Repair Then And Now

We used to repair things not so long ago. That was back when manufacturers made a profit by offering well made items that people could reliably use for a long period of time. If worn or broken they could be revived for continued use.

Now money is made by by offering shoddy items that are not durable, and must be replaced often. In many cases the items are purposefully designed to fail early in their life.

The main attraction is that they are inexpensive. But only initially. 

If you have to repeatedly replace shoddy products, it ends up costing everyone a lot more.

Any time something I own breaks, I repair it if I can. If I can't, I learn how.

So many of the things I own show evidence of past repairs. They all have a wabi-sabi imperfection that makes them unique, and I like that, scars and all.

To throw out and replace items would be to condone the blatant waste for profit model that is sullying the planet with great heaps of crappy, broken junk. Every repair I make is a victory for frugality and economy.

In a short period of time, repair shops have largely disappeared from the community commercial landscape. Perhaps they will return as we work at the retrieval of good ideas that got tossed while under the influence of  consumerism.

My prediction is that repair shops will be making a comeback, and I will welcome, and support, them.

In the meantime, in a boost to fans of frugality everywhere, there is a wealth of how-to-repair-things information online. 

One example you might want to check out is iFixit, where one can get information on fixing a wide variety of items. They think it is time for a Consumer's Bill Of Rights that allows the right to repair.

Happy repairs.

WE HAVE THE RIGHT

 - to open everything we own

 - to modify and repair our things

 - to unlock and jailbreak the software in our electronics

WE MUST HAVE ACCESS

 - to repair information

 - to products that can be repaired

 - to reasonably-priced, independent repair shops

Repair Cafe: Can We Fix It?

The worst case of planned obsolescence I have heard of concerns computer printers that have a "pre-programmed failure date" that shuts the device down after so many copies, or when a competitors ink cartridge is used.

Worst case, that is, until hearing that a popular cell phone company intentionally slowed their old phones down so that people would think they needed a new handset. Many people replaced their phones not knowing that all they needed was a new battery.

There is a rising swell of people that are sick and tired of the intentional throw-away economy. They want quality things that can be repaired, and that will last a long time.

A proactive response to all the cheap, made-to-fail crap is The Repair Café. Its objectives are to reduce waste, maintain repair skills, and strengthen social cohesion.

It was initiated by Martine Postma when she organized the first Repair Café in Amsterdam, on October 18, 2009. Fast forward to today, and there are over 1500 repair cafes around the world.

The following is from the Repair Cafe International website:

Repair Cafés are free meeting places and they’re all about repairing things (together). In the place where a Repair Café is located, you’ll find tools and materials to help you make any repairs you need, on clothes, furniture, electrical appliances, bicycles, crockery, appliances, toys, et cetera. 

You’ll also find expert volunteers, with repair skills in all kinds of fields. 

Visitors bring their broken items from home. Together with the specialists they start making their repairs in the Repair Café. It’s an ongoing learning process. 

If you have nothing to repair, you can enjoy a cup of tea or coffee. Or you can lend a hand with someone else’s repair job. 

You can also get inspired at the reading table – by leafing through books on repairs and DIY.

Any time something breaks, the first question should be, "Can we fix it?" Too often companies do not sell replacement parts, or give owners access to repair manuals, making repairs difficult.

The Right To Repair Movement is actively taking on this form of forced obsolescence, and demanding that rules change so that owners can fix the things they have paid for without corporate malfeasance.

Repair Cafes encourage people to "Fix It" before carelessly throwing out and buying new replacements. Not repairing when we can means perpetuating the cycle of disposability while supporting unscrupulous manufacturers.

Is there a Repair Cafe near you. Check the map here.

Or perhaps you would like to initiate a Repair Cafe in your own community. See here.

Welcome to the Repair Revolution. Fix it, don't nix it.

10 Things On My "Buy It For Life" List

I will probably never have to shop for leather hiking boots again.

When you have to buy something, choosing the quality and durable alternative means you may never have to buy that thing again. For those of us that don't like shopping much, that is a very attractive situation.

One of the best ways to make things last is to acquire quality things. It may cost more to begin with, but over the long run they outlast their cheaper counterparts. Also good would be buying items that you can repair if needed, which will also make things last a long time.

Good quality items, along with gentle use and proper maintenance, could conceivably last several lifetimes. A good set of hand tools, or a cast iron frying pan fall into this category.

Other items may not technically last a lifetime, but in a world of disposable this, and throw away that, having something that lasts a long time deserves an honorary inclusion. Sturdy clothing would fall under this category.

