My Lady Crush on Bea Johnson of thezerowastehome.com
March 23, 2011 § 2 Comments
Minimalist porn doesn’t get much juicier than thezerowastehome.com, Bea Johnson’s blog about her unbelievably pristine, junk-free home.
Bea’s commitment to keeping her home nearly 100% waste free even extends to refusing all pre-packaged foods (she picks up her meats and cheeses at the deli counter and instantly places into her own jars!), keeping a tiny wardrobe (one bra, anyone?) and re-purposing things like her Halloween pumpkins into pies when they’re done decorating the stairs.
Refuse, refuse, refuse. Then reduce, reuse and recycle (and only in that order), is her mantra.
While I am nowhere close to being Bea-worthy, her unwavering focus and willingness to set the bar very, very high really gets my Type-A heart racing. I view her lifestyle as something to which any minimalist can — and maybe should — aspire. Just because you’re not Michael Phelps doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a brisk paddle in the pool.
My reaction to seeing Bea’s home in Sunset Magazine, and reading her recommendations at her blog was sheer inspiration, and deep respect for someone who’s doing a lot of walking the talk. I admire her spirit of generosity toward the planet.
But not everyone shares my feelings. In fact, many commenters called her “crazy,” “extreme,” “delusional…” While others tore her down for not doing enough because her family still eats meat, owns two cars and flies to France once a year to visit family.
Minimalism, simplicity, idling… Whatever you want to call it, it’s not a zero-sum game. Just because we may not be able to achieve all doesn’t mean we can’t achieve a lot. And sometimes it’s wise to take our inspiration from people who have already been there. In the meantime, I can continue to swoon over the photos of her impeccably clean counters, her garbage-free garage, her perfect pantry… And try to refuse to bring in a few more things I really don’t need.
Visit Bea’s blog over at thezerowastehome.com today, or link to this Sunset Magazine article, or this one at sfgate.com.
What things could you refuse, refuse, refuse? Do you ever bring things home you know you’ll never use just because you don’t want to be impolite? Does looking at a home like Bea’s inspire or discourage you?
“Minimalist porn” is such an accurate term for what I feel when seeing such people in their homes. I’m facinated with their motivations and methods and can’t take my eyes off their pristine surfaces and open space! I keep oggling and thinking about how I could possibly apply their principals to my chaotic junk-filled life that includes a husband, two kids and a home daycare business. Having already spent the last two years revamping my family’s diet (organic and no plastics) with some resistance from Hubby (thinks I’m a bit extreme)I wonder how I could get them on board for more change. Baby steps. I’ll try Bea’s first rule of “Refuse”! Wish me luck.
Minimalist porn is such an accurate term for what I feel when seeing such people in their homes. I am facinated and inspired by their motivation and methods and cannot take my eyes off their pristine counters and open space. I keep oggling and thinking about how I could possibly apply their principals to my chaotic junk filled life that already includes my husband and two kids and a home daycare business. Baby steps. I will try Bea’s first rule of Refuse.