The Motley Reworker. Creative action for a changing climate. Understanding systems, trying things, messing up, and sharing what works.
Not sure where to start with climate action?
Not sure where to start with climate action? The Motley Reworker helps curious, concerned people turn knowledge into hands-on changes, with a creative, practical response to climate change.
Here, you’ll find hands-on projects for resilience, clear-eyed articles that inform, and a forum to share ideas. With a steady thread of optimism running through it all.
Is The Motley Reworker for you? Maybe? Maybe not? Let’s find out.
Do any of these sound like you?
- You’re concerned about climate change
- You want to do something concrete, but aren’t sure what
- You like to stay informed, without being overwhelmed
- You believe individuals can be a force for change
- You believe community matters, even when the issues are huge
- You prefer doing over doomscrolling
- You want what you do to be constructive.
If that’s even mostly you, you’re in the right place. If you’d like more, try “What Kind of Climate Adaptor Are You?”
Habits got us into this climate dilemma. Habits can get us out.
But first, we need to understand where they came from.
Why does overconsumption feel normal?
Disposability, fossil-fueled convenience, overuse—none of it came out of nowhere.
We didn’t invent these patterns overnight.
They were shaped over generations through invention, industrial growth, advertising, and peer pressure.
The result? A 21st-century lifestyle built on tangled systems and stories.
And until we untangle them, real change stays just out of reach.
Reworking Our Habits
New here? Start with these:
Rethinking: Understanding Consumerism — break the cycle of unconscious consumption
Quiz: Is your Brain Environmentally Friendly? — A quiz
Forum: — ask, learn, and share
Explore how we can adapt to climate change. Creatively, practically, and together.
It’s built around three core paths:
Rethinking
“How well do I understand that?”
Before you act, you need clarity. This section tackles the invisible systems and habits that shape our daily lives, so you can shift them with intention.
In Rethinks, you’ll find:
- Plain-language breakdowns of complex issues
- Real-world implications for your home, wallet, and health
- Tools to help you talk about climate (even to your resistant inner voice)
Understanding isn’t just for experts. It’s a survival skill.
Projects
“What can I do about that?”
This is where action happens.
Projects connect climate science to your actual life—at home, in the yard, in the things you buy and repair.
What you’ll find here:
- DIY and non-DIY options
- Honest cost breakdowns
- Product comparisons and repair hacks
- Rebate + incentive tips (Canada-focused, but growing)
- Weirdly satisfying swaps and fixes
These are climate adaptation that happens one home at a time.
The Goat’s Pen
“Who can I talk to about it?”
You don’t have to work alone.
The Goat’s Pen is a forum where:
- You can ask questions, without the fear that everyone else knows the answer already
- Share what worked (or didn’t)
- Compare notes, commiserate, and experiment
- Stay curious without being judged
Your voice matters here, no matter what stage you’re at.
What The Motley Reworker did for Me
Launching The Motley Reworker was life-changing.
Not because I solved everything, but because I finally started to try.
It gave my climate unease something to do: Become more informed. Try things. Connect.
If this site helps you do the same, then it’s working.
— June