What is provident living?

My parents always taught us to be independent--to decide for ourselves, solve our problems creatively, and to make it work (maybe that's why I like Tim Gunn, besides the lovely suits).  My dad was a public school teacher and my mom worked a business out of the home which basically means we never had a lot of money, our clothes were handmade or hand-me-down, and the latest whatever came nowhere near our olive green carpeted apartment.  Despite what to some might seem an impoverished childhood, I was a happy child with a great childhood.  Why? 

Quite simply, it comes down to the fact that my parents were actively involved in our lives and didn't let us use the lack of something to hold us back or be our excuse for quitting.  Maybe that's why I love quilting and sewing and canning.  Maybe that's why I see the work of re-purposing something (or upcycling as the trend is now called) as a challenge to my creativity and intelligence.  Garage sales and thrift shops are treasure hunts.  Dare I say it's kind of fun?

So, what's this all about?  Well, I was helping one of my sister's set up her blog, Sound the Note, where she wants to cover information and tutorials that fall under the genre of provident living.  Of course, that led to a discussion as to what that really meant.



A poster from WWII, still a good habit to follow.

We both agreed that it is a lifestyle that allows the individual or family to be self-sufficient, independent and wisely using all resources.  This could include anything from being prepared to take care of oneself during a natural disaster to recycling aluminum foil to conserve resources and energy to using dinner leftovers instead of throwing them away to cleaning up the clutter in your house to paying off debt.

You know I had to bring up the fact that quilters are a fabulous example of this lifestyle--we cut up fabrics, often from old clothing, save our scraps, and take what is a utilitarian item, a blanket, and make it into a piece of art.  And that sewers often give clothing a make-over, so that it will fit a new size or become a new, more stylish item.  (I just finished re-making a camp shirt into a blouse!)

Here's ten things I'm trying to do this year:

1.  Eat all the food on my plate--so if I can't eat that much, take less instead of wasting it.
2.  Walk to the post office and store rather than take the car (I really don't live that far away).
3.  Don't forget the fabric grocery bag--I've got a lovely new one from the Green Bag Lady.
4.  Take a smaller glass of water instead of drinking half and then pouring out the rest. 
5.  Re-make or re-purpose at least ten items of clothing for myself or others.  (2 down, 8 to go!)
6.  When possible, have my shoes re-soled instead of tossing in the trash and buying new.
7.  Make/try my own hair cleanser/conditioner and deodorant in re-usable containers.  (And it works!)
8.  Use fabric I already own for at least 60% of every quilt, craft or clothing project.
9.  Watch half the amount of television--substituting the reading of skill-based books instead.
10.  Learn two new skills. 

So what do you do to live a provident lifestyle? Or, what do you wish you knew how to do to practice provident living?