Here are 10 practical and durable items on my "Buy It For Life" list:

1. Cast iron frying pan - we are using one handed down through 3 generations.
2. Wood cutting board - cared for properly, it can last a lifetime
3. Binoculars - essential bird watching tool that if cared for will bring birds into focus for many years.
4. Sturdy furniture - cheap furniture is not worth buying. I prefer older, second hand sturdy stuff.
5. Pots and pans - don't let them sit empty on a hot burner and everything will be fine.
6. Stainless steel thermal mug - indestructible items that keep liquids hot or cold longer.
7. Basic tools/garden tools - buy good stuff and enjoy a lifetime of gardening
8. double-edged safety razor - bomb proof, and the blades are waaay cheaper than modern razors.
9. Guitar - WIlly Nelson has had his guitar for over 45 years.
10. Leather hiking boots - my first pair lasted decades, and the next will probably be my last.

These frugal choices are the opposite of the throw-away economy. They reduce waste, and save money in the long run. Plus, old things take on a personality, character, and beauty of their own, as in the Japanese tradition of wabi-sabi.

I have found that it is usually better to look for things like longevity, energy efficiency, repairability, and low total cost of ownership when making a purchase, instead of just what is least expensive. 

The frugal choice may not be the cheapest choice, but instead the more expensive option that may never have to be bought again. 

What are some things on your "Buy It For Life" list? 

Shoe Repair Is Green

If there is one job I would think obsolete it would be shoe repair, or cobbler. Not that they don't perform valuable work, but that most people don't see their services as necessary any more.

Does anyone, besides myself, actually repair shoes these days? Or are shoes like everything else and shoesumers find it cheaper and easier just to throw out worn or damaged shoes and buy brand new replacements?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, between 2010 and 2020 the number of cobblers will decrease by a whopping 53 percent. It appears that cheap, disposable shoes are the downfall of the trade.

However, as soon as a recession hits, they say, workers in the shoe repair industry may actually encounter a spike in business caused by wallet-tightening consumers wishing to have their shoes repaired instead of buying brand new.

So these "make it last" repair personal persist in our wasteful world, although in a somewhat diminished state compared to the pre-disposable days. No doubt they will, if are any left by then, regain their former glory in a post-consumer, post-disposable, post industrial world.

If TV and movies reflected the real world there would definitely be cobblers in every zombie apocalypse story. It would be very hard for the still living to run away from the undead with damaged footwear. Cobblers would be kings!

High heels would finally go extinct, because you can't run away with them, damaged or not. Sensible, comfortable and fast shoes would rule, and fashion would drool.

"Your anti-zombie trainers will be fixed next Thursday. Don't forget your ticket... and something to barter."

Cobblers tools

In the pre-zombie world you can still find cobblers in most large cities, but may not have such a service in smaller population centres. Luckily, many shoe repairs can be done right at home. And you don't have to wait until something is chasing you to do it.

A tube of shoe goo will go a long way to reattaching soles or any loose bits. You can use this amazing substance to build up worn heels, plug a hole, and waterproof seams.

With a few simple tools and gear, as well as a good dose of patience, one can do more extensive repairs.

Websites, like the Odd Shoes Blog can help with most repairs. This same website also has information about what you can do with your old shoes after you are done with them. Your old footwear might be donated to someone without shoes, or they could be recycled into playground surfaces or padding to go under basketball courts.

If you are planning to go green and save money, the services of a lonely cobbler or a bit of home shoe repair might be for you. If you are planning on a post-industrial career path, there still might be time to apprentice with a master cobbler while there are still a few around.

Give 'Em The Finger

Over the weekend the brave citizens of Greece, in a bold David and Goliath move, gave the big bankers the finger. They stood up to the greedy giant and said, "No more bullying".

The referendum result was a rock fired from the sling of democracy, and it hit the bully right in the temple.

It is heartening to see little people stand up to power. The story is one well liked by people everywhere, because the story of abuse of the small by the large is tragically well known.

How wonderful that we can all be Davids slinging rocks toward strategic targets in order to fell the selfish and unjust that are not too-big-to-fall. We can all do our little bit, our actions will build and reach the tipping point, and then we will see them topple.

You may not think you have any rocks for your sling, but you have many. Every action and decision can be a rock cast at a plethora of giants. Take your pick.

When you buy organic you give the finger to GMOs.

When you repair something you give the finger to planned obsolescence and the throw away society.

When you cook your own food you give the finger to the fast/processed food industry.

When you wait and save money before buying something you give the finger to the usurers in the big banks and credit card companies.

When you educate yourself and speak out you give the finger to governments that only want ignorant, quiet and compliant consumers.

When you ride your bike instead of driving you give the finger to the fossil fuel industry.

The giants know the story of David and Goliath just as well as the little people... and it scares them. They know how it ends. That is why they want to restrict our freedom, our rights, our throwing hand.

But in the end, just like in the ancient story, the small and seemingly insignificant always win. Regardless of how much they try to stifle us, it never works.

Give them the finger. Use your sling. Bring them down with every little thing you do every day. It is happening, and like the news from Greece, there is more evidence every day that the Goliaths are trembling. They can see the inevitable outcome - they are starting to fall already.

