David Shi’s Primary Attributes of the Simple Life

"David Shi describes the common denominator among the various approaches to simpler living as the understanding that the making of money and the accumulation of things should not smother the purity of the soul, the life of the mind, the cohesion of the family, or the good of the society.''

- Duane Elgin

 

In my experience simple living is like yoga in practice - both are supremely adaptable to any person and situation. 

Having said that, there are also grounding principles, guideposts to aid practitioners to the better life they steadfastly strive towards. These basic principles give us direction, meaning, and purpose.

For example, simple living, yoga, and meditation all share an emphasis on mindfulness, self-discipline, and personal growth.

More broadly, what are the foundational principles and values embodied by this mind-expanding practice we call the simple life?

David Shi, historian of the Simplicity Movement, admits that "the simple life is almost as difficult to define as it is to live".

But, he forges ahead bravely anyway, and defines what he sees as the primary attributes of living simply: 

- thoughtful frugality 

- suspicion of luxuries 

- reverence and respect for nature 

- desire for self-sufficiency 

- commitment to conscientious rather than conspicuous consumption 

- privileging of creativity and contemplation over possessions 

- aesthetic preference for minimalism and functionality

- sense of responsibility for the just uses of the world’s resources

In an overall assessment which elevates simplicity to the loft heights it deserves, Shi calls voluntary simplicity  ‘enlightened material restraint.’

Developing that restraint is the antidote to consumerism, and the ticket to clarity and freedom.

When pursued diligently, the attributes of simplicity lead into a joyous and beneficial daily practice that brings the practitioner into the present to cherish the moments with kindness, peace, and gratitude.

While simple living is a challenge to define, I think that  David Shi’s attributes do a great job of summarizing how most of us think about this beautiful way of living. 

How does this mesh with your ideas of simplicity as practiced in your home? Let us know in a comment below.

This is a Net Zero Crap Blog

Most consumer products are crap we don’t need.

You could call this blog a net zero blog, but not the net zero that most people are thinking about these days.

Our net zero is about reducing dependence on the system’s capitalist consumer crap complex to zero.

Why is this important? Because ninety percent of everything is crap. At least, that’s what science fiction writer, Theodore Sturgeon, opined in 1957.

 

His revelation has been dubbed “Sturgeon’s Law” ever since, even though this reality has probably been known since forever.

The way I see it, Sturgeon wasn’t being ambitious enough. Many would put the amount of crap at around 99%. On a good day.

Living a not buying anything life helps achieve a balance between the amount of this crap that flows into our lives and the amount removed, resulting in no net increase in crap levels. 

Our net zero way of living typically involves eliminating purchases, and therefore potential crapification, as much as possible through measures like reducing, refusing, replacing, repairing, and rethinking. 

It also means learning to do things yourself, while offsetting any remaining crap intrusions through actions like decluttering, downsizing, and other marvelous minimalist methods.

And it also means living according to the ''one thing in, one thing out’’ rule, which leaves the crap level neutral overall. 

Consumer crap is harmful to children and other living things, and is more harmful to life as we know it than CO2. Actually, the consumption of consumer crap   creates CO2 in large quantities, so when you reduce the crap you also reduce the CO2. 

Considering this, you would think that governments would be promoting simplicity and minimalism, but I don’t see this happening. 

How curious this callous crap conundrum. 

I still think the best solution is to go net zero on the crap continuum, and simply not buy anything you don’t need.

What do you think? Are you part of our net zero crap community, or do you think you might like to join us? 

We are a gentle, compassionate and kind group, and our goal is to make life great again for all the world's children, and all other living things. Not through the banks and elite controlled systems, but by individual personal changes, and community efforts from the ground up.

Let us know where you stand in a comment below.

 

Living Simply, Living Freely: Why I am Resisting Nova Scotia’s So-Called "Climate Lockdown"

This is a road through the woods that I cycle on.
It is OPEN.

Canadians are still feeling feisty after government's COVID overreach and illegal activities used to crush dissent and peaceful protests.

That could be why Nova Scotians are actively and vocally fighting the most recent example of government mismanagement.  

Starting August 5, 2025, the province outlawed hiking, camping, fishing, and any woodland activity, with a $25,000 fine for stepping into the trees. 

They claim it’s to prevent wildfires amid drought, but this blanket ban will extinguish our freedoms faster than any fires.

I can understand wanting to do something, but this ham fisted response is exactly like the COVID restrictions - they both give the illusion of ‘doing something’, and ‘keeping us safe’. 

Unfortunately, these quasi-solutions end up not tackling the problems at hand, and contributing great harm to society while they fail miserably.

The 2023 Nova Scotia wildfires were tragic, but criminalizing a forest walk while allowing forestry operations is absurd. 

For us at the Not Buying Anything blog, living simply means rejecting consumerism, and official narratives, and embracing nature’s gifts. 

