Simply Living Well: A Guide to Creating a Natural, Low-Waste Home

by Julia Watkins

Recipes, DIY projects, and inspiration for a beautiful and low-waste life, from the creator of @simply.living.well on Instagram
 
In this timely and motivational guide, author Julia Watkins shares rituals, recipes, and projects for living simply and sustainably at home. For every area of your household—kitchen, cleaning, wellness, bath, and garden—Julia shows you how to eliminate wasteful packaging, harmful ingredients, and disposable items. Practical checklists outline easy swaps (instead of disposable sponges, opt for biodegradable sponges or Swedish dishcloths; choose a bamboo toothbrush over a plastic one) and sustainable upgrades for common household tools and products. Projects include scrap apple cider vinegar, wool dryer balls, kitchen bowl covers and cloth produce bags, non-toxic dryer sheets, all-purpose citrus cleaner, herbal tinctures and balms, and more, plus recipes for package-free essentials like homemade nut milk, hummus, ketchup, salad dressings, and veggie stock.

Genres: Nonfiction, Lifestyle, Health, Cookbooks, Sustainability, Gardening, Self Help

288 pages, Hardcover

First published April 7, 2020

Reviews

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to say that this was not entirely what I was expecting - following on from a reference from an article in a magazine by the author I tracked down this book to see what else they had to say.

But rather than being a series of how to projects this was as much a reference book and even a life style guide as anything else. It did contain some interesting ideas and suggestions and unlike many books they were relatable to the local market (no strange product references of impossible to buy ingredients for example)

So more than anything it tried to convey a state or mind or an approach to life - advocating a reduction on prepackaged or processed products and encouraged you to explore "doing it yourself" so yes I think I will come back to this book again in the future but more than likely when I have a specific project in mind.

[Alicia Bayer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful, helpful, encouraging book packed with ideas, recipes and tips to help you live sustainably in a really wonderful way. Watkins' ideas are not new to me and this is how our family has been living for a decade or two now in most ways (we're a little harder core in some ways, like relying on a lot of wild foods), but I still found ideas and projects to make note of and loved reading through it.

Watkins is never preachy and offers instruction on making your own cleaners, home products, beauty products and more. She says it's the type of book your grandmother would have given you and I agree (okay not mine -- she was the dean of education for Miami university and channeled Joan Crawford -- but it's a book I'd have wanted my grandmother to give me). Photographs from the author's house all reflect what I'm sure is a huge Instagram following, for good reason.

This is exactly the sort of book we need to show that living a low-waste, DIY, simple lifestyle can be beautiful and satisfying.

I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for review purposes.

[Shauna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will pay this book the ultimate compliment by actually purchasing it. I borrowed a copy from the library. Some books of this type are heavy handed and overwhelming with their proposed changes. This book contained easy, small changes that I feel my family could actuall sustain over time.

[Svenja · Rating 4 out of 5]

Das Thema Nachhaltigkeit ist aktueller denn je und ich muss gestehen, dass ich bisher etwas zu faul und beschäftigt war, mich intensiv damit zu beschäftigen.

Dieses schöne Buch hat mich aber optisch angesprochen und außerdem war es für mich jetzt an der Zeit mich zu informieren und aufzuräumen.

Das Buch ist in mehrere Abschnitte aufgeteilt, so dass man selber entscheiden kann, wo man zuerst anfangen möchte. Mich hat das Thema "Low-Waste-Küche" z.B. zuerst angesprochen. Es gibt aber auch viele Interessante Ideen zu den Themen Gesundheit, Kosmetik und Pflege, Reinigung und Küchengarten (auch interessant). Neben vielen Rezepten erhält man auch Erklärungen und Übersichten.

Von mir aus hätte es zu den Rezepten mehr Bilder geben können. Ich muss wissen, wie das am Ende aussehen soll, damit ich weiß, ob ich alles richtig gemacht habe 😄

Und als komplette Anfängerin haben mich einige Rezepte mit den für mich seltsamen Zutaten abgeschreckt. Ich bin schon überfordert, wenn ich nicht weiß, woher ich das alles kriegen soll.

