Can't buy me love!

Many moons in absentia… Where to start…
The process of ecological and economic constraint persists, and has become the cornerstone of how I see the world and its human consumption. I have moments of optimism and deflation, evangelism and private head shakes.

The rules that I set out initially have gotten more flexible in someways. I have reverted to buying wine, and the odd soda, but have been trying to keep it local, independent, organic, fair trade or combinations of all for.

I have bought pants from MEC for summer trekking… Not fancy-pants pants, but well made organic cotton cooperative pants. So far they are the only item of new clothing of any kind that has entered my wardrobe except a locally designed shirt while in Hawaii, and folk festival purchases of a hand made hat in Winnipeg and a beautiful apron here in Regina. I have refashioned, reclaimed and built from scratch many new pieces for my oh so high fashion wardrobe. ;)

I have been eating out again on occasion or going out for a beverage once in a while, but this practice has become rare enough that it has resumed its status once again as a treat. So much better to savour!

I have made a pretty big investment this summer in my yard. I have built a patio set from reclaimed wood and lumber: table and benches. it turned out great. All materials found in the alley, scavenged from the fence I took down. The top of the dining table is old hard wood from the neighbour. The legs are from Re-store (my favourite shopping destination!) I have put in another patio area under the maple tree to cosily create a dining area that is surrounded by LED lights and virgina creeper. It feels like a fairy tail. Last night we enjoyed locally brewed beer, phad thai, and fresh rolls listening to my back yard crickets. Don’t think there was a better place to be on this planet during those minutes.

I have build a new garden area at the back of the yard where the sun is sunnier and I am trying square foot gardening this year with great success. Instead of rows you plant in slightly raised beds in a grid. A lot more food fits in a small space and since you can remediate the soil in those top inches everything is producing really well. I have 4 kinds of Kale, kohlrabi, chard, cukes, zucchini, salad greens, carrots, beets, beans, pumpkins (one of which has climbed the lilac and will soon be a beautiful orange orbe up high in the tree), and about 20 or more tomato plants of different varieties in containers that are just starting the share sweet and tangy fruits with us, and will soon have us scurrying around trying to get everything blanched and frozen for winter. The plants are absolutely HEAVY with the coming harvest. It really is beautiful! Another one of my back yard pride and joys this summer has been my eggplants… oh my eggplants! Dark dark purple. Sweet and tender. Shiny and SOooo perfect to hold. I am indeed in love.

As a treat for both the eyes and the bees, my front yard is quite full of flowers this year. Asters, snap dragons, Dahlias, marigolds (great in salads!), Astilbes, Munk’s hood, Ferns, and HOSTAs, HOSTAs, HOSTAs! It is a very pleasing mix of greens and reds and pinks and purple. Drips of yellow bring out the house’s sunny disposition.

The summer has not been a very hot one so far, so things are a bit behind, but catching up. The rains have been pretty good to us, and everything is beautifully green. The vegetable and flower gardens have been enjoying the latest attempt at water conservation, “the home grey water system”. I have been siphoning water from my tub on the second floor, out the window, and down into the rain barrel. So far all except a single watering can worth of water has been either from the sky or from the tub. Kitchen dish water has been feeding the more hardy trees, and greenery. I really can’t imagine how much water I would have used to keep things green without this adaptation. I am also adding more rain barrels this fall so that next year will see my plants even more happily irrigated.

I feel like my path has become a much more sustainable one… I know that I vote everyday with the dollars I do and don't spend. I feel like my life and my values are more in alignment than they have ever been. I know that this autumn of the buy nothing year is really just a starting point and that really not much will change as of October… This summer has been amazing in so many ways with so many gifts. Having people in my life who can see this journey I am on as just that, and not an extreme abdication of my consumptive responsibilities. To feel supported and encouraged in this way, I am certain I owe a great debt to the universe for these things in my life.

I really don’t think I have ever felt so “in the right place” in my entire life… proof that you can’t buy happiness I would say!