The Art of Long Keeping: Making Tools Clothing, and Supplies Last for Years

The Art of Long KeepingMaking Tools, Clothing, and Supplies Last for YearsR. A. CalkinsOur culture treats useful things as disposable. Replacements are cheaper to buy than the knowledge needed to keep what we already own. The Art of Long Keeping is a practical, clear-eyed guide for anyone who wants to change that: homeowners, makers, tradespeople, parents, and anyone who prefers competence over constant consumption.Long keeping begins as a refusal — a commitment to repair, maintain, and store things so they remain useful. This book ties steady, low-effort practice to real financial savings, greater household reliability, and quieter, less anxious living. It is, in short, stewardship in action: knowing what to buy, how to care for it, when to repair, and how to store materials so they age slowly and predictably. Inside you’ll find concise, field-tested instruction and judgment for everyday life:• How to choose tools, garments, and supplies that reward care instead of resisting it.• Material-by-material guidance—metal, wood, fabric, leather, rubber, and plastics—so your maintenance matches the material.• Simple maintenance routines (daily, weekly, seasonal) that protect function without taking over your life.• Repair techniques that restore usefulness rather than chase perfection — from reinforcing seams to truing edges and aligning tools.• Storage systems that prevent damage (moisture, pests, light, temperature swings), plus practical rotation and inspection habits so stored items stay usable.• Household-level strategies for teaching repair, setting standards, and building a culture that normalizes care.This is not a nostalgic manual of old-timey chores. It is a modern, evidence-informed handbook. You’ll find engineering-backed reasoning beside step-by-step habits: why lubrication, not polish, saves metal; why rotation and rest extend the life of clothing and tools; and how small, early repairs prevent large, expensive failures. By the end you’ll have the language, the routines, and the discernment to keep more of what you own — reliably and with less effort.Practical, modest, and resolutely useful, The Art of Long Keeping will change how you shop, how you care, and how you think about time and resources. If you prefer readiness to replacement, this book shows how to make that preference the default.