"These Things Happen"

One of our favorite television shows is the original 1978 series of All Creatures Great and Small. A minor theme of the story that we especially appreciate, is the worldview and attitudes of the Yorkshire Dales people themselves; the smallhold farmers who were the clients of veterinarians James Herriot and Siegfried Farnon. Their individual personalities were as varied as anywhere else, of course, but it was the way they faced life and especially hardship that is notable. Typically hospitable and generous, when difficult circumstances came, they would take it in stride. "These things happen," they would say. And they would press on.

This has caused me to pay attention to my own reactions when something bad happens, because typical human reactions stand in a huge contrast when things go wrong: anger, frustration, complaining, and blaming are the norm. As "normal" as these may seem, I find it hard to admire someone who explodes when something unfortunate happens. I don't want to be that kind of person.

Of unfortunate circumstances, I would say there are two types. Some are the direct result of our actions, i.e. cause and effect at work. As Dr. Phil says, "When you choose the behavior, you choose the consequences." I see being able to admit mistakes and errors in judgement as a sign of maturity, something that is increasingly rare these days. 

Sometimes, there is no logical cause for what happens. Once upon a time, these were referred to as "acts of God," and pretty much covered most natural disasters. Another term to describe this is "bad luck." I have to add that dealing with livestock the way Dan and I do, I know from experience that bad things can happen even when we're doing our best. In our early days of homesteading, the tendency was to blame and berate ourselves, trying to figure out what we did wrong. We became discouraged. All of this, of course, is an emotional reaction, which never helps solve things.

I think there's been an unfortunate trend over the years which focuses on the importance of our feelings. We're told "follow your heart." I don't know about you, but I have found feelings to be exceedingly fickle. And very easy to manipulate. All of which means they are not a reliable indicator of reality. Feelings are an important part of our human experience, but I think they serve us better if they are under the reign of self-control. 

Hopefully, I'm never too old to learn. And that includes learning to accept circumstances and outcomes that I wish weren't, learning to accept things that are beyond my control, even learning useful lessons from the situation. Some people might consider this fatalistic and see "giving up" as defeat, but constantly fighting against the universe gets wearisome. Nobody like to be defeated, but I'm coming to understand that defeat is often only an emotional perception. Set that aside, and grace comes with acceptance. There's more strength in coming to terms with reality than in constantly trying to fight it. 

I suppose what I'm trying to realize here, is that we humans always have a choice. It may not be the ability to determine the outcomes, but I always have a choice in how I react. James Herriot portrayed the farming folk of Yorkshire as amazingly resilient because they somehow understood these things. It's a quality I admire and want to make my own. 

"These Things Happen" © March 2024

by Leigh at http://www.5acresandadream.com

Thankfulness as a Choice

The internet is a wonderfully international place, with numerous glimpses into interesting cultural traditions all over the world. Because of that, American Thanksgiving is probably one of the more obscure global offerings, appreciated mostly by Americans, although I think even that is changing. Whether it's because of the rising costs of food and travel, substitution of family with political loyalties, or because of manipulative name-calling meant to shame Americans about their cultural traditions, it seems there is a lot to complain about regarding this holiday. And that brings me to my blog post title, "Thankfulness as a Choice."

I think this is an important topic because in general, it seems that more and more people are not happy. They are not content. The list of things to complain about seems to be ever growing: job, finances, physical appearance, politics, politicians, the government, spouses, gender, inflation, taxes, the weather, the environment, morality, ethics, equity, justice, product quality, social compliance, neighbors, the traffic, what so-and-so did or said, what they didn't do or say, and (heaven forbid) someone is wrong on the internet. And that's just the short list. 

Years ago, I heard a saying that stuck with me. "The poor are luckier than the rich because they don't know yet that money can't make them happy." Some people won't get that, but I think at some level or another, most people understand happiness based on circumstances is brief and fleeting. 

I spent many years of my life trying to make people happy because I thought it would make them like me. Eventually, I figured out this doesn't work. That if I change in the thing they don't like, they'll just find something else to complain about. Eventually, I figured out that complaining is a habit. And like all habits, it can be changed. If one is willing to do the work to change it.

What's this got to do with homesteading (the focus of my blog)? A lot, because I think our perception of our circumstances is key to homesteading success. Most of us making an attempt at it figure out pretty quickly that homesteading isn't about replicating our accustomed modern lifestyle in a more natural setting. If the stated goal is increased self-reliance, that necessitates lifestyle changes. Neither society at large, nor nature are very cooperative in this endeavor, which means it requires a fair amount of commitment and determination to succeed. It also requires accepting that some (many) things are beyond our control. And that leaves us with a choice: complain or look for some small something to be thankful for. 

Many of you tell me that while you appreciate my lifestyle, it's something you would never choose for yourselves. Which is okay. I agree it isn't for everybody. But the world is experiencing a time when many people are having to tighten their belts and look at ways to change. What Dan and I have done by choice, is being imposed on many of you through no choice of your own. I empathize deeply, and hope that my posts (both present and past), and books can offer some helpful and encouraging ideas. 

However, even useful changes will be sabotaged by negativity. And that's what complaining reinforces, a habit of negativity. It's a choice, however, and unfortunately, I think some people really like being negative. Or think that if they don't complain, nothing will change. The irony is that when we have no control over a thing, change is mostly a matter of attitude. 

So, to my fellow Americans who still celebrate this holiday, I wish you Happy Thanksgiving! To everyone else, I encourage you to focus on things you are happy for, rather than on what you are unhappy about. I encourage you to choose thankfulness.

Parting shot:

Thankfulness as a Choice © November 2022

by Leigh at http://www.5acresandadream.com

Listening to the News

Going on sunrise, we go out for morning chores. After I give the goats their grain and fill the hay feeder, there's a bit of a lull while I wait for them to finish eating. I pass the time by listening to the news.

I'm not talking about listening to a favorite AM or FM radio station. I'm talking about nature's news. I step outside the barn and concentrate on what I can hear. I carefully focus first on the sounds around me.

Bird news is always first. Lots of personals because spring is mating season: robins and cardinals have the most boisterous song. A mockingbird is singing its heart out in the overhead crepe myrtle, and I hear the mournful call of a male morning dove, trying to attract a mate. In the distance I hear nuthatches conversing. Mr. Rooster crows his two-cents before clucking to his ladies that he found another tasty tidbit for them. A distant neighbor's rooster responds, announcing that his flock's day has begun.

Suddenly, crows. Not one, but many, creating a ruckus with their cawing. That can mean only one thing; I scan the skies with my eyes, and sure enough. Half-a-dozen crows are chasing a hawk. The hawk screams in response, but the chickens seem to know they're safe and ignore him.

Rustling in the leaves means either a towhee or a squirrel on the ground. I look, and hear a squirrel scolding from the safety of a tree branch. What is it scolding? Ah, Meowy in stealth mode. She's fast and the smart squirrels know it. They tease the other cats, but when they see Meowy all but the unfortunate most daring of them know better than to tease. She's made a meal out of more than one squirrel.

Weather news is next. I listen for current wind conditions while I observe the sunrise. I can hear a light wind in the trees and observe how quickly the clouds are moving and which direction. I observe the color of the sunrise. In my experience, "red sky in morning, sailors take warning" hasn't proven strictly true, but it gives a heads-up on potential conditions, including humidity.

Lastly, is human news. It's a weekday; I know by the distant sound of work and school traffic. On weekends it's quiet. It's only early spring, so the hours and hours (and hours and hours) of leaf blower noise is thankfully past. And it's too early for lawnmowers (around here people start mowing at 6 or 7 a.m. to beat the heat.)

I hear the back screen door bang. There's a pause, then hear it again. Dan's still busy with the chickens, so that can only mean that Katy wants back in the house. I have bells hanging from the door handle, but she refuses to use them and insists on popping the screen door to get our attention. No matter, it's time to finish up with the goats and go inside where the breakfast dishes await.

