Coffee is a truly every day thing around here. I haven't written about it before, because it is not really my thing (although this is what I drink every single morning). One of Mr. Tribe's greatest loves, for as long as I've known him (which is since we were both 19), is strong, dark coffee. Long before I'd heard of zero-waste or minimalism, I decided that Mr. Tribe should try a french press. I am guessing that I didn't really want one of those ugly coffee makers sitting on our counter + there would be no coffee filters to buy, so that minimal little device seemed pretty perfect to me.

The first french press was an inexpensive Bodum beauty that lasted for years. Mr. Tribe became a devoted convert to the riches that flowed from that french press. The only problem was that the glass carafe did not fit tightly into the holder and twice broke in the sink during cleaning. We were able to replace the glass once, but I think the second time, decided to upgrade to this insulated french press. It is almost all stainless steel and is probably about 15 years old. It gets daily use + travels with Mr. Tribe wherever he spends the night (even Middle School camp).

When we moved to London, instead of buying another dedicated plug adapter or another grinder, I bought Mr. Tribe this hand grinder (though I don't remember it being that expensive). Besides saving electricity, it had the added benefit of being quieter at 5am when he got up to study.  :) It must be about ten years old + is going strong. (Each of these devices made great gifts.)  :)

Together with fair-trade beans bought in bulk, coffee is easily and simply zero-waste (on our end...because obviously coffee involves a lot of travel). Spent grounds get added to the compost. Easy peasy.

Love,
Jane

The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy
Becoming Wise by Krista Tippett
Wabi-Sabi Welcome by Julie Pointer Adams
Simple Fare by Karen Mordecai

"Whilst we might imbue our [clothes] with our own shape, and mould their form and appearance through our habits, we do not do so on a tabula rasa. For these garments have their own unique structure, made by, and embedded with, the traces of the actions and habits of invisible workers, in the prehistory of their existence as commodities." Hauser 2004

Loving this tight color palette, +this one, + this one.
These wise words.
​And these.
How many times can this be recycled?
The journey of a t-shirt.

Have a wonderful summer weekend, friends!!

Love,
Jane

Do not ask your children
to strive for extraordinary lives.
Such striving may seem admirable,
but it is the way of foolishness.
Help them instead to find the wonder
and the marvel of an ordinary life.
Show them the joy of tasting
tomatoes, apples and pears.
Show them how to cry
when pets and people die.
Show them the infinite pleasure
in the touch of a hand.
And make the ordinary come alive for them.
The extraordinary will take care of itself.
~William Martin

This is my version of fried rice. That's my disclaimer, because basically fried rice just means adding eggs to stir fry to me. Like stir fry at our house, I don't actually fry it.  :) As usual, this is just inspiration...but this time our "fried rice" included steamed carrots (no need to peel them) and broccoli, brown rice, scrambled eggs, our first garden grown (and very spicy) pepper of the year, parsley, + tamari. I know a meal is good, when everyone at the table says that I can make it again soon...so this is the second time we've eaten it in two weeks.  :)

Another day/another plate of fried rice :: This time we had sweet peppers from the garden + carrots + broccoli + pepper flakes + eggs + rice + tamari.

Love,
​Jane

Julie Pointer Adams defines wabi-sabi as a way of life that celebrates the "perfectly imperfect". It is "beauty found in unusual, unfashionable places or objects, and in moments usually overlooked or unappreciated." It's about "paying attention. It is the habit of noticing and relishing small and hidden wonders." "It's a willingness to be easily delighted instead of critical, skeptical, or fearful." It's "unswerving from the everydayness of real life."

On its own, the Japanese word wabi is explained in part as simplicity and humility...someone being "content with little" + making "the most of whatever he or she has...always moving toward having less." I love this image of gentle process + quiet adjustment. Sabi is about embracing the imperfections, beauty, and authenticity of the process of aging. What a beautiful and peaceful picture the idea of wabi-sabi creates. ​

There is something amazing about reading a book that promotes humility + beauty. What a departure from the messages that bombard us today. Humility + beauty accept the signs of aging in both objects and ourselves as signs of utility and vitality. Humility + beauty see value in less and enough. Together they celebrate simplicity and function. A bed made up with white cotton sheets + duvet standing alone in the bedroom functions simply as the sanctuary it was always meant to be...humble + beautiful. Flea market finds made of sturdy, worn wood point to this humble beauty as well. Japanese paper lanterns with their delicate, wonky shapes formed from the humblest of materials, yet lending the warmest light seem to embody wabi-sabi as well. Perfectly imperfect. Allowed...noticed...embraced.

Love,
Jane

Just a gentle reminder to take another look around + see what we have that might be better used by someone else. I appreciate the reminder that what we hold on to (just in case)...we are holding back from someone else. 

