Comments on: Our Year of Lent

By: Leslie Schuyler

Leslie Schuyler — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 18:05:25 +0000

I’m inspired (and the caveats help, especially since I always feel guilty about the “landfill” diapers we’re using with our son). But we’re doing other things to be more sustainable. I’ve been an advocate of thrift stores forever, but my husband compares our Goodwill shops to everyone else’s big-store shops; it’s just that we’re buying used things. It’s true, of course. If I could rid myself of the need to buy things (whether new or old) I’d be making real progress.

By: Anna Fahey

Anna Fahey — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 19:56:41 +0000

Most inspiring to me is that so many people are already doing something like this (and have been for years)—or want to start.

I love the addition of “Reflect” to the 3 Rs concept. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Reflect.

By: Alyse

Alyse — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 14:45:51 +0000

You’ve inspired me to do a mini “buy nothing new” experiment for Lent. I’m excited to see how my family does! You cracked me up when you mention you’ve memorized your credit card number. I am close! But I also have my library card number memorized — and you probably will too by the end of your year!

By: Anne

Anne — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 20:32:46 +0000

Great move! My partner and I have tried to live with a similar practice for a while now. While it’s not always easy – we both love fine quality clothes and footwear, for example, and these can be challenging to find used because people tend to hang on to them – we simply try to recognize each purchase we make as a form of commitment. This means we ask ” What are my dollars supporting here? Do I/we want to make ourselves responsible for this thing?” We have found that most of those dollars then naturally go to supporting the best food we can find, especially locally, feeding friends and family too, then on a larger scale that leads to advocacy about food production and food politics. Our shelter (we live in Vancouver) was chosen for high walkability and small size; it’s not only more affordable and has a smaller footprint, it discourages accumulation of stuff. The mantra Food, Clothing, Shelter works pretty well, but I’d add “Other People” to the list of necessities to keep in mind and heart.
And as for the 3 R’s that the first commenter reminded us of, I’d add a fourth there too – Reflect.
Let’s keep inspiring each other. Thanks for re-inspiring me!

By: Ingrid Kassler

Ingrid Kassler — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 22:41:46 +0000

This is serious business. I will think it through, as much as possible, and then make a commitment. May start one week at a
time and see how it goes. Hope old dogs can learn a few new
tricks!

By: Patrick Barber

Patrick Barber — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 17:12:38 +0000

I like your idea. In 2004 my partner and I had a “buy-nothing year.” We bought food, of course, and other consumables, but no clothes (even used), books, music, etc. Going “used” makes more sense functionally speaking — by the end of the year, I was in serious need of new clothing having worn out all my existing pairs of pants. It certainly brought into sharp focus the ways that we automatically buy things here and there on the way through our days.

I’ve always loved the library but that year I really leaned on it, and my dependence hasn’t lessened — I almost never buy books or CDs anymore now that I can borrow them from our excellent library. I’m also still in the habit of making lists of “wants” rather than just going out and buying. It’s surprising how many things don’t get bought if you scrutinize their necessity for a little bit.

Best wishes and enjoy the experience!

Patrick

By: Erin

Erin — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 00:51:41 +0000

I love it! You’ve inspired our family to buy nothing new (except food) for Lent. Instead, we will focus on experiences. We’ll spend more time with friends and family, and instead of shopping, take a small portion of the money we will be saving (yay!) to spend supporting people who really make our community here in Seattle enjoyable and meaningful – by going to see a play or music show or puppet show or lecture, or free events. While of course we will buying new experiences, I like knowing that instead of beefing up a corporation’s bottom line or China’s burgeoning economic strength and contributing to the United States’s trade deficit by buying more stuff we don’t need, my money is directly supporting our neighbors. I hope this becomes a habit year round. We love Washington Ensemble Theatre, Intiman, the Tractor Tavern, Northwest Puppet Center, Northwest Film Forum and more – there is so much here in Seattle.

Thanks again for the inspiration and your always thoughtful analyses!

By: Thurston County Solid Waste

Thurston County Solid Waste — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 00:12:03 +0000

Good luck! Let us know how it goes. This is really taking two of three R’s and putting them in action!