I try to remember to get news updates throughout the day. Not so much for the phenological information (although I like the sense of being in touch with nature's happenings around me), but because I have discovered something else about this exercise - it resets my frame of mind.

It's all too easy to become fixated on our thoughts. These can be positive and constructive, or they can be negative and stressful. Have you ever noticed how a thought can trigger an emotional response? Or how an emotion can trigger habitual lines of thinking? Identifying this pattern was a first step, and with that, I had to admit to myself that I don't like being at the mercy of my thoughts and emotions. Figuring out what sets it in motion helped me realize that I have choices, and that these choices begin with the thoughts I entertain.

For the past couple of years, we've seen an increasing global obsession with fear and anger. A word, a name, a glance, an assumption, all these and more can pull us into the thought-emotion cycle. At its mildest, this cycle is a time waster. It adds noting constructive to our day. At its worst, it's destructive in two ways. One, it's destructive to others by the actions we take in word, deed, or the attitude we impose upon them. Two, because these emotions release the addictive hormones that set off an inflammatory cascade, which is damaging to our health and immune system. 

So, what's the answer? I acknowledge that some people seem to enjoy being scared or angry. Fear seems to be a popular form of entertainment (think of the popularity of horror films) and anger gives one a sense of power. Both can be used to manipulate others. If they develop into depression, pharmaceuticals are a popular solution. For myself, one of the reasons I chose this lifestyle is because I don't see anything appealing about living like that. 

The words of Paul of Tarsus often come to mind (paraphrased): that everything we need to know to have peace of heart is revealed through nature. So, while humanity is in a uproar over who's king of the hill, the natural creation is going on about its own business, doing what it was created to do. I want to be the same.

Unfortunately, reigning in one's thoughts and emotions isn't a one-time task. Negative thoughts and temptations to fear and anger come at us throughout the day, like fiery darts. The choice is to either yield to them or reject them. Listening to nature's news is one of the ways I exercise control and maintain my peace of mind. 

Listening to the News © March 2022 

by Leigh at http://www.5acresandadream.com

Appropriate Self-Sufficiency

Those of you who have read my books or blog know that I frequently use the word "self-sufficiency." It's a hold-over term from my back-to-the-land days, when it was a widely used term to describe the goal of the movement. When I started my homestead blog back in 2009, I picked up the familiar term to describe our primary goal. What surprised me at the time, was how people reacted to it. Some people got it, but it was almost startling that so many others scolded me for it, declaring it was impossible or isolationist (in their thinking). Then, I found myself trying to explain how I was using the word and started to say "as self-sufficient as we are able." Eventually, I switched to "self-reliant" which seemed acceptable, even though it meant the same thing to me. 

Recently, I've been reading Carol Deppe's The Resilient Gardener: Food Production and Self-Reliance in Uncertain Times. Here, I was introduced to the term "appropriate self-sufficiency." Brilliant! Except that she never exactly defines it, other than to distinguish personal independence from "honorable interdependence," i.e. developing skills that will be useful to an interconnected community. That's great if one has such a community. Unfortunately, many of us who seek a less consumer dependent lifestyle are often considered oddballs by those around us. Because of that, I want appropriate self-sufficiency to be applicable to me too.

What came to mind is the term "appropriate technology," which Merriam-Webster defines as "technology that is suitable to the social and economic conditions of the geographic area in which it is to be applied, is environmentally sound, and promotes self-sufficiency on the part of those using it." Other definers relegate it to third world scenarios, but those of us who understand that hard times happen everywhere, may rightfully define the geographic area as being our own homestead, even our own backyard. Dan and I certainly do, and is why we make lifestyle choices that we feel are environmentally and economically reasonable (for us), though others think our choices are nuts. A good example would be our decision to give up air conditioning. 

How could we define appropriate self-sufficiency? Perhaps as self-sufficiency that is suitable to my economic conditions and social concerns within the geographic area in which it is to be applied (i.e. my homestead). I think one thing adding "appropriate" does, is allow the term to be customized according to individual goals. What's appropriate for me, may be entirely different for you. 

If appropriate self-sufficiency allows me to define my own parameters, then what would they be? Certainly, that would include anything that allows us to live in relative security and comfort during hard times, whether those hard times are related to weather, health, income, political upheaval, or economic disaster. What areas are realistic for me to consider?

• Food?
• Shelter?
• Water?
• Energy?
• Safety?

So, how do I go about achieving greater self-reliance in all of these areas? Well, that's what I've spent the past 12 years writing about. That's what fills the pages of my books and the posts of my blog. Most of it isn't spectacular, profound, alarmist, or even emotionally motivating. Most of it is a rather slow, mundane plodding in a particular direction that isn't of much interest to the majority of folks. Yet, I do it—Dan and I do it—because learning to be less dependent on a dubious consumer system and fickle government feels like the prudent thing to do. 

On the one hand, it's kind of fun to find a word that fits my world so well. On the other hand, so what? Words are constantly evolving; sometimes arbitrarily, sometimes deliberately. How they are perceived can make communication easy or difficult, but it doesn't really change me. As a writer, of course I always hope to use words in ways that have meaning to others and encourage them. I don't always expect to succeed, but I enjoy trying.

Appropriate Self-Sufficiency © February 2021

by Leigh at http://www.5acresandadream.com

Freedoms No One Can Take Away

Norman Rockwell's "The Golden Rule."

2020 has given the free world a taste of what it's like to live under increased government restrictions and presumably temporary loss of freedoms. When the Covid-19 pandemic hit, society panicked and we easily handed over our freedoms out of fear. We wanted to be safe from disease. Hopefully, we've all been paying close attention to what's really going on, rather than running around like a bunch of scared chickens.

The United States is facing a potentially nation-changing decision in November, and it's important to understand that this isn't about politics. It isn't about popularity. It isn't about personality. It's about ideologies. But we need to put on our thinking caps to understand this. We must refuse to be manipulated by emotional turmoil.

On one level, it's a battle of which "ism" should dictate national policy. On another, it's a battle over whom should dictate how people are allowed to live: under a ruling class or should we decide for ourselves? On a day once associated with celebrating our Freedom as Americans, maybe we should be asking what it really means to be free. Do we really want to be free? Now is the time to decide.

The ideological battle will continue to rage on, but no matter what personal and civil freedoms are taken away, there are some freedoms that no one can touch.

The Freedom to Be Kind

"It costs nothing to be kind." I don't remember where I heard that, but it is oh, so true. A kind word, a kind gesture, a smile - such small things, yet why are people so stingy with kindness? Kindness is a choice we each make multiple times every day.

The Freedom to Be Patient

So many people are impatient and in a hurry nowadays. They forget that patience is a choice. Actually, I would say it's a habit, just as impatience is a habit. People get in the habit of being in a hurry, of wanting to push everyone else out of the way, and then getting angry when they can't. Does anyone really like feeling this way? I don't, and it's my choice to exercise either one or the other.

The Freedom to Not Complain

Who likes being around complainers? Raise your hand. I don't, and usually find myself avoiding people who constantly complain. Not that there isn't plenty to complain about, but it quickly becomes a bad habit.

When I was growing up, my mother would tell me, "if you can't say anything nice, then don't say anything at all." I heard that so many times that it usually pops up in my mind when I begin to open my mouth in complaint. I find that my mood and my days go so much better when I exercise this freedom and don't give into complaining.

The Freedom to Let Others Have a Different Belief or Opinion

One of the things that fascinates me about 19th century fiction such as the works of Jane Austen and Charles Dickens, is the conversations. Back then, conversation was considered a form of entertainment and differences of opinion were considered interesting. Not so any more. Perhaps because of insecurity or a lack of self-esteem, many people are extremely uncomfortable when others have different opinions. It's gotten so bad, that some equate a different opinion with hate.

