Living with Less- Extreme Edition
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 09. 4.05
By day, Hugh Sawyer goes to work at Sotheby's in an expensive suit; by night he sleeps in a ditch in the woods. It is all part of an experiment in downsizing, to raise money for the Woodland Trust. "I want to make people think about how much they consume that is not necessary,' said Sawyer, who has been living in the woods near the village of Lewknor, Oxfordshire, since June. 'I am trying to prove it is possible to do everything you normally do, maintaining a full existence, while cutting back. I have realised I can lead my life without television, carpets, sofa, electricity, chairs, tables, a fridge and a freezer."
Treehugger loves downsizing; there is a bit of a movement going on, there is even a downshifting week in the UK and it is very popular in Australia. However this treehugger sees too many people sleeping in parks and ditches without the benefits of gyms to wash and change in to consider emulating Hugh. We need to get people out of ditches, not into them. ::The Guardian
Hi Treehugger,
I am the creator of National Downshifting Week in the UK, thank you for mentioning it in your piece.
I was interviewed yesterday on the radio with Hugh Sawyer and at first I thought, boy, he must be really 'way out there' living in the woods....but in truth, I think he is simply one of those people who turned their back on the norm in search of something a little more fulfilling in life.
Let's not forget he is also doing this to raise funds for the Woodland Trust, but I think that is almost a 'cover' for his real story. This guy wants to take life down a few notches and is not frightened to make a statement about it.
Good on him!
Whilst it is a radical and extreme form of 'simple living', I think he is proving a great point (be it slightly eccentricly) and that is that we can ALL get by with less, accept far more from Mother nature, co-exist with the seasons and actually 'live' by a greener set of rules.......and go to work and tow the traditional line.
Taking a green path does not have to leave you 'way out there' and every bit makes a difference.
I am all for drawing the old horse to water and encouraging her to drink, rather than forcing or bullying her to do so, hence the 'gentle' suggestions in Downshifting Week.
I only hope the dear boy gets some seriously warm thermal underwear, because English winters can be somewhat drawn out, but what an amazing adventure and experience to draw on for the rest of his life.
He was a lovely man to speak to and I wish nothing but luck, fair weather and all good things for the remainder of the project - the exciting time will come as he leaves the woods when its all over, if he leaves at all...but that's an another interview for another day....
Tracey Smith
Creator of National Downshifting Week
www.DownshiftingWeek.com