My pursuit of the Diamond-Cut Life (a life rich in joy and low in consumption) still leaves me plenty vulnerable to the excesses of U.S. culture. I love finding little inroads to simplicity and happiness like the ones I’ve listed here. I’ll publish the second half later this week. Gracefully end memberships that are no [...]
Entries from March 31st, 2009
Twenty Ways to a Simpler, Happier Life, Part I
March 31st, 2009 · No Comments · food & drink, health & well being, home & garden, lifestyle, simplicity, sustainability, transportation
Tags: bicycling·cars·email·exercise·green living·happiness·life·plants·possessions·storage·thrift·vegetables
Urban Farming: Food Security Plus Fun
March 28th, 2009 · 4 Comments · food & drink, home & garden, sustainability
Ah, Saturday morning. I’m writing and drinking coffee at GiGi Bar on SE 60th and Division here in Portland. My husband Thor and I have been happily watching a little strawberry-blonde tyke who flirtatiously holds fistfuls of blueberry scone out toward us, then scampers away. Her father looks on fondly. Kids are great fun while [...]
Tags: food security·fun·green living·Hanmi Meyer·hazelnut tree·Oregon·urban farming
Americorps And Giving Back
March 26th, 2009 · 2 Comments · home & garden, lifestyle
I’m writing from Bend, a high desert town in Central Oregon. I love this town . . . no, I love this whole region. . . . rugged, arid, lots of wildlife. After I finished work last night and closed down my laptop, I went for a river-walk with my friend Scott. We admired the [...]
Tags: Americorps·Bend·Central Oregon·happiness·high desert·mass media·Oregon·sacrifice·selfishness·two dogs
Deb’s Take On Happiness
March 24th, 2009 · No Comments · community, lifestyle, money, sustainability
A few notes on a variety of things before I introduce Deb: I’m leaving this morning on a two-night trip to the high desert town of Bend to do research on transportation options in Central Oregon . . . . . . Peter Schoonmaker, the director of the Ilahee environmental lecture series, told me my [...]
The Nature of Desire: Promises Are Not The Problem
March 22nd, 2009 · 2 Comments · lifestyle, sustainability
Why would “The Nature of Desire” be the theme of a serious environmental lecture series like Illahee? What is the connection between desire and the environment? As Illahee director Peter Schoonmaker explains, “Because desire drives consumption, and consumption is destroying the earth“. I agree with Peter. In fact, I see the diamond-cut life as being [...]
Tags: addiction·consumption·desire·environment·Illahee·life·Peter Schoonmaker·promises·Susan Cheever