It is odd to me that in an era when diversity is so highly prized there is a vehement demand that everyone else be a mental and emotional carbon copy of Self. We may not be able to control the resulting censorship, but we can choose to allow others to have their own beliefs and opinions.

The Freedom to Not be Offended

This is a choice, and I'd say that being "offended" is a manipulative choice. Just like name calling, it's intended to make the other person backpedal and change what they're saying or doing. It takes being a grown-up to be gracious and not take everything personally.

The Freedom to Respect Others

The idea nowadays is that respect must be earned. I disagree because it implies the right to disrespect others until they pass some sort of perceived test. Unfortunately, that idea usually hijacks itself. If A treats B rudely until B earns their respect, chances are that B will decide A hasn't earned B's respect because of their rude behavior.

Rather than respect, I would say it is trust that must be earned. We should be cautious whom we trust, but we should show respect to everyone. Respect ought to be everyone's right. And there's the conundrum; respect can't be taken, it can only be given.

The Freedom to Forgive

This is an extremely powerful freedom, yet it is rarely exercised because the intent of unforgiveness is to punish the offender. That's human nature. In reality, the offender simply gets on with their lives, usually without remorse or regret. The offended is left bound to their hurt and anger, unable to be free of it. Unforgiveness binds us to our hurt. It binds us to our anger. Forgiveness sets us free. Without forgiveness there can never be wholeness, there can never be healing. The power of forgiveness is to set ourselves free. That is, if we want to be free.

~~~~~~~~~~

Norman Rockwell's "The Golden Rule" painting beautifully sums up these and other freedoms that no one can take away. When in doubt, I try to ask myself, how would I wish to be treated in the given situation? Do I like it when others are impatient with me or unkind? Do I like being complained at or about? Do I like being bullied because I think differently than others? Or being told I'm offensive when I'm actually clueless? Do I like being disrespected? Do I want to hold on to anger and hurt when the other person doesn't even care?

Do you realize that this could be the last 4th of July holiday this country is allowed to celebrate? Think about that today. Think about how you want life to be for yourself, your children, and your grandchildren. Think rationally and wisely, not as a knee-jerk reaction to whatever emotional hot buttons have been pushed recently. Then make your life choices accordingly. You won't be standing alone.

Freedoms No One Can Take Away © July 2020

by Leigh at http://www.5acresandadream.com

Poised for Disaster

"I play a mental game with myself that helps me bring our progress into perspective. It's a “what if” game, based on whatever imaginary emergency or doomsday scenario suits my fancy at the time. What if Dan was suddenly unemployed for months on end? What if, for some reason, civilization as we know it collapsed? How prepared would we be?" 5 Acres & A Dream The Book, Chapter 5, "The Establishment Phase"

I don't blog much about preparedness. This isn't because I don't see a need to be prepared, it's because Dan and I believe that the very best thing one can do to prepare for __(fill in the blank)__ is lifestyle.

Changing our lifestyle over the years has been a top priority, because we have long seen the root of the world's problems to be its industrialized economic system. I know many people love this system's promises of convenience and wealth, while others hate the inevitable inequality it produces. Trouble is, both points of view are too personal to be realistic. Step back for a bigger picture and it becomes easier to see that as long as industrialized manufacturing and agriculture consume the lion's share of the world's resources, we are headed for global disaster.

People look to politics for answers, but honestly? I think that's a pretty lazy excuse. If politics was actually interested in solving problems, then maybe. But it isn't. It's about power. What we have going on in this country, at least, is nothing more than a giant game of King-of-the-Hill. And it's not a friendly game. It's driven by hate, with one political party literally hell-bent on destroying the other at any cost. Even if it means climbing out on the limb of a tree and sawing that limb off. America's self-destruct button has been pushed. No amount of finger pointing is going to change that.

What's lifestyle got to do with it? Your lifestyle is the one tool you've got that can make a difference. When politicians and government make promises to fix things, it becomes all to easy to assume nothing is required on the part of Self. It's the government's job to provide __(fill in the blank)__ . That mindset enables us to turn a blind eye on problems and needs around us. Self can continue to pursue it's own desires. That's why I say that looking to politics is an excuse.

You can only make choices for you. As much as I wish my opinion may help someone, it's only my actions that make a difference. Dan and I have chosen to decrease our dependence on the current economic system. This is not just some wild, idiosyncratic hair. Historically, folks who live with farms and gardens fare much better when disaster strikes, because they can grow at least some of their own food.

"There are no one-size-fits-all solutions... It is better to grow one potted tomato plant on the patio than none at all. It is better to have a small suburban garden than none at all. It is better to keep a few potted herbs under a grow light than none at all. It is better to do something rather than nothing." 5 Acres & A Dream The Book, Chapter 6, "Food Self-Sufficiency: Feeding Ourselves"

 Poised for Disaster © March 2019 by Leigh

at http://www.5acresandadream.com/

Contemplations on Time

I recently bought something that has been on my nonelectric to-get list for awhile - a windup clock.

Even though electric clocks don't use much energy, I like that I don't have to plug it in, reset it every time we lose power, or buy batteries for it. To the frugal, every little bit helps. To the prepper, it's one more thing that doesn't eat into the stockpile of batteries.

I tried to find one locally but had no luck, so I turned to the internet. The first thing I noticed was that almost none of these clocks rate very well in consumer reviews. They average around three stars. Why? The biggest complaint seems to be that they don't keep time very well.

I found that to be somewhat amusing considering that most electric clocks tend to gain or lose time too. We have two plugin clocks and five battery clocks in the house. Even when all are set to the same time, it doesn't take long before none of them says the same thing. Heck, I used to have a computer that lost time. Every couple of months it lost about 10 minutes.

One of our clocks is an "atomic" clock.

It receives the time via radio signals from some super clock somewhere said to keep "real" time. It's the one we set our other clocks to, but I noticed the other day that it's two minutes different from my husband's cell phone, which also seems to receive the time from somewhere else. Which one is correct?

More to the point, does it really matter? Now, I suppose it would matter if I was one of those women who had my time schedule so fine-tuned that I could sleep an extra two minutes if I put my makeup on in the car on the way to work. But I'm not. My work day starts when it's light enough out to see without a flashlight, so I can let out the chickens and milk the goats. In my back-to-the-land days (eons ago) I lived for about two years with no other time piece than the sun. No one had a clock or a watch and didn't feel the need to have them. We got up when it was light, went to bed when it was dark, and did everything that needed to be done in between.

"Time is money." We've all heard that. The question is, do we really believe it? Do you? I think that if money is our standard of value then we assume it's true. Personally, I think that's a very bad way to look at things and have written on the issue before. I won't repeat myself but will give you the links in case you're interested.

• Contemplations on Value and Money
• Mindset: Key to Successful Homesteading?
• A No Waste Way of Life

My observation is that day-to-day living seems to be frantically paced for most people. As Dan likes to say, where is everybody in such a hurry to go? I can't help but wonder if they notice that they never really get there. It's one of the biggest reasons we chose the homesteading lifestyle. We don't want to live that way.

Anyway, let's get back to my new windup clock and how well it keeps time. No need to get in a tizzy, because these old-style clocks have an adjustment for just that.

See the slot on at the bottom that looks like an emoticon's sad mouth? There's a little lever in there that can be moved to make the clock either faster or slower. With a bit of experimentation I was able to get it pretty much in sync with the atomic clock, as long as I remember to wind it regularly. My other option would have been to note how much time it gains or loses and simply adjust it everyday when I wind the clock. What could be simpler than that?

Contemplations on Time © September 2016

by Leigh at http://www.5acresandadream.com/

Pigs Don't Need Mud & Other Sounds-Goodisms

This post started out as a duck update. We've been observing our Muscovies as they adjust to their new home and those initial observations are always a lot of fun. For example, they do fly, but unlike the guinea fowl who noisily wandered all over the neighborhood, the ducks simply make a trip several times a day to the top of the chicken coop or the goat shed.

