The Great ‘Simple Living’ Survey
Editor’s Preamble: Regular readers will know I’m fully behind any efforts to enact policy changes which would incentivise/facilitate/incubate a rapid and peaceful transition to a society that can live in harmony within the limits of Earth’s resources. The Simplicity Institute seems to be working to the same ends: "…by developing an understanding of the challenges people face when embracing post-consumerist lifestyles, we will be better able to develop policy proposals for the purpose of facilitating the transition to a world of sustainable consumption." I would therefore encourage readers to complete the survey linked to at bottom of this post.
If you live a ‘simple’ lifestyle in one way or another, we need your help!
The Simplicity Institute is an organization dedicated to research and policy analysis around the topic of simple living, downshifting, and similar lifestyles. This research is profoundly important as it touches the core of global problems such as climate change, over-consumption, work-life balance and a host of other social and ecological issues.
The Simplicity Institute’s current research project is focused on people who have chosen a ‘simpler’ lifestyle, including changes such as reduced or restrained income, reduced consumption or reduced working hours.
If this sounds like you, then you are part of the most promising social movement on the planet. Learning more about people like you is therefore extremely important, so if you can spare 4 minutes to answer some quick questions then please do! As an added incentive, if you participate you’ll go into the draw to win an exciting collection of the finest literature on ‘simple living’.
To learn more and help build a better future, click here.
Where is that cabin from? The landscape looks so familiar.
Living Simply is such a fantastic idea, yet I really struggle to make it work amongst just living. Not sure if that makes sense. In any case I had a vege garden put in a year ago and my first crop was fairly successful. Just wish I could get back into it and get another one going.
Glenys, it makes completely sense. Today’s modernistic / consumerism society has made it extremely difficult living simply. Sad, but true!
USA: I bought 14 acres 4 years ago and put a 660 sq ft recycled portable school building on it for $5k. I added a few solar panels, a pond for watering, started a couple fruit/nut trees, but still owe $28k on the land and still need drinking water. Economy woes put me in another state working to pay my land off while living in a tiny apartment in someone else’s basement. I have a pretty good vegetable garden in pots, the owner loves it. I furnished my apartment quite smartly from the Goodwill store and will recycle them “back” when I go home. I prepaid my mortgage by 8 months this year and saved $35k from my city job. I just wish I could be working on my home and garden, I have organically gardened for 20 years. Still, one more year and maybe I can get back to my own on stronger economic footing. I think it is possible to live simply in town like I am doing now, but I’d rather be in the country. It costs so much less than a house in town. If you save your money while working in town, you can do well in other areas. I wish I started earlier! My investment is still under $55k. Houses are in such disaster, you might notice that they are being auctioned off for prices starting at $5000… including land. Way cheaper than when I got busy 4 years ago. Living simply becomes fun once you get started.