Most western countries across the world are viewed as having an abundance of resources that help them get through life. However, there are many countries across the world who are taking small things just outside their “backyards” just so they can survive. There are five communities in the world in particular that use their resources to their advantage. These communities exist in India, Ecuador, Republic of Congo, Italy, and Romania. Each of these communities’ have their unique ways of displaying different ways towards simple living. Let’s take a journey around the world, across the water, where these communities exist today. Hold on!
Navdanya
Heads. Hearts. Hands. Three aspects of life that the people of this community stand on which has brought attention to life, nature, and the diversity amongst them. Located in the mountain ranges, secluded, yet amazing teaching institution, we can find Bija Vidyapeeth (Earth University). At this institution we are introduced to the Navdanya culture and community. Navdanya is unique in its own way. Navdanya means “nine seeds” which symbolizes the protection of biological and cultural diversity. Individuals of this culture set their minds upon the concepts of life, heritage, and continuity. This particular community has been adopting the concept of simple living for many years. What’s so unique about this community is that not only are they creating awareness, but they are a women driven organization that enlightens others on biopiracy and food rights in the change of globalization and climate that surrounds them.
This community focuses on the fact of growing their foods and other resources from the ground up. Not only does this prevent them from eating foods that aren’t good for them, but also it teaches them about the world that surrounds them. Imagine having to survive off of the crops that you grew in your back yard? Most people may think this is not sanitary (which all you have to do is cleanse the fruit), but in reality food we buy from the grocery stores aren’t any cleaner. This community not only focuses on teaching those apart different ways to plant and produce, but using your everyday skills to help live a simple life. The most creative initiative that this culture has adopted was the Earth University. This university taps into the minds of individuals who are adapting a simple lifestyle.By having resources such as the university and diverse women groups help teach others the way to survival without spending large amounts of money and also being knowledgeable of what their bodies are consuming. This community is large in India and has spread their knowledge to over 122 community seed banks across the country. As individuals of the affluent West, we can learn how to use the resources we have to survive and also teach others around us those same strategies. Just imagine growing seeds in your backyard and using them for multiple areas in your life? Fascinating right? No more trips to Walmart; saving gas and saving money.
Republic of Congo
What do you need? That is the question presented to those of the Bantomba tribe by GCEarth. Located in our backyard, Durham, NC that is, there is an organization called GCEarth. Their main purpose is to provide clean water, schools, healthcare clinics, transportation of goods, etc. to the local community of Congo but also enlighten them of the connection between Earth and people within it. Individuals of this community suffer with getting clean water for their families. They have to travel to their local lakes to get water, however, this water is contaminated and harmful to their bodies. Individuals of this community have struggled with providing healthy things such as food and water for their families. The streets of the community are dry and the only way to water is to dig into the ground itself. This may seem like a lot to us, but to them, this is survival. To maintain a simple life, men and women travel to lakes and farms near and far just so they are able to get food and water for their families. However, the techniques used such as farming and fishing is harmful to the rainforests and is contaminating the clean water that they are receiving. People of this community don’t see this as harm, but a way to provide for their families. Imagine being able to give your family contaminated water or unhealthy food just to get by?
As people of the affluent West, it is important that we learn how to use different resources to survive. Although we may not live around lakes or farms, we can take the initiative to survive off of the things we have in front of us. People of Congo aren’t as fortunate to stop by fast food restaurant or send their children to good schools. So, in order to maintain survival, they use things like lakes, farms, in-house school teaching just so they won’t lack in any area. Like Congo, we can set up different initiatives that will help us learn survival skills but also use the Earth to our advantage towards living a simple life.
Salinas De Guaranda-Ecuador
“People come before money, the poor come before the rich, the weak before the strong, the sick before the healthy, and the small before the big”. The most inspirational, yet powerful message that people in the Salinas community stood upon. Unlike other communities, Salinas is a community that recognizes that there are scarce resources, yet opportunities for survival in the town. In order to make a living, the communities provided shops around the town that helped towards providing resources for families. For example, there were shops set up where clothes were made, food was preserved, and also chocolate candy shops to satisfy the sweet tooth of the community (Pretty neat!). Just imagine working at the establishment where you get your foods from or where your clothes are made. Things are much different right? Communities such as Salinas came together as one to satisfy the needs and wants of the people. I’m not sure about others, but having all of the necessary resources for survival so close, would be very beneficial. The Salinas community believed that it would be more beneficial for people to be able to work and also provide for their families at the same time. It also helped with the attraction of the city when tourists came to visit. It showed the ways of survival and the different shops set up with different ways towards living a simple life. Although the same opportunities can be available in other communities, this particular one stood out the most. Merging together to produce prosperity not only brings the community together, but also the world.
Provision-Romania
“Uplifting all while learning.” That’s the interpretation I received when taking a ride through the Romanian community. Within this community, there is a peculiar learning facility known as the Provision. This learning center is geared towards educating yourself through others. Most of the labor done around the community is by hand. All of the chemicals and fertilizers used are not used and all of the foods are grown naturally. The main focus of this community is to teach, but also learn the ways of life through manual labor. Not only does this community provide real-life lessons, they prepare those of the community for survival. The community caters to those who live there, but also spreads the teachings and knowledge to those who may decide to visit. Like this community, we can also train ourselves to grow our foods naturally, make our own clothes, or even make our own furniture. It is important to educate each other and practice strategic ways to live a simple life. The hands on experience of growing and providing the resources you need to survive provides a different outlook on life and then it will start to settle in “What must I do to survive?”
Spannocchia Foundation-Italy
A rare, yet powerful heritage of American and Italian culture has been on the uplift the community known as Spannocchia. This property located in Italy has a powerful story behind it that makes the place a delightful, yet educating place to visit. Like the Provision, the Spannocchia Foundation has provided an avenue for people to learn and also have hand-on experience with strategies and techniques to promote simple living. This community stood highly on their vision to promote a region of sustainability and conservation. One of the techniques that stood out for the particular community was the experience-based internship program. The purpose of this program is enlighten young people about history, conservation, animal farming, etc. This not only provides the education, but also an experience ways to naturally provided for one’s self. This program is for visitors and also people in the surrounding areas. In the U.S., traditional school’s outlook on survival is only touched in a small perimeter. Simple living isn’t displayed nor exercised by those of different communities. When visitors get the chance to visit Italy, they have the opportunity to learn conservation and sustainability on a different, yet inspiring level. Spannocchia continues to promote simple living in different areas in hopes to promote a change towards sustainability. We can learn from this community by sticking to our traditional customs, but also promote different ways to live a simple life.
Each community discussed has one common goal: survival. It is important that we take a look at the ways we live our lives and ask ourselves can we really survive? Not just the survival of going to a normal job and getting a paycheck, but actually putting in the work to provide to ourselves. We can learn from these communities to practice taking our natural resources and incorporating it into our everyday lives. However, it is up to us to take the initiative just as the communities above to make the change towards simple living. Simple living can only be successful by education, experience, and the commitment to promote a positive lifestyle. I hope you enjoyed the ride around the world. Like these communities, adopt new ways towards simple living. Be unique. It’s not about how much or how little you have, it’s about the things around you that can help enhance simple living.
Professionalism 101 