This month’s Sunset Magazine features an article about a Northern California family who are trying their darndest to live a zero waste lifestyle. The story is made all the better by drool-worthy photos of their glossy home where there’s not a snowball’s chance in hell for clutter to build up. (As opposed to my hellacious home, which is littered with snowballs.)
The interview is conducted with the mother, Béa, who has made very strict guidelines to make this life possible for her family of four.
“Everyone has a set number of items. For example, Béa caps out at 6 pairs of shoes, 7 tops, 7 pants, and 2 skirts (1 also wearable as a top). Same idea goes for Scott and the couple’s 9- and 10-year-old boys (each has 7 casual tops, 1 dress shirt, 4 bottoms, 3 pairs of shoes, and 1 pair of PJs per season).”
I recently worked with my son to drastically declutter his room. Gone are the multiple random stuffed animals, the action figures and the huge bin of questionable writing instruments. His room now only holds his bed, an armchair, dresser, desk, a neatly stowed stuffed animal and a shelf in his closet. There are only a dozen or so knick-knacks adorning the shelves, which is a dramatic improvement over the previous state of chaos.
My goal with this project was to make his personal space more focused and calming, and an inviting space for entertaining. A micro-project, really, for how I want our entire house to be.
Béa explains how her family arrived to this state of zero waste-itude:
“When we started getting rid of things, it was kind of addictive,” she continues. “In a recession, people are inclined to keep things, but I feel the opposite. The less I have, the richer I feel. Stuff weighs you down.”
But she’s also quick to point out that her family is not to be seen as perfection either:
“We don’t do everything right,” she says. “We do have garbage. We do fly overseas to see my family in France once a year.” Despite the regressions, the way the family lives makes others at least sit up and take notice: Béa says one neighbor visited, remarking that the house is “futuristic and alien-like,” opening cupboards and asking, “Where’s all your stuff?”
{ 47 comments… read them below or add one }
I’ve had a very interesting experience this week. Some articles have been in the papers about us in the UK and out of 80 comments around 50% were rude, made assumptions or downright hurtful (according to a friend; I don’t read them).
Today our story hit the front page of the Italian newspapers and the comments have been amazing – supportive, loving and passionate from people who really *get it*. So maybe it’s a cultural thing??
I think this family are doing great things and I’ve learned alot about not judging others thanks to being on the receiving ends of a lot of criticism. I have been very critical in the past, but I hope I am much less so now. It hurts, a lot and although my hubby tells me I need to toughen up to it I really don’t see why I should!
Here is the article on us if you’re interested: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1344934/Mr-Mrs-Green-throw-single-carrier-bag-rubbish–ONE-YEAR.html?ito=feeds-newsxml
Hey, Mrs Green. Just read the article on the Italian newspapers too. I’m glad your story got positive comments.
I noticed that in my country, which is one of the less “green” in Europe, there is a polarization re. ecology: people who strongly feel a need for change and people who are against even the slightest change. The first ones demand cleaner energy, want to recycle more and waste less, despite the indifference of the government towards these issues and regardless of what others do; the second ones can’t be bothered to recycle or use their own shoppers for groceries. Example: plastic bags have just been banned and I read and heard angry comments about this “imposition” and “where will we put our groceries?!” (D’oh! really.)
I guess these lifestyles are seen as too extreme, most people are hostile to new ideas and maybe feel guilty when confronted with this kind of efficiency. As for me, I admire them and if I can at least get a bit inspired in my own life I’ll feel great.
You, my dear, are an inspiration. LOVED the article.
I do find myself drawn to stories and pictorials of people who live simply. And while I don’t actively look for places to criticize– I did read the story and didn’t comment– it’s difficult to overlook what seems like hypocrisy. Calling oneself “zero waste” and then shipping the plastic strip back to Netflix so it’s someone else’s problem seems to be missing the mark a bit. I’d much rather read more realistic accounts of people who are living in the real world and own both their successes and their failures.
That said, I do think there are people who are just looking for reasons to criticize, and it looked like a lot of them found that Sunset story.
I loved the article, but I did find it an extreme case of living with less. I’m a bystander looking into this kind of lifestyle. I’m fascinated but not yet ready to jump in, so to speak. I see so much waste in my own family, I know we could do more, so perhaps baby steps.
Thanks for sharing.
