Less=More

Sustainable Living and Getting back to the Land | Simon Dale

Our society is almost entirely dependent on the availability of increasing amounts of fossil fuel energy. This has brought us to the point at which our supplies are dwindling and our planet is in ecological catastrophe. We have no viable alternative energy source and no choice but to reduce our energy consumption. The sooner this change can be begun, the more comfortable it will be.

For our energy consumption to decrease we must reduce consumption and dramatically increase the productivity of our land. This will require developing infrastructure and skills to enable locally self-reliant living. The simplest, sustainable solutions involve small-scale permaculture type land management systems centred around individual or small groups of dwellings. There is significant and growing energy at the grass-roots to start implementing these low impact developments. This enthusiasm comes from a combination of intellectual concern and the innate appeal of living closer to nature. The major obstacle is access to land. The price of land with residential planning permission is not commensurate with the income from this type of living. This will change, but these projects need time to develop and reach productivity. A few people are taking direct action but the numbers are far short of the critical mass that could be realised. If allowances can be made within the planning system to grant access to land, and the right to live on it, to those wishing to live this life, we can allow a grass-roots tide of people to make real progress towards a sustainable society. ~ Simon Dale

Ani Phyo | Water Kefir ~ I discovered Ani Phyo on YouTube about 3 years ago and have several of her cookbooks.  I eat a Plant-based mostly raw diet and love getting inspiration from Ani’s videos and books as well as books by Sarma Melngailis.  I’ve taken recipes from these books as well as family recipes and recipes from Classic Cook Books and adapted them to suit my own tastes and preferences.  Here Ani demonstrates how to make your own Water Kefir, a source of Probiotics to enhance your immune systems and digestive health.

Architect Alan Cohen’s commute in Northern California used to take 20 to 25 minutes every morning. Now it takes 30 seconds and the changes he’s made have greatly improved the quality of his life.  His consolidated home/office space includes 1730-sq-ft home, a 1050 sq-ft office (that Cohen shares with a partner), his wife’s art studio and a garage (for constructing architectural models) and a roof deck for near-daily naps. His daily commute is now around the neighborhood on a bicycle:~)

Breakfast Burritos |  I love the Tamra Davis Cooking Show.  Tamra is a busy mom, talented director of movies and music videos and married to Mike D of the Beastie Boys and she still finds time to share recipes on a cooking show on YouTube.  The video “diaries” contain quick and creative recipes along with interesting projects and activities to do with kids and there are always interesting guests dropping by.  You learn more about Tamra at her website at: http://www.tamradaviscookingshow.com