Peak Oil/Self-sufficiency/Organizing
Jan. 9th, 2007 06:40 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
helwenThe Medieval Feast book arrived and I look forward to checking it out. Still trying to read other books at the same time, so should be an interesting couple of months, trying to prepare for Novice Schola, spring gardening, and more.
The Self-Sufficient Life... by John Seymour arrived the same day, and bothfitzw and I have browsed through parts of it. I read the preface and some of the intro stuff, checked out the chapter and subheadings, then skipped to the back where it talks more generally about being a 'self-supporter'. Some interesting things of note from that section...
The successful person:
1. is debt-free
2. has more than one skill/more than one income source (just farming isn't enough these days, as my in-laws know well)
3. is part of a community that is mutually supportive (this means help when you need it, giving help when they need it, trading skills and goods, and ESPECIALLY having healthy social interactions)
#1 is probably my biggest challenge, as I expect it is for most folks. We're working on it though; it's a challenge I'm happy to take up once again. Of course, we just got an equity line this past summer and built an addition on the garage, but I think the resulting ability to have space for learning to weave, spin, and print were worth the expense. And we did our best to design it in a way that would make it attractive for re-sale, when we eventually move out.
#2 I'm working on. Great thing about being in the SCA, is all the opportunities to learn things from folks with all sorts of skills. It's given me chances to not only learn new skills, but learn what things I'd rather not do or am not very good at.
#3. is interesting, as over the years it's come up in random discussions that if there were some sort of 'disaster', some people have thought SCAdians would be among those who would fare better than the average Joe/Jane. Many attribute it to skills SCAdians have acquired. But according to John Seymour, any number of ecovillages and back-to-nature-type groups have failed because they only considered skills and not compatibility and an agreed-upon social structure. If SCAdians do indeed have a higher survival factor, it would be as much because of having a sense of community as of what skill sets the group contains.
Meantime, we're doing sensible things that we should be doing in life regardless of what one thinks regarding peak oil, pollution, etc. -- making more meals at home, eating healthier, going for more walks, learning new things, making new friends, deepening relationships.
I'm definitely not jumping in all at once. I like my different teas, thank you, nor am I giving up hot chocolate. But I did place an order with MotherNature.com during their last sale (20% off your entire order, and free shipping for orders over $50), ordering some things we get anyway but at lower prices. So, a compromise. And now I won't have to buy some teas for months!
We're going to do a major re-organization of the attic and some other areas this year. Some things will leave, others will move, and yet others will be put into storage for future use. We have things that will be useful on the farm but aren't as useful in the city. And I have more fabric than I can use in the next 3-5 years, but it's perfectly good fabric, so we'll determine what we're using in the near future and box the rest. The boxes will all be labelled, and an inventory list drawn up that will list the contents and location of each box. I wouldn't want to do it for a school or other institution, but for just one house it should be manageable. And who knows, we might even find some things we've been looking for....
Speaking of inventory, I'd best get back to the every day business of getting ready for Birka and count books, rats, and sheep...
The Self-Sufficient Life... by John Seymour arrived the same day, and both
fitzw and I have browsed through parts of it. I read the preface and some of the intro stuff, checked out the chapter and subheadings, then skipped to the back where it talks more generally about being a 'self-supporter'. Some interesting things of note from that section...The successful person:
1. is debt-free
2. has more than one skill/more than one income source (just farming isn't enough these days, as my in-laws know well)
3. is part of a community that is mutually supportive (this means help when you need it, giving help when they need it, trading skills and goods, and ESPECIALLY having healthy social interactions)
#1 is probably my biggest challenge, as I expect it is for most folks. We're working on it though; it's a challenge I'm happy to take up once again. Of course, we just got an equity line this past summer and built an addition on the garage, but I think the resulting ability to have space for learning to weave, spin, and print were worth the expense. And we did our best to design it in a way that would make it attractive for re-sale, when we eventually move out.
#2 I'm working on. Great thing about being in the SCA, is all the opportunities to learn things from folks with all sorts of skills. It's given me chances to not only learn new skills, but learn what things I'd rather not do or am not very good at.
#3. is interesting, as over the years it's come up in random discussions that if there were some sort of 'disaster', some people have thought SCAdians would be among those who would fare better than the average Joe/Jane. Many attribute it to skills SCAdians have acquired. But according to John Seymour, any number of ecovillages and back-to-nature-type groups have failed because they only considered skills and not compatibility and an agreed-upon social structure. If SCAdians do indeed have a higher survival factor, it would be as much because of having a sense of community as of what skill sets the group contains.
Meantime, we're doing sensible things that we should be doing in life regardless of what one thinks regarding peak oil, pollution, etc. -- making more meals at home, eating healthier, going for more walks, learning new things, making new friends, deepening relationships.
I'm definitely not jumping in all at once. I like my different teas, thank you, nor am I giving up hot chocolate. But I did place an order with MotherNature.com during their last sale (20% off your entire order, and free shipping for orders over $50), ordering some things we get anyway but at lower prices. So, a compromise. And now I won't have to buy some teas for months!
We're going to do a major re-organization of the attic and some other areas this year. Some things will leave, others will move, and yet others will be put into storage for future use. We have things that will be useful on the farm but aren't as useful in the city. And I have more fabric than I can use in the next 3-5 years, but it's perfectly good fabric, so we'll determine what we're using in the near future and box the rest. The boxes will all be labelled, and an inventory list drawn up that will list the contents and location of each box. I wouldn't want to do it for a school or other institution, but for just one house it should be manageable. And who knows, we might even find some things we've been looking for....
Speaking of inventory, I'd best get back to the every day business of getting ready for Birka and count books, rats, and sheep...
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no subject
Date: 2007-01-10 01:22 am (UTC)#2 - I've always made pin money from sewing, and I'm starting to write for money/copies. I'm also starting to plan to teach quilting for money (NOT in the SCA, but at quilt guilds). You're right about the SCA teaching versatility, too - I learned to knit from D. Moiselle, and it was enough to pay my way to Kalamazoo last year. :D
#3 - the Barony and my church between them are a wonder to behold. Did you know
Good suggestions all. I'd love to take a look at the book at practice this weekend if that's okay?
no subject
Date: 2007-01-10 01:43 am (UTC)Although if you come early, be prepared to possibly go for a walk :D
We all need to get in better shape, cut down on our chances of cancer, etc. I look at it as a combination of saving on future medical expenses and being better able to do all the fun things I want to do. And I'm selfish and want all my friends to be around for at least as long as I am.