Early morning trip to the top of the chicken coop.

Also, they sure do love their wading pool.

Unfortunately, the wading pool began to leak, so we had to find an alternative

I was told this breed doesn't need swimming water and that was the selling point for me, because we don't have a pond. Dan loves to accommodate our critters, however, so he set about to give them some splashing water, at least. We have learned that they love it.

The temporary alternative to the wading pool. 

Along those lines, I've also read that pigs don't need a mud wallow, that scientifically it isn't necessary. I can tell you with great certainty that the pigs disagree. And if we don't keep a mud hole ready at all times, they will make their own on hot days by knocking over all the water buckets. I would say that mud for pigs and water for ducks is akin to electricity for humans. Yes, we can survive without it, but it sure does make life pleasanter for the living, and we're the happier for it.

I tried to get a photo of Waldo in his mudhole, but he
decided to get out just as I ran up with the camera.

All of this has got me thinking lately, about how often I choose to do a thing or take a certain path simply because it sounds good, or even because it sounds right, yet without actually thinking the thing through. Dare I mention the skunk in the live animal trap as an example? Recently, I heard on the radio that folks will readily accept information that agrees with their preconceived notions, but reject anything that contradicts them. I can see that in myself, even though I pride myself on being analytic in my approach to things and a researcher by nature. I don't think this is the norm, however, as most folks simply rely on the so-called experts to do all that for them. I can't help but think of how easy it is to influence people because of that tendency; just make it sound like something they want to hear. It also explains why it's useless to talk with some folks about such things as politics. The spin has already been spun.

On my own behalf, I have to say that I did do my homework before agreeing to take the ducks. My research confirmed what I had been told about Muscovies, so we went ahead with the trade. But you know what? Expertise is not necessarily the same as experience, not by modern standards, anyway. And if we'd never offered those ducks a bit of water, we wouldn't have known that they love it so much. I sure am glad Dan didn't listen to the experts.

 Pigs Don't Need Mud & Other Sounds-Goodisms
© Sept. 2015 by Leigh at http://www.5acresandadream.com/

The Saddest Thing

It was 5:42 AM and I was standing at the customer service door of the post office, waiting for someone to bring me my baby chicks. Through the door there was a bench against the wall, with a box on the floor next to it. Inside the box was a wadded up American flag.

My mind flashed back to Girl Scouts. Our troop worked together to earn a merit badge on the American Flag. We learned its history and rich symbolism. We learned flag etiquette and protocol. The culmination of the project was a flag burning ceremony, so that we could learn the proper way to discard our nation's flag. It was a solemn ritual which could not help but evoke emotion in each girl's heart.

By the time I got to university, flag burning was an all too common means of protest against the government's policies and politics. When you think about it, really, it's more than just a protest, it's a blatant symbol of disrespect. It sends the message that if one disagrees with someone else, then the appropriate response is to disrespect them.

We live in a day and age when it is stated that respect must be earned. I'm amazed that few folks see the circular reasoning in which this results. Person A requires that Person B earn their respect. Until then, A treats B rudely. Person B requires the same thing - that A earn their respect. But A is treating them disrespectfully, so B reciprocates in kind. In the end, no one ever earns anyone's respect and the result is a society of rude, self-centered, disrespectful folk. I would propose that respect is the proper and logical manner in which to treat all people and all things. It is TRUST which must be earned.

I realize that it takes some amount of self-respect to treat all others respectfully. Instead, popular psychology addresses self-esteem, which appears to build itself on the principle of equality. I had a friend who grew up in California. She said that they did not believe in using the terms "sir" and "ma'am" because were terms that hearkened back to slavery. She said there were other ways to teach respect. I always wondered what that meant because every time she came over her kids got into things they shouldn't, and usually ended up breaking or destroying something.

Contrast that to Coach Ken Carter. (Have you seen the movie? It's based on a real life basketball coach starring Samuel L. Jackson as Coach Carter. Highly recommended). He requires all members of his teams to address not only himself, but one another, as "sir" because, he says, it is a sign of respect, and he requires all his players to respect one another. I would propose that if each person on this planet automatically showed respect for one another, there would be no need for so call self-esteem training. Why? Because respect cannot be taken, it can only be given.

Folks cite many reasons (economics, industrialization, the environment, etc.) as to why our modern way of life is doomed to fail. Others disagree, claiming that science, technology, and our evolving universal consciousness will save us. What's that got to do with a flag? After all, a nation's flag is just a colorful piece of cloth; it is neither holy nor sacred of itself. But as a symbol of that nation and that people, it has value greater than gold. How they treat that symbol is a reflection of what they think of themselves. To see that flag lying neglected and crumpled in that box spoke great symbolic words to me. I could not help but ask, what hope can there be for a nation that does not respect itself?

The Saddest Thing © May 2015 by Leigh
at http://www.5acresandadream.com/

Defining Sustainablilty

As a writer, one of the things I frequently ponder is the usage of words: what they mean, what people think they mean, and how they are used in any given context. It is particularly important to understand how a writer or speaker defines and uses them, because assumption leads to misunderstanding. I am one for giving folks the benefit of the doubt when they communicate, but that means understanding how they are defining their terms. Advertising and politics take advantage of our misunderstandings and assumptions. That is a problem, in my opinion, because I don't like being manipulated. I prefer to be treated like an intelligent adult.

Before we bought our homestead I did a lot of reading about the homesteading movement. I ran across terms I had not seen before, "homesteading" being one. In my back-to-the-land days we called it just that. We spoke of living off the land and becoming self-sufficient. We didn't have electricity, but hadn't heard the term "off grid". I had to learn the new terminology. One of the things I learned was that the term "self-sufficiency" was out, having fallen out of favor as it became increasingly associated with isolationism (or non-consumerism).

This points to something about words and terms - they evolve. Nor do they mean the same thing to all people. Take that word "homesteading". I've read blog posts, book introductions, and web pages attempting to define homesteading. Some I agree with, some I don't. Do I feel a need to correct anybody? No, because I don't believe all terms need to be strictly defined, nor do I believe folks should be criticized for using them differently than I do.

Definitions are not necessarily intuitive, although we often think they are - the word "sustainable", for example.

Sustain (from various sources)

1. To keep from falling; to bear; to uphold; to support; as a foundation sustains a superstructure
2. To maintain; to keep alive; to support; to subsist; to nourish
3. To endure without failing or yielding

Sustainable

1. Capable of being sustained or maintained

It is a very popular word these days. We hear it everywhere, so much so that I'd say it's a trendy word, wouldn't you? We hear of sustainable energy, sustainable agriculture, sustainable ecology, sustainable economics, sustainable development, sustainable design, etc., etc. I can't help but wonder if all of these are talking about the same thing, or if the word is simply tacked on because it is so popular. To understand how it is being used, I need to understand the thing which is being described as sustainable. 

Take energy, for example. The other term we hear in regards to energy is "renewable". It is easy to understand that some sources of energy, such as petroleum, are in finite supply. We cannot make more. Sun and wind, on the other hand, are not in danger of being exhausted anytime soon. Sustainable energy makes sense. 

How about sustainable economics? I had to think about that one. In a personal application, it would mean being able to support our needs and expenses from the homestead. It implies balance. Apparently business people do not think of it that way, rather, it seems to be the ability to sustain growth. Living as close to nature's cycles as I do, that doesn't make sense, because nothing in nature grows or enlarges infinitely. But that's not my point. My point is that I must be careful to understand how a speaker or writer is using the term so as to avoid misunderstanding them.

