Both Simply Living Well by Julia Watkins + Home by Natural Harry are beautiful books full of recipes for cleaning supplies + body products. My personal preference is to truly keeping things as simple as possible most of the time...but there are a few recipes I'm considering. (photos on the right :: Home)

Grow Food for Free by Huw Richards offers some interesting ways of thinking about gardening this spring...including some inspiring zero-waste hacks. (photos on the left :: Grow Food for Free)

Dream house.
It just rings truer.
Winsome patterns.
Sound of Metal.
​Better for everyone.
When they're too tired to cook. (My version toward the end of this post.)

Hopefully you are out of the deep freeze + enjoying some sunshine (+ heat + electricity + water) this weekend!
​
Sending love,
Jane

Each week that brings the calendar closer to March
there is a shift in the position of the northern hemisphere
in relation to the sun.
We gain a little more sunlight every day,
the mean temperature rises a fraction of a degree,
the enzymes within plants become more active
+ in many species cells begin to divide.
The growing season is beginning.
~Emma Mitchell from The Wild Remedy : How Nature Mends Us

There is no one-size-fits-all way of curating an ethical +/or minimal wardrobe. Some of us will use our love of browsing to score the best thrift store finds. Some of us would rather find one good t-shirt + stick with it.

The people I live with each have their own ethical wardrobe superpowers. Each of their closets looks different. Each of them has skills + ways of seeing that I admire. I've asked each of them to share a little bit more about their superpowers + I'm so excited that they agreed! First up is my partner.

Jane :: I know you don't spend as much time as I do thinking about your wardrobe, but do you have any things you try to keep in mind when it comes to your wardrobe...ethically speaking?

Him :: I try to remember to wear what I have + to wear it as long as it looks good + functions well. When I choose to replace something I try to buy from a company whose style I like but that also uses responsible practices. 

Jane :: I think you have a few ethical wardrobe superpowers. One is that you have a few categories of clothing that you know work for your life + you stick with those. What pieces do you find are "enough"?

Him :: t-shirts, button-downs, jeans, khakis (don't have to be khaki), trainers, boots, Vans

Jane :: Do you think that finding a middle ground with your style (casual vs. business) has allowed you to have fewer pieces?

Him :: Definitely. A button-down shirt with (dark) jeans works for work + when I get home I can just untuck the shirt + I feel more relaxed. I have a crewneck sweatshirt that I can wear over a button-down to work + over a t-shirt on the weekend. For me, a zip-up hoodie would seem a bit too casual for work. I like clothes that I can wear in a variety of different situations.

Jane :: Do you have any shortcuts when it comes to shopping?

Him :: We've found a bunch of my shirts at the same thrift store when we travel. If I don't find something I need at a thrift store, then I will look at Outerknown. I like their style + they fit me well. Their commitment to responsibility is something I can get excited about + respect. For example, their SEA jeans are fair-trade certified, made with organic cotton + they are guaranteed for life!

Jane :: Are there ways that you can feel somewhat uniquely "you" while keeping your wardrobe minimal?   

Him :: Yeah, I'm just careful about what I choose. If I can find a brand with an aesthetic that I really like, then I can choose things that reflect who I think I am + what I stand for. I do like having a pair of old skool Vans + having a t-shirt or two that reflects something I'm excited about.

Jane :: Do you still want new things all the time? How do you counter this urge?

him :: Not all the time. When I do, I remind myself that I have things that I really like + if I continue to wear my clothes until they wear out...then I can get something new that I really like. It makes me feel good to get life out every piece of clothing that I like + enjoy wearing. A few months ago, my Vans completely wore out + I felt good about choosing a new color.

Jane :: I admire your ethical wardrobe superpowers which I recognize as:

• knowing what your basics are + sticking with them
• making "style" with a few signature pieces
• narrowing down your go-to ethical shopping choices
• deciding to stop shopping just for fun + following through

Jane :: Is there any reason that these don't apply to cycling clothes?  (haha) 

Him :: Yeah, it's an area for improvement. I wish there were more cycling companies that took sustainability seriously.

Thank you, my love, for taking the time to think through + share some of your thoughts on clothing (not your favorite topic...but one of mine)!  :)
​
The fairdare can end up looking so many different ways + I love that! Recognize, celebrate + use those superpowers!

Love,
Jane

Altar is a retail shop in Portland, Oregon that carries goods made by independent manufacturers + artists in North America. Alter Houseline consists of clothing made in the USA from deadstock fabrics + provides sizes small through 6XL.

All images via Altar Houseline.

I made these overalls two + a half years ago. I wear them with tanks in the summer + all layered up in the winter. They are probably my most worn make at the moment, but they (like most things) were not perfect. 

I really liked the way these overalls looked...from the front. I like the ties + the Liberty lined pockets. The rise + the length are just how I like them. When I first made these, they were a struggle to get off + on...so I lowered the back (Beaton style). Since I admire those Beaton overalls so much, the back felt acceptable...but...it also felt a bit weird. I was always trying to make sure that the gap back there was folded over + secure. 

