PLENTY Magazine SUMMER 2019 Plenty Summer 2019-joomag (1) | Page 9

the name of sustenance. As for our clothing, almost everything avail- able today has been produced at a terrible cost to not only the envi- ronment and our health, but also to the overworked and underpaid hands that put them together, all so that we can indulge our throw- away habits that might barely make a dent in our pocketbooks. they intersect with quality of life and perpetuate an unsustainable paradigm. The slow living choice to feed and clothe ourselves closer to the source doesn’t necessarily take less time or work or money. In some instances it might take more. Those who have made the conscious decision to eat more The slow living choice to feed and clothe ourselves closer to the source doesn’t necessarily take less time or work or money. In some instances it might take more. The Lady Farmer Guide to In recent decades, time and money have become the two things consumers want to save over anything else. This gives rise to the attraction of convenience, the almighty bargain, fast food and fast fashion. How and when these perceived shortages became such a driving force in our society is probably beyond the scope of this discussion, but recognizing these cultural shifts is essential to under- standing their impact. The truth is that we have the same amount of time as did our ancestors and our grandparents. The difference is in how we choose to spend it. Choosing Slow Living Our own understanding of slow living has to do, quite simply, with making conscious choices about how we live our lives. It’s about paying attention to how we spend our time, money and resources, and taking a step back from the industrialized systems that have come to provide our daily needs. It’s also about observing our own consumer habits, where and how locally know this. It takes effort and organization to seek out local sources and very often requires paying more. Supermarkets might offer organic produce but it often isn’t local or fresh, and very few offer meat options that are not from concentrated animal feeding operation sources. Growing your own is a wonderful option, but is a commitment as well. During growing season when we’re plant- ing and weeding the garden plot, trying to keep it all going through drought, and at the end of the summer when our cup runneth over with wonderful things from the garden that need to be har- vested, prepared and preserved— life is not “slow,” as in “leisurely.” There is a huge amount of effort and energy involved. Yet, this is the choice we make over driving to the megamarket and buying packaged and processed food that could be on the table and ready to eat in no time. Likewise, the slow living choice for clothing that has not been produced at the expense of the land, our water, another Slow Living (coming soon) is a handbook for those seeking a life of beauty, simplicity, and sustain- ability. Mary Kingsley—author, homesteader and co-founder of Lady Farmer, a sustainable apparel and lifestyle brand, with daughter Emma Kingsley—dis- cusses humanity’s relationship with the natural world, how that relationship has shifted, and how the concept of slow living can return health to ourselves and our planet. This guide not only explores the damage done by our fast-food, fast-fashion, fast- everything culture, but also offers simple ways each of us can help to heal that damage. Whether you live in the city or suburb, its stories, tips, recipes, resources, ideas, and questions will get you thinking about your own relation- ship to the planet: what you eat, what you wear, where you live, and how you live. Subscribe to the Lady Farmer Newsletter to be the first to know when the book will launch! Visit: https://www. lady-farmer.com/subscribe/