I really enjoy reading this type of article, looking for any tips. I did a major de-cluttering a few years ago and have learned to live with less, but I will never get to the level as the family in this article. I don’t like a house that bare; I enjoy my small collections of knick-knacks. I do go through phases where I’ll de-clutter, but then some stuff creeps back in, so I’ll do it again. But I am more aware of keeping within limits than I used to be.
I would LOVE to declutter – to my comfort level. I don’t however understand why people feel the need to criticize someone else’s life choices. I wonder if it is because we feel the need to self-justify when someone else takes a different path than we have chosen toward a similar goal? I know that sometimes, when I see someone doing particularly well on something I’d like to do, that I tend to be defensive and maybe that’s what’s @ work here? I think you experienced that several months back with some rather mean-spirited comments on this blog. I didn’t understand it then and I still don’t. I wish we could all just really support the diversity of paths and look for ways to customize our own path – after all – we are all sort of heading toward that same goal – right? And it’s not as if there is just so much of minimalism to go around – we can all take our own path and don’t have to worry about someone else’s path beating us to a finite reward – the reward is the path itself.
I sure do keep up others who are trying to live smaller and more simply. And similar to not being able to look away from a train wreck, I am fascinated by the trolly comments. Don’t they all seem to be written by the same person? It’s the same voice, the same criticism, the same frothing outrage. I wonder what Carl Jung would have to say about the universal archetype of modern blog trolls.
I see even the most gentle, inspiring, ego-free writers get nasty comments. People become fearful and defensive if you live by different values. Somehow you are insulting them if you don’t follow convention. Even when you say “I’m not perfect,” or you make it clear that this is just “your way,” not the “only way.” People get ANGRY. It’s bizarre how angry people get. If they see someone living by a different set of values, it makes them question their own. And they will need to tell you that you are wrong.
Knowing the causes doesn’t make my skin any thicker. I don’t want to have to toughen up either! And you can’t argue with troll. Thankfully, I am the all powerful president/queen/dictator of my own blog and I can banish trolls with a flick of my fairy wand.
I didn’t enjoy the article, but did realize that could be in part due to the tone of the author and how the family was represented(for instance, never hearing from the kids). So, I went to the blog, and didn’t care for that, either. But I’m not going to attack the woman, her family, or her choices, even if I don’t agree with them. She’s doing what she thinks is right, and does not appear to be hurting anyone else. Her choices aren’t mine, and that’s okay.
I too am very drawn to articles about “the simple life” — whether about decluttering, making food/clothes/gardens from scratch, or slowing down life in general. And I find myself reading more and more on this (library books, especially), as if in effort to crawl into the pages and adopt the lifestyle by osmosis. Adopting the “simple life” takes time — a sort of mental, spiritual, and finally, physical evolution.
Mean-spirited comments? There is something about the internet that makes some people feel empowered to lash out while shielded by the anonymity of the computer screen. Much of what they say speaks volumes about their own personal issues and virtually nothing of what they say is reflective of those they lash out against. As my mother is fond of saying, “I think it’s a personal problem.†I very much admire you for blogging — part of what keeps me in the sidelines are these vitriolic critics!
Here! Here! Well said, Jennifer.
I love articles on simple living. I suffer from fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis. There are many things I cannot do or that would take up too much energy. Many simple living ideas contain tips I can incorporate into my limited lifestyle. I may not agree with everyone’s choices but then they may not with mine. I say we all agree to disagree and try and learn from one another.
Such articles inspire me to work harder on living more simply. I wouldn’t dream of criticizing someone who is trying to do their part to help the environment. We all do the best we can based upon our backgrounds and living situations. I have to admit that the picture of her cupboard with all of the glass jars made my heart beat faster with joy.
Glass jar porn. 😉
Katy
Oooh, I was drooling at those, too. 🙂 Especially the one with the gingersnaps! But I’ll stick with my uninspiring old yogurt containers for now.
The mean comments on the article seem to be par for the course and reminded me of the stuff some people said about No Impact Man. Too bad we can’t just glean the good ideas that we could fold into our lives. Yeah, it’s a bit extreme for most of us, but still it’s inspiring. I keep giggling to myself, thinking that if the sermon on the mount were held today people would be asking if the fish were sustainable and if the loaves were whole grain and corn-syrup free …
Hahaha, you are so right, Shannon!
