Fix it, make it, grow it, bake it – book review

Recently, Mr Green and I have been re-evaluating our lives together. What do we want? What enables us to feel fulfilled, secure, joyful and that we are contributing something meaningful to one another and the world at large?

These questions, which many of us face from time to time, give us the opportunity to look at our possessions, lifestyle and habits in order to discover what is truly important.In her book “Fix it, make it, grow it, bake it” Billee Sharp explores the ‘Good Life’ in terms of how our actions have an impact on our environment and she asks us to consider simplicity in our lives.

With the global market on our doorstep, we have every choice imaginable available to us. This book asks us to look at what small changes we can make in order for us to peacefully and sustainably co-exist with one another on the earth.

I get the feeling Ms Sharp would have preferred a book six times this size to write! She is clearly a resourceful woman whom I sense is bursting with experience, knowledge and anecdotes to share. What she does is give he reader a taste of all areas of the ‘Good Life’.

Aimed at beginners, you’ll find simple recipes made from home grown food, ideas for celebrations that don’t cost the earth, information about home composting, energy saving tips, basic home maintenance, simple home crafts, kitchen medicine and even household cleaning recipes.

What I found personally stimulating were her chapters on revolutionary budgeting and ‘Freeconomics’. These chapters list ideas for living outside the monetary system and include:

• The Really Really free market
• SF Glean
• Bartering skills
• Low capital start up business
• Gift economies
• Burning man festival
• Couch surfing

If you’re considering downshifting, want to improve your quality of life or simply want to consume less and create more then this book is well worth reading. It is inspiring with great suggestions to get your creative juices flowing and by the end of it you’ll view your resources differently and be on your way to self reliance.

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