Slowing Down Is Good For The Soul-And The Earth

clothes_pins.jpgI’ve found there are several aspects of my journey towards going green that require me to slow down my usual crazy, hectic pace, and, I admit, this isn’t always easy. When you decide to do things like prepare your meals from scratch, grow a garden, make your own yogurt or dry your clothes outside on a clothesline, you have to A) plan ahead and B) allow yourself the time to accomplish these things. This doesn’t always make for an easy transition in a world where time is money and we often over-schedule our lives.

When I first started drying our laundry (everything from cloth napkins to clothes, linens to cloth diapers) on a clothesline this summer, I was frustrated with how much time it took, specifically to hang everything up. But the more I did it, the more I began to appreciate that time. It was time I otherwise probably would have spent in the house on the computer or cleaning and instead I was outside, breathing fresh air, observing the growth in my garden and watching my kids play in the yard. Yes, it is faster to throw the clothes in the dryer, set the timer and be done with them, but the process of doing it manually and hanging them up by hand is therapeutic, not to mention it saves money, uses less energy, is better for the earth and leaves your laundry smelling fresh.

I don’t always make the time to hang my laundry, but when I do, I don’t regret it – that is except when I hang it all up before realizing it’s going to rain (but that’s only happened once)!

For the record, the clothes drying rack I have cost about $30 at The Home Depot. It takes up very little yard space, collapses and can be taken completely down very easily.

Original 5 Minutes for Going Green post.

You can read more from Amy Gates at her blog Crunchy Domestic Goddess where she writes about green living, attachment parenting, activism and maternal health. Subscribe to her blog here.

8 Responses to Slowing Down Is Good For The Soul-And The Earth
  1. […] about how going green has sometimes forced me to slow down and why this is a good thing over at 5 Minutes For Going Green. I’m also moderating over at API Speaks this week. If you haven’t been by there yet, I […]

  2. Beth (Coming Up For Air)
    August 19, 2008 | 2:13 pm

    I could not agree with you more on this. We get such hot horrid weather here that it takes no time to dry my clothing…but the time it takes to hang it up and peaceful and it calms me. I love it too!!

  3. chelle
    August 19, 2008 | 2:26 pm

    OOoo this is one of the reasons (of many) that I can hardly wait to buy a house> We are not allowed ot hang out our laundry at our apartment so to have the apartment filled with wet clothes is really no fun.

    Slowing down is a beautiful thing.

  4. Maria
    August 19, 2008 | 3:19 pm

    I want an outdoor line so badly. I always thought I’d have to get one of those cement in the ground permanent things. I need to open my eyes and look for the one you described. Any chance at a picture or further description?

  5. Amy (Crunchy Domestic Goddess)
    August 19, 2008 | 3:45 pm

    Here’s a link to some outdoor clothes dryers similar to the one I have:
    http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_hg?url=search-alias%3Dgarden&field-keywords=outdoor+clothes+dryer&x=0&y=0
    Hope that helps! :)

    Amy

  6. Tammy and Parker
    August 19, 2008 | 4:43 pm

    I wish I could hang stuff up outside. But mine and Parker’s allergies are such that it so wouldn’t be a good idea.

    Instead I have a shower curtain rod that goes across my laundry room to hang stuff on and I’ve also been known to pull out a few dryer racks to take care of the other stuff.

    Works for us.

  7. Mimi
    August 19, 2008 | 8:19 pm

    I love air dried clothing. I don’t know what it is. I find it quite relaxing as well. Plus the house doesn’t get hot with the dryer on for so long. I don’t even own a dryer anymore!

  8. marie
    August 20, 2008 | 11:32 am

    Dh and I have been talking for about a month about getting a clothesline, but there is really no convenient place for a traditional line off of our house. I checked out the home depot website and found the one you listed and it sounds perfect! Just sent the link to dh, and for $30, its definitely worth it! Thanks for the great info!!!!