Barcelona’s barter markets: an antidote to overconsumption by Kirsten Dirksen on June 16, 2009 A barter economy may seem far-out, but this world of trade is growing in parts of Spain (particularly Catalonia). “We’ve …
A tour through Thoreau’s simple living at Walden pond by Kirsten Dirksen on June 8, 2009 “In wildness is the preservation of the world,” wrote Henry David Thoreau in 1851 at a time when he was …
Minimalism vs. overconsumption 101: living more with less by Kirsten Dirksen on June 1, 2009 In most countries in the world we can’t seem to stop buying. Worldwide, about three quarters of us own at …
Scavenging the trash of overconsumption: Bio-diesel Hauling by Kirsten Dirksen on May 31, 2009 “Since we live in a country with so much excess, I think it’s important to have scavengers. That’s basically what …
How to share your ride: carsharing explained by Kirsten Dirksen on May 31, 2009 One way to reduce the number of cars on the road is to share them. Carsharing programs don’t just cut …
Downshifting explained: the happiness-wealth disconnect by Kirsten Dirksen on May 30, 2009 The industrialized world has become increasingly efficient- in the US in just a 12 hour work week, we can produce …
Registering for a downpayment and asking for wedding cash by Kirsten Dirksen on May 18, 2009 There are very few moments when I feel forced to consume, but one look at a wedding registry and I …
Postmodern frugalistas make thrift the new green by Kirsten Dirksen on April 16, 2009 Growing up, I worked to keep my family’s frugality discreet. Rather than brag about the number of days I had …
A 20K broken elbow makes downshifting difficult in US by Kirsten Dirksen on February 9, 2009 I’d never enjoyed having to learn medical street smarts, but it wasn’t until moving to Spain that I really recognized …
Where used clothing is about germs and dead people by Kirsten Dirksen on January 26, 2009 There are repair shops so specialized in Barcelona that you’d think no one would ever trash anything. Besides clocks, clothes, …