We have amazing opportunities to connect stuff with people these days. Craigslist, eBay, Etsy, Amazon, Facebook, + Instagram offer enhanced connection. I love that I can connect items to people who will appreciate them. It's one more step between manufacture and waste that prolongs the life of the item (+ making a little money is nice too). :) Once we begin holding our things more lightly, we begin to tune in to opportunities for generosity. Events and situations we hear about (like wildfires, floods, domestic abuse, resettlement, foster care aging out, + homelessness) can spur us to action rather than making us feel powerless. 

Once material possessions become the stuff of Stuffocation or Affluenza it can be difficult to remember that the same items clogging up our homes + garages could help someone else's life become a little more functional. 

Let it go. Let it be useful again.

Love,
Jane

everything is made

doesn't it seem like the world
only wants to move faster
making more and caring less
via

I realize that no one probably wants or cares for such a detailed look at my wardrobe, but somehow I feel like I'm cheating on my previous rundown here...until I record the changes.  :) This makes me realize that the monthly wardrobes were a good thing...things change + I can reflect that monthly.

The things that changed from my intentions of a simple summer wardrobe are:
-I sewed the planned denim tencel shorts + didn't like them (on me). So I decided not to  make any more shorts.
-I'm wearing my thrifted olive pants + my sewn patterned pants with tank tops instead of the planned shorts. It's mostly the olive pants, but I'll throw in the others for options.
-I found a cute little thrifted white tank (even before I wrote this), so I decided not to sew the extra tank.
-My clay jumpsuit was sold, because it felt like one too many once it finally came time to really wear it.
-I decided that I don't need another layer. My indigo tee is enough + I can grab my denim jacket or olive shirt if I really want something different. I had planned to make something like this from a worn/thrifted long-sleeved t-shirt...maybe some other time.
-(My tees were not worn.)

So my simple summer wardrobe now consists of:
tops::
-3 white tanks
-black tank
-block print tank
-pj tank (which I'm now wearing as a top instead)

bottoms::
-olive shorts
-​olive pants
-red block print pants
-(maybe) green print pants

jumpsuits::
-navy
-black

dress::
-stripe

layer::
-indigo LS tee

footwear:
-clog sandals
-vejas
-flipflops
​
total: 17

I honestly feel like I still have too many tops + bottoms. Since I'm trying to make do with what I already have, it is what it is. If I were to start from scratch, I would probably try to just have solid cotton + linen pieces that can all mix + match. I could focus on my color palette of white, clay, + pale denim along with a block printed piece or two + hits of natural leather for sandals + purse. Goals.  :)

Sorry to bore you...again.
That's it.  

Love,
Jane

My reusable grocery bags are getting to the point at which I'm going to need to replace them. I've been thinking about what the replacements will be for a while, so I thought I'd share some of my current top choices. Some of my criteria for consideration are that I'd like the bags to be washable...it would be nice if they could stand on their own...I'd like them to be big enough to reduce the need for too many bags...I'd like them to last a good, long time...+ their end of life disposal is a consideration too.

These bags from Patagonia are made of 100% organic cotton + assembled with fair-trade certified sewing. (yay!) I think they would be machine washable too (though would likely lose some of their stiffness with washing). I like that the longer straps of the bag on the left could be tucked inside to enable toting with the shorter straps. I also like the prints on these bags, because they would probably hide stains. I might be able to get by with three of the bags on the left (17 x 8 in. base), but would probably need a few more of the bags on the right (12 x 5.75 in. base).

I already have a few of these Baggu shopping bags that I use for all sorts of things...but only for toting toilet paper from the grocery store. They are inexpensive and quite durable. I could add a couple to my collection and maybe stash them in one of these pouches to keep them all together. Another pouch could hold my liberty bulk bags. I like to fold my bags up after use because they slide into my purse easily when folded, but I could decide to simply stuff the grocery bags into the pouch in order to avoid the folding.

These nylon bags are ethically made in China, + can be machine washed and hung to dry. At the end of their useful lives as bags, Baggu will take them back for recycling.

The bag on the left is from Steele Canvas. It looks very sturdy and like the ideal shape. I think I would only need 3 of them since their bases are 17 x 7 in. This bag is made in the USA from cotton canvas, but can only be spot cleaned. There is a black option to consider. These bags (especially the black ones) seem like they could possibly be the last grocery totes I'd ever have to buy.

The bag on the right is from Baggu. It has an 18 x 5 in. base, so it is on the smaller side. It is ethically made in China from recycled cotton. I would probably need at least five of them.

Sewing some grocery bags is also an option. It's quite simple to make up a bag without a pattern, but I'm finding this new pattern (left) from Merchant & Mills intriguing...especially in their dry oilskin. Without the shoulder strap, these could be great. Purlbee also has lots of lovely inspiration.

​Do you have a grocery bag system that you love? Would you choose one of these choices? Do share!  :)

Love,
​Jane

All photos via links.

We have dehumanized the people who make our clothes because we have made it ok for their labour to be just a few cents more than worthless. Every time we buy something that costs less than we think it should, we are implicit in that transaction. Money - our money - is what makes the fashion world go round. By disrupting the status quo, we have the power to change things.  ~Tasmin Blanchard