This is the first in a series about going off-grid in the city center,not in the literal sense of cutting off the mains power and water, but focusing in on what matters: by Jaana Nykanen

Jaana: unplug and relax

Its not easy to live simply in a complex society. Or is it?

Ever since I was a little child, I have spent a lot of time outdoors. Growing up in Sweden, long, bright summers would be spent in a house without running water or sewer. My father took me for walks in the forest, teaching me how to find my way, and occasionally we would even find discarded tools and other treasures which we took home.

As my enthusiasm for being in nature grew, I read all the survival guides I could, learning about edible plants and how to bake bread in a homemade, underground oven. It was an amazing place which I hope to describe in another article. I was fascinated by the mission to be able to sustain oneself and live off what nature offers. Quite naturally, a dream of living self-sufficiently started to sprout.

However, many years later, I find myself a computer student, living in the centre of Europe�s largest city � London. There are still years ahead of me until I can fully realize the dream of self-sufficiency. Until then, will it be possible to incorporate these ideas of the simple life into my daily living in a city of smog, million pound homes and commuter rage?

So now my project is to live simply in the City. Where do I start?

There are many examples of people having chosen to live frugally, still being connected to the asphalt jungle. No Impact Man and Ditchmonkey’s efforts are impressive. If you find that you are not able or willing to do something similar, there is still a huge difference to be made from your choices.

All charity begins from home however, and home is where the heart is. To find some peace in the hustle and bustle of London or any other metropolis, its imperative to start with oneself. However airy-fairy it may sound, if you can�t find peace within yourself you can�t find peace at all. Fortunately, living in a big city means that there is a great variety of practices for dealing with oneself to choose from. Maybe too great a variety � so choose wisely.

Despite all the tricks and traps we might feel are in our way of an environmentally sound lifestyle in a modern city, there are advantages. A big city will always harbor like-minded people, others who share the same dream, and who might even start forming communities to facilitate a simpler life.

In London there are groups such as Freecycle where you can trade unwanted items for wanted ones, and in �Lets-groups� you can even trade services.
These are just a few examples of the opportunities available, and there are so many more to be found. If you just start to scratch a little on the surface, they will begin to show themselves!

Tags: off-the-grid, complex_society, survival_guides, edible_plants, live_simply_in_the_city, how_to_bake_bread