Browsing category: Simple Living

What True Frugality Is… and What It Is Not

Have you ever noticed how many of the same people who are trying to promote a simple lifestyle make frugality into a negative concept…

The Apple Trees in Our Meadow… Heirloom or Wild?

There are apple trees in our meadow… fourteen large trees spaced out in a long uneven row that runs almost the entire length of the meadow. There were apple trees here when we bought this land, and I can remember picking apples from these trees when I was a child…

Yes, We Do Know It’s There

If you’d been driving past our house at the right time last night, you could have almost reached out your car window and shaken hands… with the bear that was trampling down the tall stand of day lilies and ferns at the edge of the road.

The Biggest Obstacle to a Simpler, Truly Fulfilling Life

“From your experience, what would you say is the biggest obstacle that people have to living a simpler, truly fulfilling life?” A reader asked me this question a few days ago, and I think my answer would have to be one word… “inertia…”

A Sitting Duck and a Noisy FedEx Delivery

We had a few minutes of minor excitement here yesterday morning when the FedEx delivery person bent down to leave a package, suddenly jumped back and screamed.

Except For Those Two Times When We Dug Up Something Else…

I am fairly certain that we have never dug a hole of any size here on this property without encountering at least one boulder-sized rock. It’s a given… we dig a hole, we dig up rocks. Except for those two times when we dug up something else…

Learning To Slow Down

The stress of always being in a hurry drains your spirit, distracts your mind, and prevents you from focusing on what is really important. It fools you into wasting time in areas that don’t reflect your values or your goals.

Hanging Bags of Water… Do They Really Keep Flies Away?

In a book I was reading recently, one of the main characters was hosting an outdoor party… and his preparations for this party included matter-of-factly filling clear plastic bags with water and hanging them from low tree branches.

Can Credit Cards Be Used Responsibly?

Reader question… “Would you share your thoughts about the cash envelope system versus the use of credit cards? I read today that any use of a credit card is irresponsible and that anyone using a credit card will end up spending more money than if they used only cash.”

How Many Servings of Fruit and Vegetables Should Your Family Eat?

I was opening a bag of frozen organic broccoli last night when I noticed that the serving size listed on the bag was four florets… and that the two-pound bag supposedly contained twelve servings.