Downsizer
Downsizer is a virtual community, run on a not-for-profit basis, which describes itself as "a resource for people who want to live more sustainably".[1] Its website includes articles on sustainable living and a popular forum with over 4,500 registered members.
History
The site was set up in October 2004 by the founder members. Its name came from a term used in present-day English to describe a person, whose aim it is to cut down on consumer goods and live a more self-reliant and sustainable lifestyle.[citation needed] A year after Downsizer's establishment, the Essex Chronicle remarked on the site's growth, observing that it had "tapped into an increasing awareness and interest in the impact our lives have on the environment".[2] It has continued to grow, and has over 4,500 users registered on its forum as of July 2011.
Content
- Growing Fruit and Vegetables
- Raising Livestock
- Recipes, Preserving, Homebrewing / Winemaking
- Foraging
- Energy, Efficiency, and Construction
- Fishing, Shooting, and Trapping
- Recycling and Conservation
Reviews
The website received a positive assessment from Alison Cork in The Observer, who commented on the variety of topics discussed by members and concluded, "Whether you're an individual wanting to live a more sustainable lifestyle or a small business trying to get an appreciative market for your ethical product or service, you'd be hard pushed not to find something of interest."[3]
A more negative stance was taken by Steve Lowe and Alan McArthur, authors of
References
- ^ "About us". Downsizer. Retrieved 2007-03-30.
- ^ "Growing concern". Essex Chronicle (LexisNexis reprint). 2005-11-04. p. 11.
- ^ Alison Cork (2005-10-23). "Alison Cork's finishing touches". The Observer. Retrieved 2007-03-30.
- ^ Steve Lowe; Alan McArthur (2005-11-06). "Is modern life going down the pan?". The Sunday Times (LexisNexis reprint). p. 14 (features).