We’ve met a lot of new people in the course of our building and gardening adventures. Preppers, doomers, natural builders, gardening enthusiasts, permaculturists, homesteaders, as well as a whole new wave of people “dropping out” for various reasons. It’s quite the ragtag community.
Not everyone’s “in it” for the same reasons, but the goals are similar- to rely more on personal efforts for such things as food and energy, and to do so in a sustainable fashion. I have to say, of all the circles I’ve run in over the years or groups that I’ve found myself a part of, this community is the most impressive of all.
Most of our community we’ve met online and I look forward to the new blogs on most recent adventures as they go up. It’s just amazing, what people are capable of when they have a determined endpoint. Stories of people building with natural materials, reusing waste in the most inventive ways, learning about water treatment and power production, successes and failures with polycultures, not to mention the interesting political conversations… It’s really heartening to know that so many are on the same path, and working really hard to be part of the solution.
I don’t know how you’d class Shane and me. We started off with a retirement plan of sorts. Our intention was to spend as much of our lives “living”, rather than working towards an arbitrary end date at which point we might foreseeably enjoy our time left. And with that plan in mind we came to the realization that in order to properly ‘retire’ from the game, we would need to provide for ourselves those things that we currently pay others to provide for us. Simple enough idea, if rather more difficult to implement. But only difficult- not impossible.
We’re not environmentalists by any means. In fact, we really don’t want to be associated with that particular group, knee jerk and short-sighted as they so often are. But we do take our responsibility to the environment serious. In our minds it is not only possible to lessen our negative impact on the environment, but to improve it in small ways.
We’re also not doomers, or religious at all. Nor are we really preppers- though I quite strongly believe that the shit will hit the fan- not if but when. And who knows on how many fronts, but undoubtedly we can only go so far on the energy train we’ve already run into the ground, and food shortages (whether due to lack of said energy for either production and transport, or natural disasters as we are seeing all over the world this year, or the mismanagement of our land) are as much as a sure thing. And don’t get me started on the rise of fascism around the world and in our own backyards.
We can’t quite yet be classed as permaculturists, though we are working towards it, and my own lack of gardening experience has been glaringly obvious in previous posts so I don’t qualify as an ‘enthusiast’ by any stretch, though I do approach my misadventures with enthusiasm.
We are, I suppose, homesteaders with a vision. Off to a rocky and somewhat comical start, but homesteaders nonetheless. I guess that’s as close as a category we’d fit as any.
But I digress. Our common ground and values far outweigh our differences. The community that we find ourselves a part of is amazing. And surprisingly tight. I don’t think we could be any more supportive if we lived next door to each other, rather than communicating primarily online. Anytime that I find myself lacking in inspiration, knowledge or enthusiasm, the community is right there- inspiring, sharing information, funny personal stories or encouragement. We’ve even occasionally been surprised by donation of materials for various projects.
While we use the phrase “self-sustaining” to describe much of what we’re doing, and planning, it’s rather misleading. Self-sustaining in that we plan to provide for our own food, energy and shelter- certainly. But buoyed by a community of like-minded individuals without whom we would surely find ourselves lacking. For all of our differences, the common thread is a surprisingly strong bond.
Down the road, we’ll most likely welcome work traders as well. There’ll be so much to do, between gardening, and tending animals, and the bees… The two of us could pull it off, but it would be a more comfortable load for four or five people- leaving everyone with plenty of downtime. We know that some people are unable to purchase their own property, and as such can’t provide for themselves off the land, so it seems a reasonable trade. And will no doubt lead to even more interesting friends and lifetime bonds.
So to all of our friends in our newfound community- thank you, for everything. We’re on the right road, and so long as we’re traveling together I think we’ll be just fine.
Bingo! Well said, and heartily agreed. It’s quite possible we each are setting up homesteads that will serve as miniature communities (even if we’re not having children), possibly even as safehouses…
May I point out that Permaculture is far more than gardening, and that a lot of what you’re doing is in a Permaculture vein? It’s a design science that can be applied to everything from food production to water management to home heating and building to social structure. It originally focused on food, but now it’s the gamut of human habitation. It’s big!
Oh- I know how vast a subject permaculture is, hence my hesitance to claim any expertise quite yet. LOL Our building design, heating system, water distribution (and redistribution), and composting are a few of the areas we’ve started with. I don’t necessarily include the garden quite yet as we’ve only tried a few experimental pairings and haven’t even touched on layering. So much to learn… 🙂
Thanks for being part of our community Greg! (and Carissa!)
Thank *you* for such a thoughtful, inspiring message! I feel incredibly grateful to know that there is such a diversity of skills, ideas, motivations, support and characters to make this journey an adventure rather than a trial.
The community aspect of this transition seems to hold the most power and promise to me. As you say, we might be able to do this alone, but why? We likewise have many dear people in our lives who do not have access to land but have the motivation to homestead, prepare, retire etc. Sharing land, skills and work can create incredible resiliency and shared benefits. We’re beginning these relationships here, now.
Really, the absolute core of permaculture is designing connections, whether in our gardens, ecosystems or communities. The connections create a resilient whole. I’m grateful to be a part of this movement, and for all those on the same path creating stronger, more meaningful connections.
Hey! Just yesterday, I was tossing around the concept of work trading up at your place. I would love to go stay with you and work on your projects sometime. I’m guessing it’s probably too late in the year to come help with the earthbag, but at some point, I could use to learn how to do that, since I’m planning for my building to be at least part made that way.
Ohh, community. Just the other day, I was sitting in Ernie and Erica’s kitchen nibbling post-workshop goods, while Ernie declared he’d be up on my site a lot helping me out when I’m building, without my really asking. And Susanna, from whom I took a couple workshops, emailed me recently to ask when I’m going to start because she can’t wait to help me. It’s very new to me, this exchange of support between people, and it’s very exciting.
Can’t wait to hear more updates!
~Sarina
Howdy dirt!
LOL you know I was called a doomer a week or so back. I am actually a natural disaster prepper. I have been in WAY to many earthquakes not to be a little more cautious than most.
So one day I joined a community, who happens to be a lot like yours and Continent wide. Most of them are “doomers” but you know I have learned a heck of a lot from them. Gardening, DIY, canning and so on. I have come to the conclussion to never underestimate…. again. I seem to not think of the potential of people until they surprise me.
When you say you do not want to be known as an environmentalist I wonder what defines and environmentalist. I believe an environmentalist does two things:
– seeks knowledge on their environmental impact
– considers action to reduce their environmental impact
What is your definition?
I suppose I wouldn’t want to be classed an environmentalist because, as I said, I know far too many who are very limited in their actions and much freer with their criticisms. The green movement has produced a great many ‘activists’ who aren’t really very active beyond, ironically, ‘shopping green’. And I disagree quite strongly with some of what I see as very short-sighted ethnocentric ‘solutions’ proposed by self-proclaimed environmentalists.
That’s not to say I haven’t encountered people who class themselves as environmentalists who are making a difference, only that I would not- personally- wish to be lumped in with the movement as a whole.
ha ha. Yes, I share your frustration with those who are quick to pat themselves on the back for their miniscule efforts. I recall my own ‘know-it-all’ beginnings and tell myself “Everyone has to start somewhere…”
Critics, often fundamentalists, are present in every movement but every criticism as an opportuntiy to engage. Your blog does this quite well, since your passion comes throught in your writing.
Thanks for sharing your journey.