I read such articles and find them inspiring even if I am not at that point in my life and even if I may not ever want to be at that point in my life. Too many people see these endeavors as an all or nothing kind of commitment. I don’t see them that way at all. That family is doing what they can and what they feel is right. Why would anyone want to deny them a flight to see far-away family members? Why would they criticize anything this family is doing? It’s not as if it affects them directly.
Frugality, simple living, and/or sustainable living isn’t a contest. It’s about doing what we can within the specific limitations of our own set of circumstances. As long as we make the effort, we’re all winners.
Well said, Annie! Your last paragraph is golden!
I do enjoy reading about how other people are creating peace and focus in their homes by clearing out all the STUFF they don’t need. I’m just finishing “The Joy of Less, A Minimalist Living Guide: How to Declutter, Organize, and Simplify Your Life” by Francine Jay (2010), which my sister loaned me after receiving it on Freecycle (HA! minimalist on all three accounts!)
I thought the book was enjoyable, but I didn’t think it would really change my way of thinking until I hit page 30, where Jay says: “Our homes are our castles, and we devote plenty of resources to defending them. We spray them with pest control to keep the bugs out; we use air filters to keep pollutants out; and we have security systems to keep intruders out. What are we missing? A stuff blocker to keep the clutter out! Since I have yet to see such a product on the market … We have to take matters into our own hands.”
She says, on page 46, “Let’s reject being ‘consumers,’ and strive to be ‘minsumers’ instead. We’ll strive to minimize our consumption to what meets our needs; minimize the impact of our consumption on the environment; and minimize the effect of our consumption on other people’s lives.”
After reading the chapters on decluttering the kitchen and bathroom, I set out at once to clear out the years-old eyeliners I never use, expired medications and semi-dried-up lotions and creams. Then I took everything out of the kitchen drawers and realized there was no point in hanging onto the rarely used fairy-size cake forks and other odd pieces of flatware, which went today to the local charity thrift store.
It’s strange how when I take the time to sort and declutter, I see through different eyes so many items I’ve hung onto for years! What seemed integral to daily living before now seems so … not.
I’m feeling good about this latest round of making space in my house, and I’m looking forward to reading how Bea and her family keep their house so junk-free! Thanks for alerting us to the article, Katy!
We moved fro Alabama to Oregon last summer. We rented a the largest trailer U-Haul had so I had the pleasure of going through 8 years worth of stuff that I had been too busy to deal with until then. I was overwhelmed at the enormity of the task and afraid to get rid of my stuff. I realized that I was afraid that if I got rid of the item, I would also be tossing out the memory. My daughter and I took pictures of some of the baby stuff and then gave it to a friend’s daughter who was expecting her first baby. I don’t miss it and I haven’t forgotten that my son was a baby. Once I started purging, it go so much easier. I was aided by the advice of a missionary friend who lives overseas and, by necessity, keeps possessions to a minimum. She said that she has not yet regretted getting rid of anything. I did give myself one large Tote for keepsakes and when it got full, I had to go back through it and re-prioritize my ‘treasures’.
It’s been an adjustment for all of us but my kids are learning that they don’t have to have mountains of toys that they’ve forgotten about to have fun and my husband and I are enjoying not having to shuffle our stuff desk to counter top
The only time I really want to find the smallest things to criticize with people is when they are too preachy or holier-than-thou. That’s when I zero in on their imperfections — whether it’s in regard to the environmental, frugality, religion, or whatever. As long as a person isn’t too harsh on others who aren’t living as they are and as long as they admit their own imperfections, I allow for differences. Personally I could never live a life as austere as this one, but I do admire people who try it.
Shannon B…with you I agree! Simple living is different for each person. Mindfulness is key, I believe. Some have a cozy warm home with many belongings, yet tread lightly on the earth in other ways. Others live with few possessions. It’s the “I’m better than you because I do….” attitude that turns me off.
I haven’t read the article yet.
I enjoyed the article. I’m slowly moving from an attitude of WANT, WANT, WANT, to a mindset of “less is more.” Each step I take toward the “simple life” makes me feel freer and more satisfied with my life in general. It has erased a lot of stress in my life. This Christmas I fell back into the attitude of WANT with regards to shopping for my loved ones and it was incredibly stressful.
As far as judgmental comments go, I agree with what other commenters said – it’s largely due to insecurity with their own life choices, and the fact that you can hide under the guise of anonimity and say what you want without having to be responsible for your words.