Aber es gibt gute Anregungen und manchmal merkt man: "Hey, so schwer ist das ja gar nicht." Also hat das Buch schon das geschafft, was ich wollte. Jetzt muss ich nur noch meine Faulheit besiegen 😉

[Autumn Rybin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you for sending me this beautiful book! Here is an honest review:

Overall, so aesthetically pleasing. It was a joy to go through each page and have pictures to go along with each recipe and idea. Julia Watkins is very thorough and her recipes are easy to understand. She is inspirational (I really want to make cloth covers for my bowls, now) and honest. I appreciated her talking about the importance of using what you have and not spending your way to zero waste. Also appreciated her information about essential oils and sustainably using them.

The only parts I didn’t love were about the Environmental Working Group and toxins in the home. I am trying to reduce my waste and I love using essential oils, but sometimes I am saddened by the lack of science that is shown in the zero waste community. It’s controversial and everyone will not agree, but I personally believe we should clean with bleach and sanitize our hands with alcohol.

Overall, a simply beautiful book with 99% of information I can get on board with. 5 stars for me. I will be referencing this book a lot.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a library book. It’s so good I’m buying my own copy.

[Bess Kretsinger · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great intro into making your own household cleaners and reducing single use plastics.

[D.J. Lang · Rating 5 out of 5]

I checked this book out from the library and read it from cover to cover to make sure I wanted to buy it. I do! It's a beautifully designed and made book which I will buy and then it won't be quite as beautiful but it will be well-loved and used. Definitely earns 5 stars from me because I intend to buy it; I would recommend it; and I will use it.

I can see the points of those who gave it three stars: reader doesn't really want to make anything from scratch; reader overwhelmed (I say pick one thing at a time to do); or reader underwhelmed because they've been doing all of this for years. I like all the recipes, resources, etc. in one place, and I would like to get to the point where we have very, very low waste.

[Breann Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an awesome introduction to simple living and beginning to live with less waste. I think someone who is more advanced in their journey to waste-less living wouldn’t get much from this, as it is very much for beginners. That being said, I absolutely enjoyed it and will be using many of the tips she provides.

[Ashley · Rating 2 out of 5]

A beautifully written and photographed book filled with useful introductory recipes into the world of zero waste living, BUT…

There is a heavy anti-science and pro-“natural” narrative permeating the book without providing any supportive documentation. The author quotes/references statistics, clinical trial data, and medical articles to support her position but does not provide her sources.

[Joanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a valuable resource! I checked out a digital version of this book from my library and then promptly ordered the hardcover. This will be a staple in my home library!

[Sheryl Sato · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent DIY guide with recipes for all aspects of an organically clean lifestyle.

[Margaret Traudt · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful book--inside and out!

[Ania · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved all the ideas and recipes. I recommend it if you are looking for homemade cleaning recipes.

[Gina House · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5🌟 Super helpful with tons of clever recipes!

I loved how well organized this collection of recipes, lists and tips is for anyone interested in more "natural" living. There are sections for cleaning, beauty, cooking, crafts and so many others! My favorites included the natural cleaning and natural wellness sections. So many great ideas and swaps, too. The simple and beautiful color photographs are so appealing—I want my home to look more like this!

I try my best to use the least toxic cleansers in my home, but I can always do better. There are some things I still buy in plastic packaging which I could make from scratch or use something else that is more sustainable instead. This book really inspired me!

Now that I've taken this book out from the library and I know how much I love it, I have to buy my own copy! Highly recommended if you enjoy using natural, low-waste techniques and recipes for a less toxic home and beauty routine.

[Becca Crane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Filled with ideas on how to waste less and make more things on your own.
Some of the things I’m looking forward to trying: making apple cider vinegar, infusing cleaning vinegar, making nut milk/crackers, and making my own tahini for hummus. There are so many recipes in here for everything from cleaning to gardening, from herbs to preserving foods.

Some things I already do, some things I will try, some things don’t interest me, but there was enough in here to motivate me to re-examine what I can do to reduce waste.