This ban doesn’t just block blackberry picking (a 20 year tradition for me and Linda) or the hikes that keep me sane. What they are trying to do, again, threatens the fundamental rights that we thought we had. 

I cherish the freedom to live simply and regularly connect with nature. Therefore, I won’t comply with this potentially illegal move by an obviously frustrated and floundering government, and no other freedom-loving person should either.

This is a trail through the woods that I cycle on.
It is CLOSED.

The Canadian Civil Liberties Association says the province must prove in court that this ban is necessary and minimally impairs our Charter rights, or it’s unconstitutional.

Our legal protections demand resistance:

Charter Rights: Sections 6 (mobility) and 7 (liberty) guarantee our right to roam. The Canadian Constitution Foundation calls this ban a likely violation for its excessiveness.

Proportionality: Section 1 requires restrictions to be reasonable. A $25,000 fine for a hike, while industry gets a pass, fails this test.

Bill of Rights: The 1960 Canadian Bill of Rights demands due process. This crippling fine for harmless acts is unjust. It’s our duty to resist unjust laws. As Martin Luther King Jr. said, “One has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws”. 

If a law bans us from nature without cause, we challenge it not by being reckless, but by standing firm. If you enter the woods for low-risk activities like walking, do so carefully, respecting the land. Let’s protect our traditional freedoms and nature-loving values:

Speak Out: Email Premier Houston, demanding targeted fire bans, not a forest lockdown.

Support Challenges: Back CCF’s efforts to defend our Charter rights.

Share Your Story: How is this ban affecting you, or if you don’t live in our beautiful province, what would such a ban in your area make you think? Let us know in a comment below. Living simply means living freely. Let’s defy this ban and reclaim our right to nature’s solace. It is necessary, and more vital and important than our governments are willing to acknowledge.

How am I going to get my wild blackberries for jam making if I am banned from the woods at peak berry season? How am I going to get my mental and physical break amongst the trees?

They are going to have to pry the hiking stick and berry bucket from my cold, dead hands.

Be fire safe out there - it is crazy dry still. Report any fires.

Stepping Away From The Feather Bed of Civilization

In a world that equates progress with luxury, comfort, and convenience, the words of Robert Louis Stevenson and Henry David Thoreau ring with a rebellious clarity. 

Their journeys—Stevenson’s 12-day trek through the rugged Cévennes mountains with a stubborn donkey named Modestine, and Thoreau’s solitary retreat into the woods—offer a powerful antidote to the gilded cage of modern life. They remind us that stepping away from the "feather bed of civilization" can awaken a deeper, more resilient way of being. 

For those of us yearning for simplicity, their stories are a call to rediscover the raw, unfiltered joy of living close to nature.

In Travels with a Donkey in the Cévennes (1879), Stevenson captures the essence of his journey: 

“For my part, I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel’s sake. The great affair is to move; to feel the needs and hitches of our life more clearly; to come down off this feather-bed of civilization, and find the globe granite underfoot and strewn with cutting flints. Alas, as we get up in life, and are more preoccupied with our affairs, even a holiday is a thing that must be worked for. To hold a pack upon a pack-saddle against a gale out of the freezing north is no high industry, but it is one that serves to occupy and compose the mind. And when the present is so exacting who can annoy himself about the future?” 

His 200km solo hike through the barren hills of south-central France wasn’t about reaching a destination but about embracing the act of living itself. Stevenson faced the elements, the locals’ suspicions, and his own limitations. He was mistaken for a peddler, warned of wolves and robbers, and yet was still enthusiastic about the freedom in the simplicity of the open road.

Stevenson’s journey was a deliberate step away from the comforts of society. His words resonate with anyone who’s ever felt suffocated by the demands of modern life. 

For Stevenson, the answer was to leave behind the feather bed and embrace the rugged simplicity of the outdoors.

Henry David Thoreau, in his own retreat to Walden Pond, found a similar truth. 

“I love Nature partly because she is not man, but a retreat from him. In her midst I can be glad with an entire gladness. If this world were all man, I could not stretch myself, I should lose all hope.” 

Thoreau’s time in the woods wasn’t just an escape - it was a rebellion against the constraints of a society that demanded conformity. Nature, to him, was freedom—a place where “a different kind of right prevails.” Stripped of human institutions, he discovered a life that was simple, unobstructed, and profoundly joyful. Thoreau’s solitude in the forest allowed him to confront the raw, inconvenient facts of existence. Far from the anesthetizing comforts of civilization, he found resilience in simplicity. 

His life at Walden was a testament to the idea that less can be more—that stripping away the trappings of modernity can reveal a deeper, more authentic way of living.

Today, we’re told that progress means faster technology, bigger homes, and endless convenience. 

But at what cost? 

The pursuit of luxury has left us enslaved to our desires, and vulnerable to those who profit from our dependence. 

