. Because the problems we are facing are so extreme and complex, it is easy to feel like there is a right and a wrong way to do things, which can leave us confused about where to start. However, the little things we do as individuals can add up to make a big difference, and we can be empowered by the small daily changes we can make. When looking at reducing our waste and sustainability, it is important that we ensure that any changes we make are not only sustainable for the planet but for our lifestyles too. In fact, we are more likely to stay motivated and maintain any adjustments by taking manageable steps.
Recycling. Recycling is the first, easy step we can take to sustainably reduce our waste. In fact, most communities have mandated recycling programs in place and will even fine those in the United States who do not abide by the rules and procedures. Still, these recycling programs don’t take care of everything, leaving a lot of packaging that ends up in the regular trash and therefore in landfill. However, a lot of these items can be recycled too. By looking farther afield than our normal refuse collection, many of us will find that there are additional local projects available to help us recycle more. If you are not sure where to begin with your recycling, you could start by sorting through your weekly trash to see which items appear time and time again. Then you will be able to target a specific sort of packaging and find the best way to recycle it.
