JR, Woody, Jill, Kim, Scott, Laura, Celia, Ross, Jon, Gina, Dave, Grant, Colin, Pat, Susan, Elizabeth, Julie, Pam, Don, Ann, Bob, Micky, Nancy, Bob and Roberto welcomed Diane, Peter and Mike to their first meeting.

After a brief round of introductions, Jill explained how Open Space works and topics were posted. The following subjects were discussed.

Susan &/or Pat brought a video and TV and played the video as one of the topics. Highlights of the video include the following.

• Americans work on average an additional month per year than we did 20 years ago.
• Due to a determined advertising industry, the US is using a hugely disproportionate amount of the world’s natural resources.
• The US creates 5million tons of trash each year between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
• The US consists of 5% of the world’s population and creates 19% of all waste.
• Ed Begley Jr.’s home and conserving lifestyle were featured. Conservation ideas from his life include recycling, air-drying clothes, solar electric panels to heat home, organic gardening, composting and electric cars…and bicycling!

Based on a lecture by Meg Wheatley and the Conversation Café movement touted by Vicki Robin, the group discussed how the pace of life has increased and diminished the opportunities for one on one conversation with friends and neighbors. The lack of good conversation skills can lead to a breakdown in communication in families, between neighbors and in communities where varies ethnic groups try to live in harmony. How to debate a subject without being defensive was raised as a challenge. Ideas for improved conversations included:

• Individual daily meditation to calm and center oneself
• When having group conversations, sit in a circle so that everyone is in a positional of equality.
• Slow down and really listen to the person talking. Form your response after they have finished speaking.
• Try to have genuine conversations without trying to convince others of your point of view.

A book by Ruth Stout, about No Work Gardening provides these tips:

• Overmulch the beds twice a year. The beds won’t need water, pesticides or fertilizer. This has been used in Stelle, IL. See Jon for more info.
• "Gardens Alive" company has a clay spray to replace pesticides.
• The Square foot gardening method is an intensive gardening method, which reduces effort.
• Permaculture focuses on bringing two plant species together.
• Using firewood as a garden barrier promotes insect and plant diversity.
• Use "Trex" as a walking path in square foot garden. It is made of recycled plastic and woodchips and won’t break down.

• "Everbearing" raspberries will yield two crops of berries each year.
• Discussion of productive plants such as pole beans, lettuce and Swiss chard. Pam has found that the white stemmed Swiss chard is tastier than the "rainbow" type.

• The group believes that people are brainwashed through advertising and truly believe that "more is better".
• Most people are overwhelmed by commitments
• It is a habit to over-consume
• Since it is a counter-cultural lifestyle, the group thinks maybe there are "closeted simple people".
• The US is the world minority of simple living. Most of the world does lead a "simple life".
• Debt loads are so high in the US right now, that perhaps a "bottom" will be hit and more people will face reality and begin to live more simply.

The question was posed, "Is there a distinction between ‘simplicity’ and ‘spirituality’? Highlights include:

• Living simply gives a person options to develop spiritually without a major focus on earning money.
• Simplicity is an integration of spirituality, environmental awareness and financial awareness.
• Self-esteem is enhanced by good habits such as recycling.
• One person suggested that simplicity is doing the best with what you’ve got.
• Someone offered the idea of "Serve and savor life."

While a "geographic cure" doesn’t exist, some locales may be more conducive to frugal living and enjoying a good quality of life. What do people consider when deciding on a place to retire?

The following considerations were discussed.

• Existing community of people
• Accessible abundant nature
• University for cultural pursuits and reasonably price entertainment options
• Close proximity to family
• Weather
• Proximity to bodies of water…pools, lakes, oceans

Freedom of Information Act

• The topics of the suppression of information and where is information going were discussed.

The group reconvened to exchange highlights from the smaller groups and we adjourned to the sidewalk for further conversation. The art of conversation is definitely alive and well at VS Chicago!!