Conscious consumerism and simple living

In the modern world it’s all too easy to forget nature. It’s easy to have something else to do, to overlook the delicate transformation taking place in the natural world around us – and even easier to drown in stuff, clutter and our own busy lives.

When our babies were little, it was hard work to avoid having too much. At birthdays and Christmas an avalanche of things arrived from well-meaning friends and family we love, and without some honest conversations we’d have ended up with a playroom full of plastic. Now they’re older, I’m so grateful my husband and I had those conversations.

Growing up wasn’t spent endlessly fighting “stuff” (our place still gets messy – it sure does). We live in a rural cottage with low ceilings and beams everywhere, so clutter shows straight away. Add in that, as a maker, I am NOT tidy and think I can fix any broken object… keeping it simple was hard.

Our simple rule

So we came up with an easy question: is it smaller than one metre square, and made of natural materials?

That worked for us. Lots of the people we love already gave the children beautiful handmade textiles and toys that last for ever, so whenever anyone asked what the children would like, we simply added: “as long as it’s smaller than a metre square and made of natural materials.”

Why does it matter?

As a family we believe that part of our job as humans is to look after the Earth – from a place not of fear but of deep love. I pour my energy into creating beautiful things built to last, and I want to surround my children with items that are beautiful and functional: not quick fashions, but things that last a lifetime and beyond. We believe in conscious consumerism rather than convenient consumerism.

Reduce, reuse, recycle

Imagine if children played with the toys their parents had before them. Imagine if we bought less, and better.

Einstein is often quoted as saying, “Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.” That’s what we try to do. Nature doesn’t stay the same, but it does follow tried and tested paths and patterns.

Is living seasonally stuck in the past?

We don’t think so. One of the most common conversations I remember from kindergarten parents was about equipping children for the future. One thing I’m sure of is that a five-year-old doesn’t need a tablet and a desk to become a success. In the early years, becoming who we are in our own bodies, connecting with the natural world and discovering with our hands and senses is what matters. We must equip children to be true free thinkers, not train them to become consumers.

It’s about soul

The old idea of having nothing in your home that isn’t useful or beautiful is core to our family. If we choose wisely, we’re rewarded with a calm, loving space that nurtures us as we grow.

Top tips for simple living

• Tell friends and family what you’re doing, and set some gentle ground rules for what comes into your home.
• Give to charity anything that isn’t beautiful or useful.
• Invest in well-made things that will last.
• Pause and ask: what does my child really need?
• Make sure everything has a place. This was a game-changer for us – now nothing comes in unless it has a home.

We love living a simple, slow, seasonal life. It’s hard to fight off the consumerism outside (and sometimes inside) our door. But if I can teach my children that they can make their own tools, grow their own food and make their own things – and show them a natural rhythm to guide them – then I hope they’ll know who they are, their place in the cosmos and be truly free to choose what they do with their lives. That’s my goal.