Words To Consume By

My favourite conscious consumption Re- word is REFUSE. If something doesn't fit with your environmental values the thing to do is refuse to consume it.

The following words from Pete Seger are an excellent anti-consumption guideline, and amount to about the same thing.

“If it can’t be

• reduced, 
• reused, 
• repaired, 
• rebuilt, 
• refurbished, 
• resold, 
• recycled or 
• composted

then it should be 

• restricted, 
• redesigned, or 
• removed from production."

- Pete Seger

The Fixer's Manifesto

What's Out and What's In

OUT: The old dream of "getting ahead" by getting more money to buy more stuff.


IN: A new dream of "getting better" by getting out of debt, honouring your priorities, helping others and healing the planet.

Wabi Sabi Repair

Too Many Clothes

January is a good time to start a clothing purge project

After I went traveling for a year and got by with a tiny wardrobe of about 15 items (including socks and underwear), I started to wonder why I needed any more than that. It was one reason I stopped buying anything new for my wardrobe.

To say I haven't bought any new clothes for years would be a bit of an exaggeration - I have bought new socks and underwear. But that is about it. And yet, I still seem to have more clothes than I need.

How To Tell If You Have Too Many Clothes

1. You have clothing bought long ago that is still in its packaging.
2. You have more clothes than closet (the answer is not a bigger closet).
3. You have clothes in boxes that haven't been opened in years.
4. You have clothes you didn't even know you had.
5. You keep losing things under piles of clothes.

Getting rid of stuff is a challenge for most of us, but getting rid of clothes presents some unique challenges. Giving away dust-collecting trinkets may be easy, but how does one get rid of something as practical and useful as clothes? Clothes are kind of like foodstuffs - you can't survive without them. 

Without clothes we are naked, and being out and about in your birthday suit is not socially acceptable in most places I know. We need clothes not only to cover our bumps and bits, but in a climate like I live in, clothes are essential for survival as well. 

Parting with essentials is difficult, but really, you can only wear one shirt or one pair of pants at a time. I know how many clothes I really need, and my entire light wardrobe can fit into a backpack with room to spare. The rest of the stuff is just taking up space in my closet, and my head. 

Clearing The Clothes

A necessary first step is admitting that you have too many clothes, and have a desire to cut back to a more manageable and useful level.

The hanger method shown in the photo above is one way, albeit a slow one, to weed out the unnecessary clothing from your closet. This is the equivalent of pulling a band aid off very, very slowly. It may not be the most efficient method if you can feel a big purge coming on.

To pull the band aid off in one fell swoop, one must be brave and go all in from the start. Having committed to reduction, attack the clothes like they are your enemy and show them who is boss. Wrestle the clothing into 4 piles:

1. Clothes that don't fit you.
2. Clothes that you haven't worn in over a year.
3. Clothes that need to be repaired.
4. Clothes that you can't live without.

Take piles 1 and 2 to a second hand store, or offer them to someone you know that would appreciate them. Pile number 3 should be taken to a tailor, or handy friend or mom, for repair. 

Pile number 4 should be set aside and gone through one more time. Pull out redundant clothes, such as more than 2 or 3 pairs of jeans, or white shirts. Get the pile down to a manageable amount of practical, functional clothes that you will use on a regular basis.

If you are having trouble with the task, think of how organized you will feel owning only clothing in good repair, that fits you, and that you feel good wearing. 

A clothing purge is excellent for resetting your wardrobe, but a moratorium on the purchase of new clothes will prevent the build up from happening again. Oh, the money you will save.

And remember, "people seldom notice old clothes if you are wearing a big smile".

Self-Repair Manifesto

Join The Repair Revolution

The Self-Repair Manifesto

Repair Is Better Than Recycling.

Making our things last longer is both more efficient and more cost-effective than mining them for raw materials.

Repair Saves The Planet.

Earth has limited resources and we can't run a linear manufacturing process forever. The best way to be efficient is to reuse what we already have!

Repair Saves You Money.

Fixing things is often free, and usually cheaper than replacing them. Doing the repair yourself saves serious dough.

Repair Teaches Engineering.

The best way to find out how something works is to take it apart!

If You Can't Fix It, You Don't Own It.

Repair connects people and devices, creating bonds that transcend consumption. Self-repair is sustainable.

Self-Repair:

• connects you with your things, 
• empowers and emboldens individuals, 
• transforms consumers in to contributors, 
• inspires pride in ownership, 
• injects soul and makes things unique, 
• is independence, 
• requires creativity, 
• is green, 
• is joyful, 
• is necessary for understanding our things, 
• saves money and resources.

E-waste is a global problem. The best way to keep valuable resources and toxic materials out of landfills is to keep our stuff working longer. Self repair not only saves you money, it helps protect the environment.