sustainable living

In the Community – Making a Business of Doing Good

Emelie and I have, so far, refused to monetise any of our content or accept placement of ads. Unfortunately that doesn’t stop the hosts from adding them… rather frustrating. But there are other ways of making a business from ethical or sustainable living and over the past few weeks we have caught up with some […]

Jon standing by dumpster with rescued food on the lid

Dumpster Diving: Risks and Reasons

Why do we dumpster dive, why is there so much food in the bins and how do we not get sick? This post explores the risks we face and how we manage them, the reasons things are thrown out and why we dumpster dive. Food Waste in Context Food waste is immense and Australians are […]

Chart of various resource uses

One-planet Living: In Numbers

When we first started examining what a “one planet” lifestyle might actually require, I expected the numbers to push us beyond the margins of modern life, if achievable at all. The assumption is common: that living within planetary boundaries is practically impossible, and at the very least means stepping away from comfort, convenience and participation […]

2025 Year in Review

As the year comes to a close, it worth reflecting on what we’ve accomplished. Even though we’ve slowed down by choice, it often feels as though we’re not doing as much as we would like. This sort of reflection helps us to put things in perspective. A reminder that a little bit each week still […]

Photo of front gate with hand made sign

What Difference Can I Make?

What difference can one person make through individual actions? For most Australians, the answer is “quite a lot”.

vegetable garden

Instincts 03: Acquisitiveness

Explores our instinct for acquisitiveness, how it shapes saving, spending, and security, and the personal journey from fear and hoarding to community, balance, and living with enough in a world of environmental and social limits.

Winter Update Part 1: Embracing Simplicity and Sustainability at Home

It’s been a while since we last had a personal check-in, and it feels like life has been a little too much about More! While our minds have mostly been on our big adventure coming up next year, we’ve also continued our learn and play with sustainability and simplicity at home. Here’s a quick summary […]

How We Afford to Give: Taming Our Transport Costs

Our most popular content has been related to money and in particular how we manage to give away such a substantial portion of our income while working so little and seemingly enjoying life so much. So I’m going to provide a bit more of a breakdown, starting with transport. Transport costs are often underappreciated, but […]

Youtube Video Cover

A Thoughtful Gift – Repair of Prized Possessions

Just a short and personal post this time. Its difficult to come up with gift ideas for people trying to live with less, and my usual answer, if asked, is simply the company of the person asking. But there are a few exceptions, and repair of prized possessions is definitely one of them. This was […]

Minimilism – Film Review

We watched Minimalism together recently. I wasn’t sure how the kids would respond to a documentary mostly featuring adults talking about their feelings and their stuff. But surprisingly, they were enthralled. Maybe because so much of it touches on what we’ve already been living, or trying to live, or maybe just because they don’t get […]

Repair, Reuse, Reconnect

April at the Woolloongabba Repair Café Every year the average Australian household throws over 800kg of stuff into their council bins. But that’s only a fraction of the story. The production of our goods results in more than 5000kg of additional waste per household per year. Our country is one of the highest per-capita waste […]

Book Review: Less is More

Living Better by Doing Less Imagine a world where neighbourhoods hum with shared tools and laughter instead of traffic. Where food grows in backyards and balconies. Where work ends at midday, and afternoons are for wandering, mending, cooking, or resting. Where we measure progress not in profits, but in how many people feel safe, nourished, […]

The Power of Giving

“Effective giving makes a difference.” That’s not just a feel-good sentiment—it’s a truth we’ve experienced first-hand. Last year, our family donated about a quarter of our income to organizations that are proven to make a difference. Based on the best available data from groups like GiveWell and The Life You Can Save, that contribution is […]

Back pack repair

This lightweight back pack has given a few years of loyal service, but was letting go at the seams. I’m no expert seamstress, but I thought it worth giving a repair a go. Turns out its pretty easy to

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