[Robbin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Simply Living Well is a great read for the person who is interested in living a zero-waste life; it's filled with recipes, cleaning solutions, health tips, and more, all geared toward helping the reader reduce environmental impact. This particular title is divided into sections: low-waste kitchen, natural cleaning, natural wellness, natural bath and body, and kitchen garden.

Most of the tips and tricks provided are really geared toward folks who are new to the zero-waste lifestyle, but there are some interesting takeaways for people who may be zero-waste literate as well (Furoshiki cloths!). All in all, this would make a great reference text for anyone venturing into natural living for the first time, but would be a bit of a snooze for someone well-versed.

[Melissa Lawyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I do try hard to have less waste in our lives, but I don’t think I will ever reach this level of zero waste. However, the author did a good job with the format and recipes in this book. I found several of them very helpful for my own life.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Starter Book

Pretty good starter book into sustainable living. If you are well into your journey, then you already know most of it.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prachtige fotografie en helder geschreven. Ik heb dit boek geleend uit de bibliotheek, maar twijfel om mijn eigen exemplaar aan te schaffen zodat ik rustig alle recepten kan proberen.

[Kylie Skaar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favorite low-waste book I’ve read, but surely not the worst. It is jammed packed with recipes spanning from eating to cleaning to hair/skin care. Some of these I’ve never heard of so I’m excited to try them out whenever I need more of xyz :)

[Bethany Schneider · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book of tips, recipes, and insights into living a low-waste, make-from-scratch lifestyle!

[The Book in my Carryon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simply Living Well by Julia Watkins is a beautifully photographed and charmingly intelligent look at how we can return to the simple and less wasteful days of our grandparents. Best of all, it is not preachy or militant, it is, instead, thoughtful, informative and inspiring. And it is a message I have been pursuing for the last few years, and more so since the COVID19 pandemic and all the changes it has brought to our families, our communities and our world.

The book is divided into five sections including Low-Waste Kitchen, Natural Cleaning, Natural Wellness, Natural Body and Bath, and Kitchen Garden. Each section includes a short, concise introduction to the topic, followed by just a bunch of great tips, swaps, recipes and instructions.

The author offers a stunning array of tips for reducing waste and simplifying, and presents them in easy-to-follow tables ie Instead of this, choose this. Some of the tips are no-brainers, like swapping out cloth towels for paper towels in the kitchen or using a wooden comb instead of a plastic one, while others are way more creative, like lining your trash bins with newspaper instead of plastic bags, or using that same newspaper as seedling pots. One of my favorite tips was to hang bright or dark clothes inside out on the clothes line to avoid fading.

There are also DYI instructions, again ranging from the simple like making your own double boiler out of a small saucepan, a canning jar ring and a glass measuring cup, to the more complex, like making beeswax wraps or plant-based blush.

And recipes for things like apple cider vinegar, coffee ground facemasks and elderberry syrup to hardwood floor cleaner and toilet pods. But also for soups and nut milks, pickles, jams and seasoning mixes.

I admit, some of the ideas are beyond my commitment to having a low-waste home. I estimate the chances of me actually making headache balm or switching out my current toothpaste for a homemade variety are pretty slim. That said, I've already mixed up a container of vegetable wash, and rethought my earlier decision to just toss my fruits and veggies into the cart to avoid those ubiquitous plastic bags instead of investing in reusable mesh bags.

Simple is better for a lot of things, but simple is also a habit, and one we can all participate in and enjoy. Simply Living Well is a wonderful introduction to the topic, and a great resource to start being more intentional about how we live, the products we use and the impact they have on us and our world.

This review is based on an advance copy read.

[Jessi Cozad · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is outstanding!
The balance between statistical research and personal knowledge from the authors experience is everything I didn’t know I wanted and the numerous tips that are given that made zero waste less intimidating was everything I didn’t know I needed. The way this book is written and presented to the reader challenges you while also reassuring you its not impossible to go zero waste or self sustaining and that anything you can implement into your daily routine is great!

So many reasons why you should read this book; great gift ideas, the health and wellness of you and your family, better for the environment, and great ways to save money by doing some simple things yourself.