Is "self-sustaining" a good substitute for "self-sufficiency"? I say no. A system can be self-sustaining, such as energy production, but I can still be dependent as a consumer and confined to the dictates of those who control that system. In a personal application I can create and apply sustainable systems on the homestead, but be dependent in other areas. For example, I could create my own solar electricity, but still buy natural gas for my furnace, stove, and water heater. Another example, I might have a self-sustaining supply of garlic and tomatoes because I save bulbs and seed. But I might have to buy cabbage and Swiss chard seed because they've been harder to collect.

Why do I think it is important to define such things? For communications sake, surely. If I want to explain what we're doing and why, or if I want to encourage others, then we need a common framework of understanding. Unfortunately, when words evolve their meanings take on nuances or change completely. This can be either natural or deliberate. In fact, take the word "natural', for example. When I walk through a grocery store, pick up a product labeled natural, and then read the ingredients, too often I think ?????? Another sad victim is the term "green". Also the term "organic" (for which see The Midlife Farmwife's blog post, "Kissing Organic Certification Goodby".) The word "self-sufficiency" has come to mean a bad thing and I can't help but wonder about the word "sustainable" too. What will become of it?

My life is busy and full, and I honestly don't have time to follow the trends - words or otherwise. Social media is too fast paced for me. I signed up for a simpler, slower life, remember? So I'll just keep plugging away, using the words that seem best to me, defining them when I deem necessary. I'll continue to look at disagreements as opportunities to enlarge someone else's understanding as well as my own.

So, now that I got that off my chest, tell me what you think.

Defining Sustainablilty © March 2015 by
Leigh at http://www.5acresandadream.com/

Technology as Taskmaster

"Nothing works around here," Dan told me when I called him into lunch. He was frustrated because the lawn mower wouldn't start, and neither would his pick-up truck. The homemade coulter on his walk-behind tractor wasn't working correctly, the blade on the sickle mower needs replacing, and the chainsaw chain needed sharpening. Then there's the ever increasing pile of "junk", including a broken down tiller and a backyard leaf mulcher we'd like to sell, except the pull cord pulled off. On top of that, our washer, dryer, and electric summer stove are all on their last legs, as is the drip coffee pot.

I am reading an interesting book. I won it in Carolyn's giveaway at Krazo Acres, Better Off: Flipping The Switch on Technology. Two People One Year Zero Wattsby Eric Brende. He and his wife rented a home in the middle of an Amish-like community in order to experience life without modern technology. The book is the story of their experiences, thoughts, observations, and what they learned. He makes several noteworthy points.

One is how technology, with its promise of making our lives easier and more leisurely by saving us time, money, and work, has so come to dominate our modern lifestyles, that we are completely dependent upon it. It dictates what we do, when we do, and how we do it. We are helpless without it. He gave the example of a new cash register. Employees could not sell simple products because they didn't know how to operate it. Finally someone figured out they could calculate tax with pen and paper, and make change by hand.

This example relates to another point he makes, that as technology increases, human knowledge and skill decrease. I can only nod my head in agreement. We humans think we are so smart and advanced because we have computers, smart phones, and the internet. Yet who among us, of our own skill and knowledge, can fix a computer when it crashes? Or build a computer from scratch? We have more information, but less knowledge and less ability.

I figured out a long time ago that my so-called time saving kitchen devices were often more trouble to get out, set up, use, and clean up, than I thought worth it. So much quicker and easier to use a simple hand tool. While I can't deny that our walk-behind tractor and sickle mower have been truly useful tools for getting work accomplished, I must also acknowledge that they require a lot of time, work, and money to maintain.

It is difficult to criticize technology without being accused of going backward, or of being an isolationist. I know other homesteaders can relate. Another point made in this book is that, in fact, it is technology which isolates people. Agrarianism necessitates working together and fosters a sense of true human relationship and community. The community must come together to accomplish meaningful work. Our technology has taught us to focus on machines rather than people: we talk to cell phones or computer screens rather than face to face with real people. Our get-togethers focus on a presentation of entertainment rather than one another or on accomplishing a goal.

Those statements are somewhat generalized, of course, as is my next one. That it seems many modern day folks view technology as an all or nothing entity: either we have to embrace it all, or we're seen as rejecting it all. Rejecting part of it is viewed as rejecting all of it. I don't understand this thinking. Aren't we humans intelligent enough to pick and choose the level of technology which suits our personal needs and lifestyle? If I want to be actively involved in the processes of meeting our basic needs, why does that make me backward?

The wheel was a technological innovation at one time, as was the horse drawn plow and the steam locomotive. Those of us who desire a more hands-on, less technologically complicated lifestyle do so because we do not want to be totally dependent upon it. We do not want to lose the knowledge and skills which enable us to be independent. We do not want to spend all our time and money maintaining machines. We do not want our lives to revolve around them. We do not want to serve the machines, we want them to serve us.

It seems that the more time our technology saves us, the more frantic modern life becomes. All around me I see folks in a hurry and irritated because they aren't getting there fast enough. I've realized that if I don't want to live this way, I must learn a different way of looking at life. I need different, simpler goals. I must learn to be content with "less" by focusing more on doing rather than having. It necessitates slowing down and not doing everything at a breakneck speed. My progress is slower, but if my goal is a simpler lifestyle, then that's how it should be.

I can't say I've mastered any of this, I'm a work in progress. It helps to not have television and especially television advertising in my face. It helps to just take it a day at a time. It helps to not have much money. And especially it helps to know like-minded people through the internet, which, in light of what I'm saying, seems an odd thing to say. But that goes back to what I've been trying to say along, that technology should be a tool rather than a taskmaster.

What do you think?

Technology as Taskmaster © October 2014
by Leigh at http://www.5acresandadream.com/

Of Routine and Spontaneity on the Homestead

About 15 years ago I managed a food co-op, i.e. bulk food buying club. It was a small club, where we put in a monthly order, met at a local church, unloaded the truck, divvied everything up, paid the treasurer, cleaned up, and went home. Like all groups we ran into problems along the way and had to make decisions from time to time. Something I observed was that members seemed to fall roughly into one of two groups: those who like rules and those who don't. Those who liked them thought they made the ordering and delivery processes orderly and efficient. Without the routine, they saw only chaos. The other group was the "go with the flow" folks. These seemed to thrive more on spontaneity and believed problems would work themselves out. They disliked rules because they felt stifled by them. This contrast was interesting to me and fortunately we all got along well and never had any knock-down-drag-outs because of our differences.

On the homestead I am learning that we need both routine and spontaneity. Animals, especially, thrive on routine. If things aren't predictable, they aren't happy. I try to set my routine according to their species nature and stick to it. If I'm late, I hear about it! Their care and feeding are my daily chores. They are the foundation of my day. No matter what else I'm doing, when it's chore time, it's chore time. Everything else must be set aside for another time.

Spontaneity on the homestead isn't exactly the same as it is in the rest of the modern world. We can't not do chores for the spontaneity of it, or load up the car on a whim for a weekend getaway. Our spontaneity must exist without the framework of our routine. Even so, interruptions in routine often happen when unexpected things present themselves, such as goats getting their horns stuck in a cattle panel, goats getting their horns stuck in each others' collars, guinea fowl squawking in the middle of the road and blocking traffic, or animals getting hurt or sick. All of these demand immediate action, and the day's plans are delayed if not down the tubes. We've learned that it's not so much spontaneity that's required, it's flexibility.

Weather is an unpredictable factor which requires flexibility on the homestead. In the typical modern lifestyle, weather is considered either cooperative or uncooperative; peoples' lives go on regardless. On a farm or homestead, weather determines everything. It's why we got so much done on our master suite last summer - rain! If rain looks imminent, we'll jump to projects that will be effected by it: raking in the hay, getting that building project covered, garden picking, etc. We try to schedule working with the soil around it. Unexpected rain or snow can put a halt to the day's plans and make us change direction. That's why we keep an outdoor project and an indoor project in the works at all times.

