The Industrial Revolution changed the world in immeasurable ways. Most notably, it began the era of natural resources as commodity. The population began to grow like never before, as new forms of energy were discovered.
After WWII, the US experienced a surge of prosperity. It began the Age of Convenience: Fast food, Frigidaire, Television, cars for all, and the production of more synthetic chemicals than can possibly be imagined. (The very chemicals that are used to make our clothes, our kitchens, our bathrooms, and our cars GLEAM, and which poison our homes, our bodies and our environment.)
These changes led the US - and the world - away from sustainability like a runaway train.... it was the mass urbanization of our population, rise of suburban living, and the end of extended family. In effect, this boom has led us straight into the climate crisis.
We were a sustainable culture in the recent past. It's time to figure out how to live sustainably as a culture again, in today's world.
In this section, we will explore how our parents, and grandparents, and great grandparents lived quality lives, but in a more sustainable manner, so that we can learn the simplicity of what is needed, as opposed to what has become convenient in our lives.
If you have an anecdote about your ancestors and the simple life that you would like to share with the Sustaintheworld community, please email it to info@sustaintheworld.com