[Patch405 (Shannon Barghols) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not a Instagram follower of Simply Living Well. Nor am I very good at reading bylines, because I totally missed that this book was “a guide to creating a natural, low-waste home.” It was simply the book title and the clean, fresh cover that caught my eye.

I discovered the error of my ways while reading the Introduction and almost set it aside. I don’t aspire to be part of a “movement” - zero-waste or otherwise. But ... I do have a mantra that if I can gain one insight, a book is worth my attention. So I continued on. And I would recommend that you do the same.

Watkins really does put together a powerful book on simply living well. If you’re focused on finding ways to slow down and enjoy a more simplistic way of life, her book will give you plenty of ideas, as well as the steps to accomplish each. She leads with “I like to think this is a book your grandmother could have given you,” and what a gift that would have been. The book covers the full gamut - from kitchen to cleaning to wellness to bath & body to garden. There are lessons in shopping, food recipes, DIY instructions, cleaning, and caring for your family. It goes beyond the obvious of “what things go in a compost bin” and includes topics I would have never thought to even Google - like creative usages for coffee grounds and ways to repurpose eggshells.

It is also a beautiful book. Clean pages filled with crisp photographs depicting healthy, clean, simple living. It translates to homestead and well as urban lifestyles.

I blog under the tagline “creating my own little patch of happiness in OKC.” I will certainly use some of the tidbits shared by Watkins in Simply Living Well as I continue to cultivate my little patch. You can find me blogging at Patch405.com.

I was offered an advance digital copy of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh I like this book! I'm striving, well maybe striving is too strong. I'm ever so slowly working toward less possessions and less waste. It would be much easier if I lived alone, but the husband and kids have made the edit. The zero waste movement is catching on and it's very gratifying to see companies make meaningful changes with their products. I might have to buy this book for all of the recipes and storage ideas. Baby steps, right?

[Kathy Megaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

I originally borrowed "Simply Living Well" from the library and knew, by the time I had reached page 22, that I needed to own a copy of this book. Julia Watkins explains clearly why it is important to waste less and how we can benefit from living simply and naturally. The life that she describes is good for our health and our environment. Among topics covered by the author are cleaning, wellness, bath & body, gardening, food storage, oils and herbs. Watkins states on page 69, "When making my own products, my goal is always to keep things simple, nontoxic, nourishing, and low-waste.".

I am amazed at the amount of information the 288 pages of this book contains, and how pleasantly this info is presented! There are lists, charts, recipes, patterns and instructions (all of which emphasize low-waste) that make the transition to a simpler way of living easy and fun! By making conscious, gradual changes in the way you shop, consume, clean, and pursue wellness, you'll find that natural ways are advantageous and attainable.

"Simply Living Naturally" contains an abundance of absolutely gorgeous, inspiring photographs throughout. A treasury of resources is included as well. The cover itself is a delight to look at and to handle. I'm so glad I happened to come across it.

[Janelle]

This book is something of a mix of recipes for homemade cleaning and bath supplies, home-remedies for minor ailments, zero waste tips, some gardening advice and so on. Personally making my own cleaning and bath supplies has never really been my thing. Firstly I'm not convinced that it will actually eliminate much waste if I have to buy four or five ingredients, which will likely come in packaging of their own, to make them. And secondly, as much as the author talks about doing things the way her grandmother did, almost all of these rely on essential oils. Which are quite expensive, and I'm not particularly sold on. There were a few things I go out of it (kind of interested in trying the vegitable stock instructions, and I'm really looking forward to buying a house and getting a garden), but I would probably give it a pass unless you are interested in making your own cleaning/beauty supplies, since those sorts of recipes seemed to be the bulk of it.

[Sarah Aspacher · Rating 4 out of 5]

The minimalist aesthetic is not truly zero waste (because having to buy something to attain zero waste status is contradictory) however, she offers lots of recipes and ideas to adapt to a low waste lifestyle that feel achievable. Her recipes use every day ingredients, she offers some alternatives for people in different situations. Overall loved this book and want to add it to my library for reference.

[Leesha · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nothing one can't find with a quick google.