Our routine is so intertwined with the weather and the land that I have gradually come to see ourselves differently in the grand scheme of things. I no longer see nature as something we simply observe, appreciate, and preserve; nature is something we are a part of. It isn't something we can put fences around, scatter educational placards throughout, and build pathways with a donation box at the end of the trail. It was never meant to be that way, but modern life, which is all wrapped up in technology, pretty much thinks it can go on without it.

One challenge to flexibility is work style. Dan and I have very different work styles. When Dan commences a project, he sticks with it until it's done. He doesn't like unfinished, loose ends. I'm the kind of person who has several projects in the works at any given time. I'm not actually a good multi-tasker, it's just that there's always a gardening project, kitchen project, housework project, and writing project all floating around in my day. Dan tells me he couldn't work like that, but I remind him that my projects are ongoing ones, while his are start-to-finish ones: new fencing, installing a wood cookstove, installing a rainwater collection system, or building a new chicken coop. For me, there will always be dishes to do, weeding to do, laundry to do, meals to cook, food to plant, pick, or preserve, errands to run, etc. I suppose it's part of why that saying came to be "A man works from sun to sun, but a woman's work is never done." Dan's projects can be marked with check boxes, mine are a lifestyle.

That doesn't mean developing a homesteading routine has been easy for me. I tend to get distracted by things that suddenly seem urgent, such as, "Oh no! The library books are due today!" In the beginning, especially, it was hard because there was so much to do. Then we got animals and were so thrilled when they ran up to us to beg for attention and food - so cute. One day I realized that the animals were dictating my day. The goats kept hollering to be fed earlier and earlier, and the chickens were jumping the fence to see if I had some tidbit to eat. I realized they needed a routine just as much as I did.

I do think there's a difference between spontaneity in the modern way of life and flexibility in an agrarian one. I think the worldly minded usually want flexibility to suit themselves. On the homestead, flexibility is required to suit everything else. I suppose that's why so many folks left the farm in the first place, for the freedom to not have to be flexible for the sake of everything else. Life appears so much simpler when everything appears to be predictable and one can be spontaneous simply for the fun of it.

Both Dan and I are still learning how to mentally balance routine with flexibility. There's a fine art of switching mental gears that neither of us has yet perfected. Sometimes we're mentally and emotionally set for one thing, but must switch to something else without losing motivation and enthusiasm. Hopefully we will someday be able to take it all in stride, simply saying, "It's all in a day's work".

Of Routine and Spontaneity on the Homestead
© July 2014 by Leigh at http://www.5acresandadream.com/

The Problem With Wealth

I was returning blog visits the other day, and ran across a really good post at Nancy's, "Inspiring Depressions Era Stories & Where We Are." The thing that struck me, was not how terrible these folks had it, though I know some did, but the wisdom and common sense of their forced frugality.

I remember my grandmother telling me about the depression. My grandfather's family was in mortgage banking and lost everything. I've been through the old census records and noted servants listed as members of the household. When the depression hit, my grandmother recalled all their families having to move into the same house together. She told me her father-in-law was never the same after that.

The generation that experienced the Great Depression seemed to come out of it with one thing in mind, to not let their own children experience the same lack of want. They worked hard and sacrificed to make sure their children had a better life. Most of us grew up under the passed down influence of that and have raised our children the same way. But at what cost? I know those parents thought they were doing a good thing, but if they could have looked ahead into the attitudes of future generations, I wonder if they would have made the same choices. Human nature never seems to appreciate what it doesn't have to work for, what's handed over on  a platter so to speak. Instead it takes those things for granted.

My first husband's grandmother lived in Louisiana. She gardened and canned much of her own food. When I asked her to teach me, she was shocked and refused. She even scolded me for it saying, "you don't have to do that. You can afford to buy food!"

That this is an inherited attitude in the South has become obvious to me during the years we've lived here. It also explains why so many folks in our area don't get what we're doing. (For an insightful, fun read about some of the differences between Southern and Northern attitudes, check out Tami's post, "Twinkie".) To many native Southerners, we appear to be going backward and they can't understand that.

Showing off wealth however, seems to be a universal tendency. Isn't that why folks buy the cars they do, the homes they do, the toys they do? People are enamoured with status. Unfortunately marketers take advantage of this tendency, tracking and creating what is now known as "trends." I find myself wondering if this strong human desire to be one of the in-crowd doesn't make us easy to manipulate.

When it comes to wealth, it seems the "have-nots" are always clamoring to be "haves." I don't think this was always the norm. When I read the Little House series, I see a contentment with what the Ingalls had, or didn't have, even though they had no money.

Nowadays people assume they have a right to what everybody else has. I think in part we have been trained this way. When my daughter was little, the trend for birthday parties was that everyone received a present. The idea behind this was to be fair and that nobodies feelings got hurt. I disagreed. To me it seemed unfair to create this expectation in my children, that they should always get what everybody else got. Reality is that life simply isn't fair. When 100 people audition for an opening on the team, only one person makes it. We are not equally talented, equally statured, equally inclined. For birthday parties, I preferred the concept of turn taking. On their birthday it was their turn to get presents. On So-&-so's birthday, it was their turn.

Now we hear political promises to equalize wealth. We assume this means that this nation's wealthy are going to have to give some of their money to us. We jump on the tax-the-rich bandwagon.  It never seems to occur to us that 1) the rich know the loopholes and have tax shelters to keep from paying higher taxes, 2) they have the means to pass higher taxes on via higher prices, lower wages, and job cuts, 3) that if the politician making the promise is a globalist, then equalizing wealth means taking it away from us as a nation, and passing it on to impoverished 3rd world countries. Equalizing wealth means poorer nations will have more, but we will have less.

I think one of the bottom line problems with wealth is that as humans, we are never satisfied with our lot in life. We all tend to think, if I only had _____ (fill in the blank)_____ . Many would say, "more money." The question we ought to be answering however, isn't even being asked. What we ought to be contemplating is, when is enough, enough?

Dan and I are not immune to this kind of thinking. Our blank would be filled in with, if only we had a farm tractor, or a real barn, or had the mortgage paid off. I rationalize this by saying we're still in the establishment phase of our homesteading. I have to consider though, that if my goal truly is self-sufficiency, then at some point I'm going to have to stop wanting more, I'm going to have to stop spending money, I'm going to have to get off the consumer mindset merry-go-round.

Do I have answers to any of this? Honestly, I don't think there are any, at least not in the sense we tend to think of answers, i.e. politics and isms, because these tendencies of human nature are universal. I think the problem is with our worldview, our mindset about money, and with how we define economy. However I reckon I've written enough about it all today. If you're curious about what I mean, you can check out these related posts:

Mindset: Key To Successful Homesteading?
A No Waste Way of Life
And a 3 part series:

1. Contemplations on Value & Money 
2. The Lost Art of Bartering Part 1
3. The Lost Art of Bartering Part 2

The Problem With Wealth © August 2012 by Leigh at http://my5acredream.blogspot.com/

No Guarantees

I want to thank everyone who commented on my "Goat Updates" post. I very much appreciate your sympathies and encouragements. It was the kind of situation no one wants to face, and for which ordinary life does not prepare us. It was a good reminder however, that there are no guarantees in life, and that there are especially no guarantees in homesteading. It's a reminder that while I cannot always control my circumstances, I can always control my attitude towards them.

Emotionally, making the decision about what to do was the hardest part. The question that plagued us was, did we / are we, doing the "right" thing. Then we had to deal with disappointment which tried it's hardest to morph into discouragement. Spiritually, it was a test of faith. If I say I believe in a Sovereign God, then do I trust Him even if things aren't working out the way I expect?

