DIY culture

DIY culture was a large part of the Riot Grrrl/punk scene. The DIY ethic promotes the idea of anticonsumerism. People who believe in a DIY lifestyle do not believe that one has to purchase everything, and they will often boycott purchasing from companies which they view as unethical. Popular DIY activities include using bikes (rather than cars or public transportation), growing ones own food, dumpster diving, converting cars so that they will run on vegetable oil rather than gasoline, putting on basement (music) shows, etc. The DIY lifestyle is very much still a part of alternative/punk culture today. Being a vegan, my friends and myself often bike and avoid cars as often as possible, I have a small vegetable and herb garden, and I have friends who also fashion/repair their own clothing. It’s all about living as low of an impact of life as possible. DIY culture was seen in the Riot Grrrl trend in the popular independent zines, basement shows, and popularization of vegan or vegetarian lifestyles.