Just read the article…and wondered…as a craftster, I find I have projects and supplies for projects around my small apartment. I keep them contained in baskets or such, but often have things laid out in process on my table bed, etc. I wonder if this family has any messy hobbies!
Jinger,
I also wondered if the family did any crafting too.
I can answer that one, as I read the blog. Bea is an artist and makes pieces out of junk. She also makes paper. 🙂
I think the ultimate purpose of sharing simple lifestyles and methods of nonconsumerism is just to take from it what will work for you and run with the positive. It’s much easier to take a good idea from something than to bash it. So much wasted energy in being critical.
I have been working for several years on declutering and reducing what we have or need. I am inspired when I see people in similar circumstances. I also fall prey to the comparisons, “Well, they don’t have children”, “They make more money”, “They have more time”…I now look at each of these articles and take what I can use. I have struggled lately with determining how many clothes items my children need. I like her numbers and will try them next season.
I enjoy living with less, although we still have a lot, and I think it makes our home more enjoyable. My children like having room to create and explore.
I enjoy reading articles about purposeful minimalism. I strive for it myself and am constantly looking around my house asking the following questions : 1) Do I use it?, 2) Do I love it? If it doesn’t fit one of these two criteria, I chuck it. I love dropping off GIANT loads of stuff at Goodwill.
Those that criticize (vs. just questioning) are usually slaves to their stuff, I’ve found. It’s all just stuff.
I read the article – drooling over the photos actually, especially the kitchen and clutter-free living room. Personally, it’s nice to get some inspiration in any form, even if it is a bit more extreme than most of us can manage.
I found a lot to admire in this family (especially the pantry — oh my!). They have made a commitment as a family about how they are going to live and they are comfortable with it. Yes, there was a magazine article about them, but they don’t seem to be preaching that they are the perfect family. They are simply living out their ideals.
I have to admit to being one who was taken aback by the Australian toothbrushes but that says more about me than about them!
Can I find hypocrisy and privilege in the Sunset article? You bet! But why criticize their flaws? From the looks of things, the family is constantly working on improving their minimalism and eco-footprint. If everyone in America tried to live this consciously, the entire world would be a better place.
Their regimen would be too austere for me. Things like counting clothing and only allowing a certain number of each item is not my things. This family can afford to go out and buy more if what they removed is really needed or their store of things is inadquate. Most people cannot easily replace articles or either don’t want to purchase more. Just as extreme clutter and saving at one end of the spectrum is seen as a problem (hoarding), so is extreme minimalism, getting down to bare bones, decluttered, or whatever term you can use and not pathologize. As long as she does not try to make me into a clone of herself and can live without so many things, she does not bother me at all.
While this family’s lifestyle was more austere than I am comfortable with right now, I am in agreement with those who A) Can admire it without craving it and B) Gain something–some knowledge, some idea that helps us along our path to simplicity–however we define it!
Annie, loved your comments!
Great insights on this article Katy. 🙂
Even the author of the sunset article slips in some sharp disapproving type comments within the descriptions of each room with an us (readers) vs them mentality. For example “The kitchen looks eerily unlived in…”
I think @Heather’s (mile73) comment above was spot on. Alternative examples make you contrast your own lifestyle. If you can’t articulate a justification of your own lifestyle it can lead to frustration, denial and anger. Its the ol’ “don’t rock the boat…” kind of thinking that generates those wicked comments. Tammy and I got torn to shreds with insults by some folks in the NYTimes article and Today show comments. Not all the comments were bad, but was surprising how many of the comments took offense to our story. Makes me wonder how folks can be so attracted to an article they read it yet find it so repugnant they have to rail it in the comments?
Yes, I am drawn to articles about simplifying my life. I appreciate when others share their journeys: triumphs, failures and the second guessing and all. It makes me feel less alienated in my own journey, and I also glean great tips and ideas, and validates me with respect to my own journey towards a simpler life. God knows there is much more I could do, and don’t.
very much agree that our stuff just weighs us down, so I’m trying to declutter too. Bet if those commenters exposed their lives to the world, there would be plenty of room for improvement for all to see. We each just need to do our best when it comes to being green, and ZWH beats most of us hands down! love, LOVE sites that focus on simplicity; I have so much to learn! thx, NCA, for another thought-provoking post.
