Samuel Alexander | The Simplicity Collective

Aug 6, 2016 Posted by Samuel Alexander

A simple life can be a good life

A couple of days ago the following article appeared in the Weekly Times, written by journalist, Sarah Hudson. Photo credit: Chloe Smith THERE’S a radical revolution happening in Gippsland. But you won’t find any weapons or angry masses. Instead, on an 8ha property outside Moe, there’s a community peacefully trying to find solutions to problems that ail the planet. Called Wurruk’an and founded in... read more

Aug 4, 2016 Posted by Samuel Alexander

David Spratt Interview on Climate Change

While co-producing A Simpler Way: Crisis as Opportunity I interviewed one of Australia’s leading climate change activists, David Spratt. Excerpts from the interview were included in the documentary but my co-producer (Jordan Osmond) and I thought it would be a shame if the footage from the interviews we conducted were not published in full. So, we’ve been publishing some of the full interviews.... read more

Jul 18, 2016 Posted by Samuel Alexander

The Third Age of Simplicity

I’m very happy to be posting a new essay by Simplicity Institute Fellow, Mark A. Burch. He’s been a bit quiet recently working away on some larger creative projects (more about those in due course) but below I’ve posted his new essay, ‘The Third Age of Simplicity.’ THE THIRD AGE OF SIMPLICITY, by Mark A. Burch The Third Age I propose that we think of our lives as passing... read more

Jul 8, 2016 Posted by Samuel Alexander

From Finance to Farmer

I intended to post this a while back but got waylaid. Here is beautiful short film made by Jordan Osmond of Happen Films (with whom I co-produced ‘A Simpler Way: Crisis as Opportunity‘) telling the story of one financier who turned farmer. read more

Jun 28, 2016 Posted by Samuel Alexander

Residencies available at Wurruk’an ecovillage and permaculture farm (Victoria)

Wurruk’an is a small community of people living in West Gippsland, Victoria. For the last few years we have been trying to push the boundaries of environmental practice by exploring what it means to live in a deeply sustainable way. So far the community has built many demonstration “tiny houses” using a combination of reclaimed materials, cob, “Earthship style” rammed earth and super-adobe. As... read more

Jun 17, 2016 Posted by Samuel Alexander

Telling New Stories as the Old Book Closes

Today I am posting a link to my new essay, ‘Prosperous Descent: Telling New Stories as the Old Book Closes‘, which was recently published in the Griffith Review, Australia’s most prestigious literary journal. The essay tells the story of Wurruk’an, the ‘simpler way’ demonstration project that formed the basis of the new documentary ‘A Simpler Way: Crisis as... read more

Jun 6, 2016 Posted by Samuel Alexander

Compost Capitalism

I’ve had a handful of requests from people asking for a transcript of my short introduction to the film premiere last Friday (full documentary is now available here). I’ve turned my notes into a script which I think is pretty much word for word. Good evening everyone, a very warm welcome to you all, my name is Samuel Alexander and I’m very happy to be introducing tonight’s premiere... read more

Jun 4, 2016 Posted by Samuel Alexander

A Simpler Way: Crisis as Opportunity (Full Documentary)

Last night 300 people attended the sold-out premiere screening of the new documentary, A Simpler Way: Crisis as Opportunity, which I co-produced with Jordan Osmond. After the film, David Holmgren and Helena Norberg-Hodge joined us on stage for a panel discussion which stimulated a great discussion. You can watch the film freely below and information on organising your own screening can be found here.... read more

May 4, 2016 Posted by Samuel Alexander

Phasing out fossil fuels for renewables may not be a straightforward swap

Here is a fascinating and important article (originally published at The Conversation) written by Josh Floyd and Anthony James, based on the energy transition modelling undertaken by Floyd at his excellent energy blog, Beyond this Brief Anomaly. To have any chance of preventing dangerous climate change, the world needs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero or even negative by mid-century. Many... read more

Apr 24, 2016 Posted by Samuel Alexander

Trailer to “A Simpler Way: Crisis as Opportunity”

We’ve just released the trailer to our forthcoming documentary, A Simpler Way: Crisis as Opportunity“. Half the tickets for the Melbourne premiere (3 June) have moved in the last couple of days, so if you’re wanting to attend, get your tickets here. We’re also very happy to announce that David Holmgren, co-originator of the permaculture concept, will be joining us at the premiere... read more

Invitation / Incitation

The Simplicity Collective is founded upon the idea that a 'simpler life' of reduced resource and energy consumption is a viable and desirable alternative to consumer culture.

Our position is that simple living will improve not only our own lives, but the lives of others, as well as help save our planet from the environmental catastrophe towards which we are so enthusiastically marching.

We must not just fall in line, then, and continue the march ‘business as usual.’ We must explore alternative ways to live. We must experiment creatively, like the artist. We must be the poets of our own lives and of a new generation.