Vt. man offers lessons on living well with less

by Brent Curtis, Rutland Herald - August 13, 2005


Sometimes less is more.

That philosophy has made all the difference in James Merkel's life.

For 16 years, the 47-year-old East Corinth resident has been living comfortably on just $5,000 a year.

"It's made all the difference in my life, I've never been happier," he said in a telephone interview Friday.

Next week, he will tell Rutlanders how a sustainable lifestyle has simplified his life and made him a more responsible consumer in the global community.

Merkel, who wrote a book titled "Radical Simplicity: Small Footprints on a Finite Earth," which compares America's consumption of the world's natural resources compared to other countries and gives step-by-step instructions for people to curb the amount of goods and services they use.

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