I read the article and found myself resisting. What exactly chaffed me about such a sterling example of minimalism and no waste? If I am honest, it would be that it is something I couldn’t do myself. I don’t have the energy to bring all those containers to the store. I don’t have the resources, or the designer eye, to find the perfect symmetrical containers for everything that are both beautiful and useful. I don’t have a husband who would cooperate. I don’t have children who would agree to have such few items without having a secret hoard somewhere else. I admit it, but instead of realizing my limitations, it is just easier to criticize them. There, I said it.
I’m definitely attracted to, and inspired by, articles like this. Their home looks serene and peaceful – not unlived in. I’ve been decluttering my home for months and still have a long way to go, but I already feel differently coming home to a clean-er and less cluttered home than before. It’s sad that people are judging them negatively; they are not forcing their choices on anyone else, they are just bravely sharing their story of a different way to leave. I, for one, think they are courageous – and I think we could all learn a little something from their example!
I’m always drawn to these types of articles. I’ve been working on simplifying my life and possessions, and it’s always interesting for me to get a peek at other’s lives to see what they’ve tried out. I think it’s a good point that has already been brought up in these comments: we all have different levels of comfort with simplicity and minimalism. I would be quite happy if I could get to their extent of minimalism, but that doesn’t work for everyone; it’s about finding your own comfort level, erring neither too far on the side of austerity or overconsumption.
I’m not sure I’d criticize people for choosing to live a very minimalist lifestyle. Not sure I could DO it, but far be it from me to judge. I know I live more minimally than I used to, and that’s good enough for me.
I feel for this family. They were trying to do a good thing for themselves and all those ugly people jumped on them for it. I say good for them for doing what makes them happy. It is a bit extreme for most people to try to emulate, but if it’s working for them then that’s fantastic. And for all the people who were bashing them for not being as “eco-friendly” as they claim, I don’t recall the article ever mentioning that they started doing it, or even really continue doing it, to be green. She said she did it because she wanted to know what she has in her home and love what she has. We should all be so fortunate.
I read and love her blog and it has inspired me to make changes that I had never thought of. For instance, now I always take my own containers to the store when I buy bulk. And I take cloth bags for bread. We’ve switched to cloth napkins/rags, and I have all but given up buying anything that comes packaged- and if it *is* packaged, it is 99.99% of the time recyclable paper/cardboard.
What was interesting is that I read another blog by a woman who seeks to live sustainably, and she really, really didn’t like Bea’s approach. She was critical of the house and the extreme measures, and she thought it came off as being weird and ostentatious. Which is interesting because I never got that impression from Bea or her blog. I think she is passionate and honest and deeply committed, but I certainly trust that it is sincere. A comment up above mentioned how “No Impact Man” got so much flack as well. It just seems like when people go public with very lofty ideals and values (whether it’s religious or political or healthy lifestyle or what have you) people just seem to get off on picking them apart and pointing out all of their flaws. Kind of like how people relish being able to spat “HYPOCRITE!!” at someone…
Hey I just noticed that Yahoo did a small video on this family also. Ryan at The Tiny Life put the video on his blog the other day. Its terrific to see them talk about this lifestyle choice instead of just reading about it and criticizing with assumptions. 🙂
People are critical of others, because they feel insecure about their own choices. If they can find fault, it they can say “hey, they’re hypocrites!” then they feel justified in continuing with their own lifestyle choices. The fact of the matter is that we’re all hypocrites, because none of us live up to our ideals. That’s all right! We should always aspire to be better than we are.
A little bit late to post but I would like to add my 2 cents worth. First I found the article very inspirational and a great boost in my on-going mission to reduce consumerism and waste – especially with regard to my 6 year old and my 14 year old (she – like most American Kids her age – thinks the mall is paradise). Most eco, zero waste websites, stories produce a “meh” reaction from the 14 year old. But she loved the Zero Waste blog, not the least because of Ms. Johnson’s accent and glossy white house. I started to do some serious googling on the criticism this blog, article and person have generated and it seems to come down to 1) people who simply seem to be negative because … well that’s who they are; 2) envy – seriously some of the posters (and other blogs out there) are miffed because they aren’t getting the same attention with respect to their efforts and they perceive the Johnson family as “grandstanding” probably with some hidden financial motive; and 3) guilt – it’s easier to rail at Ms Johnson than to admit that they should maybe be doing just a tad bit more than they are (this has been covered quite thoroughly by the other posts here). This is not to say I loved everything about Ms. Johnson’s blog or article – I didn’t. But that has to do with my own personal style and priorities.