As I reflect on the state of our world, I see little evidence of true evolution. Instead, I see a society that’s grown soft, demoralized, and disconnected from the natural world that sustains us. We’ve traded resilience for comfort, freedom for convenience, and in doing so, we’ve lost something vital. Stevenson and Thoreau challenge us to question this narrative. They remind us that nature isn’t just a place to visit—it’s where we live, our greatest teacher. 

To step away from the hyper-complexity of modern life, even for a little while, is to rediscover our capacity for joy, strength, and clarity. It’s a chance to feel the ground beneath our feet, to face the “needs and hitches” of life head-on, and to find contentment in the simplicity of the present moment. For those of us drawn to simple living, Stevenson and Thoreau offer a roadmap. Their journeys weren’t about escaping reality but about embracing it in its rawest form. 

Whether it’s a hike through the mountains with only a sleeping bag and a stubborn donkey or a quiet retreat to a cabin in the woods, the act of simplifying forces us to confront what truly matters. 

It’s not about renouncing everything but about choosing what adds value to our lives and letting go of the rest.

Here are a few ways to channel their wisdom into your own simple living practice: 1. Step Outside Regularly: You don’t need a 200km trek to reconnect with nature. A walk in a local park, a night under the stars, or even a moment of stillness in your backyard can ground you in the present. 2. Embrace Inconvenience: Like Stevenson wrestling with his donkey, or Thoreau chopping wood, lean into the challenges of a simpler life. Cooking from scratch, growing your own food, or fixing something instead of replacing it builds resilience. 3. Question “Progress”: Before chasing the next shiny gadget or lifestyle upgrade, ask yourself: Does this bring me closer to freedom or further from it? Simplicity often lies in saying no to what doesn’t serve you. 4. Find Joy in the Raw Moments: As Thoreau found “entire gladness” in nature, seek out the unfiltered beauty in your surroundings—the crunch of leaves, the smell of an early summer morning, the quiet of a starlit night. In the end, the choice to live simply is a quiet rebellion against a world that wants us comfortable, compliant, and dependent. 

Stevenson and Thoreau show us that true freedom lies not in accumulating more but in needing less. 

By stepping away from the feather bed of civilization, we can rediscover the granite underfoot, the cutting flints, and the joy of a life unencumbered by excess. In conclusion, I invite you to take a step, however small, toward simplicity. Leave the gilded cage behind, even for a moment, and let nature be your teacher.

Where will that next step take you? Share your thoughts in the comments below, or tell us about someone you know who’s traded comfort for freedom, and let's celebrate the raw, resilient joy of living simply.

Gary Snyder - Deep Ecology Poet and Simple Living Advocate

Gary Snyder is an American nature-loving Zen poet who deeply loves nature, and learned early in life to respect indigenous knowledge. Naturally, he is also a simple living advocate.

Why his name is not heard more often these days is a bit of a mystery. Perhaps it is because today’s green movement has been highjacked by politics, economics, dogma, and hysteria instead of being based on the solid foundation laid for us by the early environmental pioneers.

What remains of the diluted environmental movement, which was hopeful and aspirational in the beginning, has become mired in ideological battles, corporate greenwashing, and alarmist narratives that can overshadow practical solutions. But people like Snyder had suggested solutions long ago already, which went largely ignored.

The challenge is balancing passion with reason, and staying true to those foundational pioneering principles.

As I read his writings, Snyder describes my whole approach to life since I was a young tumbleweed rolling in the wind over the Canadian prairies.

And just to show how simple living, a deep love of nature, creativity, and compassion can carry you a long way in life, Mr. Snyder is still with us. 

He is now 95 years old, and still rocking the simple life. How nice to celebrate his life and major contributions to humanity while he is still alive.

I picked out a few quotes that highlight where he has been coming from since he was hanging out with the Beat poets in the 1950s. 

Lawrence Ferlinghetti called Snyder ''the Thoreau of the Beat Generation''. 

Gary Snyder Quotes

The Redtail hawk teaches us to have a broad view of things, while not missing the stirring of a single mouse.

Practically speaking, a life that is vowed to simplicity, appropriate boldness, good humor, gratitude, unstinting work and play, and lots of walking, brings us close to the actually existing world and its wholeness.

You should really know what the complete natural world of your region is and know what all its interactions are and how you are interacting with it yourself. This is just part of the work of becoming who you are, where you are.

True affluence is to not need anything.

Three-fourths of philosophy and literature is the talk of people trying to convince themselves that they really like the cage they were tricked into entering.

Doom scenarios, even though they might be true, are not politically or psychologically effective. The first step is to make us love the world rather than to make us fear for the end of the world.

Walking is the great adventure, the first meditation, a practice of heartiness and soul primary to humankind. Walking is the exact balance between spirit and humility.

Thank you, Mr. Snyder. May we continue to recognize your wisdom, and follow in your footsteps as we learn to reconnect with nature and our better selves.