Simple Living Series - Never stop learning

I grew up in a completely different time.  I was born into a time when even though we were fairly modern, we still did most things in a similar way to how they'd been done for hundreds of years.  We grew a few vegetables, we made most of what we ate, we made our own clothes and knitted warm woollies to keep us warm in Winter.  We soaked our grains before eating them, drank non-homogensied milk,  spread our bread with butter and ate what today is seen as an unhealthy diet.  We made a lot of what we used at home, we even cobbled our own shoes and I have memories of my father mending our shoes on a last.  Not only do you not see lasts in homes now, I guess most people don't know what one is.  See one here.

To answer the most asked question on my blog, the upturned pots are to stop us poking our eyes out on the stick - and I love the way they look.

In those days there was no such thing as "low fat" foods.  We all ate every part of the animal and it was common for women to make brawn/headcheese using up all those trotters and bits that could not be used in another way, but could definitely not be wasted either.

I don't want to go back to those days, I found the 1950s particularly repressive, and I think those women who romanticise the 50s housewife were probably not there to experience what it was like.  However, I do use many of the skills I grew up with and find they now come in handy when running my home in a simple way.  We live now in a way that shields us from a lot of the work we commonly did back then.  We have been deskilled and dumbed down because now we buy much of what was made at home; now we hope to save time by buying convenience rather than do it ourselves.  Modern living has made us dependent.

I have no doubt that there are many readers who cannot get by without convenience foods and though they'd love to eat good home made food they have to buy convenience because they have no time for anything else.  But I also know that many buy convenience foods because it's easier or because they don't know how to make what they would like to have.

One of the things that has been at the forefront of my life since I changed the way I live is to learn everything that would help me live more simply.  I had to reskill, remember, practise, read and learn what I needed to know.  It took time and effort but it has paid off in all sorts of splendid ways.  I have rediscovered the independence and self reliance I grew up with. I feel confident that I can look after myself and others and that I am caring for all of us in the best way possible. 

I doubt learning ever stops.  I hope  it doesn't because I find it very liberating and it has given me a kind of life that is uncommon these days.  If you're new to this way of living, if you're trying to simplify, I want to encourage you to learn all you can.  Identify what it is you need to know - if you're anything like me, the list will be long, and slowly embark of your journey of discovery.  Be careful where you get your information from, the internet is full of misinformation.  I have found a few blogs that I've been inspired by over the years, and many books, just make sure your information is from a creditable source.  Once you feel sure of your source, or sources, learn something new every day.

You can learn how to make pasta sauce instead of buying it by the jar, and you can make your own pasta - you don't need a pasta machine.  There are many delicious summer drinks to make instead of relying on soda and soft drink.  Homemade bread, cakes and biscuits/cookies are all better that their store bought cousins and if you can teach yourself how to make sauces, jams, relish, gravy and dressings, not only will you be better off financially, you'll be eating far fewer preservatives, flavour enhancers and colourings.  Soap and laundry powder made with your own hands is  better on your skin than anything you can buy.  You will be wearing unique clothing if you learn dressmaking, crocheting and knitting. Learning how to grow some of your own food, harvesting water and knowing how to preserve your harvests will give you a confidence unlike any other. There are so many more things to suggest but I'm sure you understand what I'm aiming at.

We all want to live a long life and feel healthy enough to enjoy every single day of it.  I think we short change ourselves by buying low fat foods, margarine, flavour enhanced food that can sit on a shelf for days, weeks, or sometimes months before you buy it.  I hope to encourage you towards the more traditional ways of cooking and homemaking where we were taught by our mothers and grandmothers and passed that knowledge on to our daughters and sons.  You may be too old now to learn at your mother's side but there are plenty of books and a few good blogs to guide you.  I think if you make that choice, not only will you be healthier, you'll also discover contentment through self reliance.  And there is a lot to be said for a contented life.