Crafting a Solarpunk life hidden in an industrial hellscape.

Hot take: urban magic is hurting solarpunk.

Solarpunk is trying to show that there is a better way for real. Using Magic is therefore a copout and hurts that message, since it implies that solarpunk futures are not achievable in real life, because real life has not magic.

So let's get real for a moment and ask ourselves: what is it what makes you feel like you can't live a solarpunk lifestyle in a big city? How would a solarpunk lifestyle look like? What could be the first steps in that direction?

Some pointers with examplea from my life: 

Consume less and buy second hand. Fix or let other people fix your broken stuff or teach how to do it: repair cafes, sewing clubs and community universities are perfect for that.

Become part of or start a sharing economy - we have a sharing is caring group on a messenger for our city, where people gift no longer used, or unwanted items to interested strangers. We have several points in the cit where people donate food from local community aided agricultures.

Set up a library of things for items like cutlery: we don't use single use items for festivities anymore.

Produce some goods or services for yourself and your community - not for a wage. It doesn't have to be a lot, don't think of it like a job: it's a hobby which you share.

There are lot's of other examples, but really: often it is just as easy as setting up a messenger group for your neighborhood, and simply do it, even if people do not engage at first.