On a practical level, I had to examine the choices that lie before me. Our goal was to start our own herd of Kinder goats and I have to reevaluate the practical and economical aspects of that goal. In a broader sense, our commitment is to self-sufficiency, but we're not there yet either. Goat milk, yogurt, cheese, etc., have become a mainstay of our diet. But do I want to buy another goat right now, when being a grocery consumer is such an easy option?

This engages my thoughts on an economic level. Some folks think having animals is more expensive than simply buying the product, but I disagree (see "The Economics of Food Self Sufficiency"). I recently saw raw goats milk at a farm at $8 a gallon. Raw cows milk is about $6 a gallon at the bulk food store. Then there's the fuel to drive there and the time to make the trip. Seems easier to let my goats live on pasture, browse, and a little grain, and simply milk them twice a day! Even so, there is still the potential for crises, like Jasmine breaking her leg. I have to decide if these are risks I am willing to take.

I'm writing about this, because my goal is always to encourage other homesteaders. That means writing about the problems and the bad things as well as the good. Unfortunately most of us are not well equipped for many aspects of the homesteading life, because it runs against the grain of modern culture. We know we want to slow down and simplify our lives, but we often don't know how to do that. We know we want to be less dependent on the system to meet our needs, but we often lack the knowledge, skills, and tools to do so.

One thing we all have to deal with is that of expectations. When Dan and I first bought our place, I planned to plant and grow everything we liked to eat. It didn't take long to figure out that everything we like to eat doesn't necessarily grow well here. It can be done, but it would take a lot of extra work. There are only so many hours in a day, so in the end we decided to adapt to our location and modify our diet.

Expectations become a pitfall, when they are attached to assumptions. This has become a modern social problem (at least I think so), and is one reason why there are so many stupid lawsuits; folks want a guaranteed outcome, guaranteed results. It's why prices always to up; businesses want guaranteed income, guaranteed profits. If something doesn't work out, we want to know why and we want somebody to be responsible. The fact that some things aren't anyone's fault, never occurs to some people.

In part, I think this is because human nature likes predictability. We make plans based on predictable outcomes. That's why most folks see farming, or the agrarian lifestyle in general, as a hard way to live. If you've read any of the Little House on the Prairie series, you know what I mean. How many times did Pa make plans for the harvest that didn't come in? "Don't count your chickens before they're hatched" is a well-known, well understood reference to the uncertainties of agrarian living.

It's especially difficult for those who like to be in control. Unfortunately there are some things that cannot be controlled: hurricanes, accidents, earthquakes, cancer, rainfall, how many eggs hatch, etc. Some folks have great faith that science will ultimately save us from the uncertain. I'm not one of them. I think it is far better to learn to accept life as it comes. I may not be able to control my circumstances, but I can certainly control my attitude towards them.

Intellectually I think we all know that working toward a self-sufficient lifestyle does not come with guarantees. Yet crises still catch us off guard despite our understanding. In the end, true success requires acceptance without blame. It requires adaptability. It requires being willing to take risks. Ma Ingalls used to say,“There's no great loss without some small gain.” Oftentimes the gain is experience and knowledge. If we can see that as a gift, then I think we will do well.

No Guarantees © June 2012 by Leigh
at http://www.5acresandadream.com/

Our Kitchen Floor Is Here!

9" wide yellow pine plank flooring. Shipping weight was 500 lbs.

Finally. Doesn't look like a lot, does it? That's 206 square feet of 9 inch wide yellow pine tongue & groove plank floor boards. Seemed to take forever to arrive and for awhile, we didn't think it would arrive at all. We ordered it online from Lumber Liquidators (which for some reason I always want to call "Liquid Lumberdators."). The product reviews were excellent, and so was the price; $1.99 per square foot. Plus we got free shipping by picking it up at our area store.

Wide planks like this are not usually kept in stock and must be special ordered. This means a long lead time, usually 6 to 8 weeks, though this company makes no promises. We made the order in December, and kept an eye on their online order tracking. When the status never changed from "order accepted," Dan finally called and got an expected delivery date.

That date came and went so he called again. Over the weeks we went though two more postponements, and by that time he was a tad frustrated because no one could give him any clue as to the actual status of our floor. There were always five orders ahead of us. While we waited we worked on all the little kitchen projects we could do, but eventually we got to the point where installing the floor was next.

In the end, persistence paid off. Not because they were tired of him bugging them, it just took getting the right customer service rep; someone who was willing to look into it. Thanks to one gal being willing to make a few phone calls, the situation was resolved promptly. Turns out it was in stock all along at another store. They even delivered it to our door at no extra cost!

Unfortunately, situations like this always reflect on the company. Any of the other folks we talked to could have made inquiries for us too, but for whatever reason, didn't. Sometimes a company is grossly mismanaged, but sometimes the problem exists at another level. Have you ever looked at an empty shelf in a store and asked an employee if they had any more in the back? How many times have you immediately been told no? I have, and then turned around and asked another employee the same question. That person was willing to help and went and got it! What does that tell you?

Personally I think it has to do with a work ethic that has long been lost. Or perhaps people just don't know how to take the initiative anymore. These are things that have to be taught, they aren't caught. We taught our kids a work ethic. They had chores and responsibilities because this is how the family functions; everyone helps out according to ability. That meant that as they got older, work load and responsibilities increased. They got an allowance as well, but this was not payment for their chores. We did this because I did not want them to grow up thinking that they should get something in return for everything they did. Helping others was a character trait I wanted to develop. We help others because it is the right thing to do, not in expectation of getting something in return. If they shirked on their chores, their allowance wasn't cut, but there were other consequences (more work and loss of privileges.)

They got an allowance because they were members of the family and because families share resources. They were however, expected to tithe from it, and put some in savings. With the remainder, they could do as they pleased. While we never cut their allowance as punishment, it did increase as they got older and willingly took on more responsibility. In looking at the kind of adults my kids are now, I have no regrets about how we raised them. They are willing, responsible, hard working adults who handle their money well.

Good grief. How in the world did I get here from there.

Anyway, yellow pine is actually classified as a hardwood, which is good for my kitchen, considering what a klutz I am. The next step will be to find a place inside for it, so it can acclimatize to the house. Then we can get to work putting it down.

Next: problems preparing the old floor

Our Kitchen Floor Is Here! © February 2012 by Leigh at http://my5acredream.blogspot.com/

Cultural Disengagement

I ran across an interesting article not too long ago, "The Infomocracy Dilemma: Revolution or Disengagement?"  I thought it quite perceptive in regards to the mess things are in, and quite timely considering the increasing unrest of late. What especially caught my attention, was the phrase "enlightened disengagement." That got me thinking.

In centuries past, when a people disagreed with their government, they had options: revolt, change it from within, or leave. For this nation, we probably first think of the Pilgrims, the Separatists actually, who saw nothing for it but to separate from an oppressive government and start over on their own terms. Their contemporaries, the Puritans, believed they could "purify" the church/government from within, although ten years later, they started heading for the New World as well. Later, it was revolt, for reasons stated in the Declaration of Independence. After that, it was go west to new territories and undeveloped lands.

I do not believe any of these are viable options in this day and age. Revolt will only result in another greedy, power hungry government eventually, history shows us that. Changing from within is what the democratic process is all about, but look at where we are now; one party treats us like a bunch of dopes, the other patronizes us at every turn. In the end, the only difference between them is semantics. For the public, it's all a game, a show. I have finally concluded (with no apologies to Karl Marx), that politics is the opium of the masses. It keeps us divided and distracted.

The last option on the list is migration, but now, there's nowhere new to go, and no, I'm not standing in line to be one of the first colonists on Mars.

