On The Line, Off The Grid

As with most activities needing a change in habit, taking the time to slow down is part of the formula. I know...most of us don't do slow. Slow may not be part of the daily vocab. I have expounded on slow before. But if we will be encouraged culturally to do slower in the future, we'll need to practice how to efficiently infuse slow into daily life. Incidentally, slow does not mean a void in productive time. 


There's a website for everything. Fact. When I came upon the Laundry List site I was amused, but aware of the impact of the message. These folks promote taking one home task and removing a huge amount of energy by eliminating the electricity involved. The clothes go on the line, not in a heating machine. 


Line drying is one of those "entry energy activities." As energy conservation measures become new habits in one's home, we find that many require little sacrifice and usually very little time. But they reduce the carbon output significantly...easing into a lighter footprint.


The Laundry List folks propose that you pledge to hang 80% of your yearly dirty laundry out to dry!  They also promote all aspects of laundry art, writings and poetry!

Hanging it out 76 times in Madison 2010

I can gloat a bit about this one. For the past two seasons, from April through October, we have used the backyard line almost exclusively. Seventy-six times this past summer. So, the clothing is as fresh and clean as I remember as a kid. (I know I didn't appreciate this at the time.) If there's a breeze, most clothes are dry in an hour. Do they sometimes brittle-up a little in the sun? Yup. Does rain creep in? Sometimes. Do you wake up in the middle of the night wondering if the laundry was brought in? Often. Oh, well...


Other perks? Hanging clothing keeps me tuned to my yard - a yard where there are gardens, both flower and vegetable; a yard where there are insects and birds; a yard where my dog gets a bug up her butt and tears around like she's crazed. It's called being o-u-t-s-i-d-e. 


Unfortunately, there are places in this country where this activity is actually banned. The Laundry List people also spend time advocating for the repeal of these restrictions. (Hail suburbia.) Someone we all know couldn't resist creating a sketch on this issue.  As usual, the absurdity is hilarious. Please enjoy a quick segment of the Colbert Report.