Today, I finally found a piece of leftover elastic + cinched up the back a bit. I like the loose-ish fit, so I left a little play in the waist. And it looks SO much better back there now!  :)

Elastic has been a helpful fitting friend of mine. I often use it to bring shape more than to provide functional stretch. I used it on this straight jumpsuit to bring a little waist definition...on this jacket to coax a cocoon shape...and here to close the back gap.  :)

These little tweaks are often total game changers in making my pieces just that much more enjoyable to wear! Make it better...get it worn!
​
Love,
​Jane

The core of beauty is simplicity.
​~Paulo Coelho

The spice drawer offers some eerie similarities to the overstuffed closets in many homes. There are the spices that were used once for that one recipe. There are duplicates bought when we couldn't remember what we already had. There are spices that have completely lost their flavor. We can't bear to throw some away, because they were expensive. Maybe it's time to take stock of the spices hanging out in the kitchen.  :)

When I started cooking for myself I didn't really know how to use spices unless I was using a recipe. I wasn't even really sure what flavors some of them brought to the table. Without the knowledge of how to create flavor, I had little ability to create dishes out of what was left in the fridge or pantry at the end of the week. All of this can lead to waste + frustration.

I find immense pleasure in experiencing traditional food from various regions around the world. Some of the most delicious flavors I've tasted were generously shared by neighbors originally from Iraq + India. Food is one of our favorite parts of traveling. We savor eating in restaurants with experienced Mexican, Thai, Chinese + Japanese (etc., etc.) cooks. My at-home cooking really cannot compare to these offerings, but spices can offer a hint of the flavors I wish to recreate. 

A few spicy things to consider:

• spices lose their flavor with time, so using them up in a timely manner is key
• stocking a tight collection of spices + knowing how to use them helps me use them up
• figure out which spices you like/dislike 
• take note of versatile spices
• in order to taste it, don't skimp on the amount of spice added (spoon it in!)
• salt enhances flavor...use it as a complement
• choose less expensive spices + ones that really add flavor, if budget is a concern
• many spices bought in bulk are quite inexpensive

The spices I stock include:​

• cayenne
• turmeric
• cumin
• cinnamon
• ginger
• salt
• pepper flakes
• seasonally: cardamom (winter) + dill (summer)

I try to keep things relatively simple in the kitchen for both my budget + waste concerns. But taste is still the number one priority. Here is my personal, simple spice strategy (including one example of something I make in each category):

• Indian :: cayenne, turmeric, cumin, cinnamon, ginger, salt  (curry sauce: these spices, a jar of my tomato sauce, half can of full-fat coconut milk + half a lemon, squeezed)
• Mexican :: cayenne, cumin, salt  (taco bowl: olive oil, onion, tomato sauce, these spices, beans on brown rice topped with avocado, lime, fresh cilantro)
• Asian :: ginger + cayenne  (stir fry: jasmine rice + steamed broccoli + cashews + sauce made of tamari, lime, these spices, a tiny bit of brown sugar + spring onions or fresh cilantro)
• Italian :: cayenne, salt  (pasta sauce: olive oil, onion, tomato sauce, these spices + pasta + parmesan + fresh basil or fresh parsley)
• (Alternatively, you could buy ready made spice blends. I found those expensive + not always to my taste...and that's actually what led me to figure this out.)
• Pumpkin spice :: substitute cinnamon + a little cardamom, if I have it
• Pickle spice :: dill, a tiny bit of sugar, salt, cayenne or pepper flakes
• Pepper flakes :: a liberal sprinkling goes onto just about anything we eat  :)

Someone just starting out without a whole lot of cooking instruction behind them could try this strategy...but could also just be observant when eating food they like. Take note of menu descriptions/combinations. Try to deconstruct surprising flavors. And then try it at home. 

Or just start with salt + pepper flakes. Some of our favorite meals need only those:

• pasta, a little butter, parmesan, salt + pepper flakes
• rice, frozen peas, butter, parmesan, squeezed lemon wedge, salt + pepper flakes 
• add salt + pepper flakes to toast topped with an over-easy egg or mashed avocado 
• roasted, root vegetables + onion tossed with olive oil sprinkled with salt + pepper flakes + hard-boiled egg

Obviously, you stock what you like + use. This is just my approach....and my belief that simple can taste so good!

Love,
​Jane

Refashioned by Sass Brown highlights designers around the world making clothing out of upcycled materials. Inspiring.

I actually enjoyed sewing jeans with this pattern. The sizing works for me without much alteration (lucky, I know). It is a totally manageable pattern taken one step at a time. A couple of things I purposely did in order to make my first experience with sewing jeans easier were:

1. choosing a lighter weight denim which is helpful in getting the layers through the sewing machine
2. purchasing the right sewing machine needle
3. choosing non-constrasting thread which makes topstitching less stressful

Notes + alterations: 

• cut one size smaller than the one my measurements put me in according to the pattern...the finished measurements listed on the pattern match my measurements exactly on the size I chose to cut
• left back pockets off until the jeans were finished so that I could choose the size + placement...enlarged the pockets
• did a flat felled seam on the inner leg seam + as far as I could up the outer side seams...in order to neaten the cuff fold ups
• side seam allowances sewn to 2 cm instead of the 1.5 recommended (baste outer seams first...try them on + sew seams to fit) (I love the wide seam allowances which offer both strength + room for fitting)

Pattern :: Merchant & Mills Harlene (<<well-priced for the USA)
Fabric :: Merchant & Mills 8 oz. dark denim 
​Needle :: chrome denim needles (worked a charm)
Thread :: regular all-purpose thread in navy (makes mistakes almost invisible)
Button :: Citron Jeans (came with the toolkit)

It's pretty cool to know how each + every seam on the jeans I'm wearing came together. And as always, sewing gives me such respect for garment workers! Make a pair of jeans + then consider how much a pair of jeans in the store should cost.  ;)

Love,
Jane

What we practice,
we become.
​~Casper Ter Kuile