One thing we have seen, is a lifestyle phenomenon called homesteading: rural, urban, and in-between. It isn't within the boundaries of any one political party, religion, philosophy, race, or sexual orientation. The reasons for embarking on it are many. The one thing we all have in common, is that it offers a sense of "doing something about it," as well as hope and a source of security in uncertain times.

A common theme amongst homesteaders, is self-sufficiency. The problem is, of course, that we're still dependent upon the system. We all know that, and seek to cut or at least minimize those ties. We grow our own food and seek energy alternatives. Those things certainly help and give us a greater sense of freedom, but aren't the heart of what keeps us bound to the system. I'm going to suggest that there are three things that ultimately prevent most folks from truly disengaging from a culture that is failing many of us. Those things are debt, insurance, and retirement investments.

Debt. All kinds, because the things we owe on, don't really belong to us, i.e. they belong to the person or institution that loaned the money to obtain them. Another way of looking at it is, my paycheck really isn't mine if I'm in debt. The amount I owe belongs to the lender. I'm allowed to keep it because the lender profits on the interest, and hopes I'll purchase more debt. If the borrower defaults, the lender has the legal, and moral I might add, right to take take it back or collect the debt. Unfortunately they go beyond that and ruin our credit ratings, increase our interest rates, and impose unrestricted fees and penalties. Avoiding all this is what keeps us in line. Of course, if we have no debt, there's no line to tow.

Insurance, all types. Some folks think this is a necessity but personally, I've never had an insurance company do what I paid them for, not without a battle, which was usually a losing one. I think the deception here is that folks think they are purchasing a service, when in fact what they mostly get for their money, is a sense of security, but with no guarantees. Auto insurance is mandated by law; a guaranteed income for the auto insurance companies, and the lawyers one must hire to get them to pay out on claims. Health and life insurance is packaged as a "benefit," but the only ones who seem to benefit are the insurance providers and pharmaceutical companies. And soon the government. "What if" fears keep us locked in here.

Retirement investments. Actually, I could say all investments, except that not everyone has money to invest. Most folks though, feel a retirement account is a necessity. Again, it's a sense of security that has no guarantee. The problem, of which there is an increasing awareness, is corruption in the system. That, and that our perceived wealth from investments is actually a number system rather than real money, as (for example) those who lost it in the 2008 wall street crisis know very well.

Now, you might agree with me on these points, then again, you might not. I'm not going to argue or debate their individual validity, because I think each of us has the right to our own opinions and our own choices concerning them. This just happens to be my opinion, based on my own observations of what's going on around me and my personal experience in these areas. My point, is that I think these are things which keep us from truly disengaging from the system, if that's what we want. Either way, depending on how we view the future, these might be things we need to consider.

Cultural Disengagement © November 2011 by Leigh at http://my5acredream.blogspot.com/

Contemplations on Value & Money

What gives a thing value? Is it how rare it is? How much it sells for? How much someone else says it's worth? For it's potential to make money? Or, is it's value based on how much others need or want it? I am thinking these would be commonly accepted ways to set value. I daresay most folks in Dan's and my shoes would look at our home improvements and ask themselves, how long before thus and such pays itself off? Or, how much of a return can we get when we sell the house?

I'm contemplating this because I'm thinking that as homesteaders, our view of value needs to be different. Dan's and my goal, which I think is a typical one for homesteaders, is to meet more and more of our own needs through our relationship with our land. That could be extended somewhat, to secondarily meeting them through our relationship with our local community. I'm going to suggest that our success will hinge in part, on how we perceive value.

I've blogged along these lines before, in "Mindset: Key to Successful Homesteading?" Applying this mindset to how we're trying to live, is something I'm constantly mulling over. It requires conscience effort because it is not the way we are socially indoctrinated. Indeed, it is quite foreign to most folks.

Chickens, for example. Every homesteader, rural or urban, thinks about getting chickens. One of the first things we typically do, is calculate the cost. This is compared with what we can buy eggs for at the grocery store. If we want chickens for meat, we can figure that in too. In my case, I included the manure for compost and the ability to reproduce more chickens. After all that, the question we inevitably focus on is, which is cheaper? We try to determine the value of this endeavor by what it will cost us, and what we can recover.

At some point in our chicken deliberations, we entertain the idea of selling our surplus eggs to offset our expenses. No problem with that, but it finally occurred to me that, for what I was claiming our goals were, I was asking the wrong questions.

The question I ought to focus on, is, do I want to have a self-sustaining source of eggs, meat, compost, and chickens? If the answer is yes, then the cost comparison becomes basically irrelevant. If I have the money I get the chickens, and work toward feeding them from my own land. Here, their value is based on my need and how well they help me attain my goal, not whether I can get my money's worth from them.

Another example. Let's say I have an old farm tractor "worth" $2000, and you have a freshened dairy cow "worth" $700. I need milk for cream, butter, cheese, etc., to feed my family. You need to plow your fields to plant grain for your cows. A consumer/profit based trade would assume, "you still owe me $1300". Whether or not the trade could take place would depend upon whether or not the cow's owner had an additional $1300 worth of goods or cash to complete the transaction. If not, neither party would have their needs met. A need based trade on the other hand, might make the trade as is, and call it even steven.

What I'm suggesting, is that money is not the only standard by which we can set value. We can also set it by how well a thing fulfills our needs or helps us meet our goals.

Now, most folks probably wouldn't want to do it that way. That's simply not the way things are done and money is, after all, an easy way of setting value. There is a problem with that though, because ultimately, a thing's value is only what someone else is willing to pay for it. If I have a rare book that I claim is worth $10,000 but nobody wants it, is it really worth $10,000? I could theoretically starve to death because I wouldn't part with it for less than $10,000. If someone was finally willing to pay $500 for it, is it still worth $10,000? The original owner might think so and assumed s/he'd been cheated, but I'd say it is only worth $10,000 if the new owner can sell if for that. If not, then it's only worth what the next buyer is willing to pay. In other words, value is arbitrary. A real life example is the 2008 mortgage crisis, where many folks suddenly found they could only sell their homes for considerably less than what they paid for them.

Another example of the mindset I'm talking about would be the movie, It's A Wonderful Life with James Stewart and Donna Reed. The Baileys were interested in helping folks own their own homes, more so than they were in large profits. They lived comfortably but modestly, and were willing to sacrifice to help meet peoples' needs. Mr. Potter on the other hand cared more about profit than people. Of course he was the bad guy, and we all cheered in the end when things worked out for George Bailey. We might think of this as nothing more than a Christmastime feel-good movie, but it illustrates the real life viewpoints I'm talking about.

Now, I'm not trying to minimize the reality of money, nor am I suggesting that it is possible to do away with it. What I am saying is that there is more than one way of looking at it. It can be viewed as security, power, or a tool. Unfortunately, economics is the religion of our times, and those in power are it's priests. They deem that it's the duty of the rest of us to get jobs, work, make money, and hand it over. More and more people are beginning to become aware of this and don't like being pressured into this mold. We commonly hear the problem described as "corporate greed," but anybody can be greedy: from the kindergarten bully who steals everybody's candy, to the politician who takes bribes under the table. Some suggest that the answer to capitalism is socialism, but a government can be just as greedy, power hungry, fraudulent, and uncaring as a big corporation. It's the human element that makes it so, and is something no law can govern.

I think it is important that those of us who desire a self-sufficient lifestyle understand the underlying basis upon which we make decisions. How we assign value to things will influence those decisions. The problem is that a standard of value other than money, is foreign thinking to us. It is not the mindset we are taught and it is difficult to think this way. Our challenge, is to begin to look at ourselves and the things around us in a different light. It is something I invite you to consider.

This post was the first in a series. It continues with:

The Lost Art of Bartering, Part 1.

The Lost Art of Bartering, Part 2.

 Contemplations on Value & Money © October 2011 by Leigh at http://my5acredream.blogspot.com/