Marco1981,
I have really enjoyed reading all about your smallholding and self sufficiency, thank you, it is really great to read about someone who is actually trying to live in a way that is not reliant on others, no matter how successful you ultimately are, the effort is certainly there and I commend you for that. I have been thinking about your set up and I would like to ask you a couple of questions if I may.
I understand that being isolated may be desirable for a life of self sufficiency/survival so to speak, but I just wonder how your community works together, if they do. You hinted at a doctor/neighbour, but how about your other neighbours? I think it is very important to have a community who are cooperative rather than individuals possibly working against each other if the worst should happen. From the couple of times I have been to Scotland, I observe that the community spirit is still pretty much intact, whereas it may have declined in more built up areas of the UK. I just wondered if you are taking advantage of it by bartering, offering services etc. in return for things you may need. I read a blog by a woman who lived for a whole year in a small community in France without buying any groceries or clothes etc. for her family, she foraged in the hedgerows and bartered produce from her smallholding for things that she needed. She really has a fascinating story to tell, you may be interested in reading it. Every time she grew or foraged something she gave some to her neighbours and in that way she was able to accept produce and services but also more importantly, knowledge from her community in return, a community who knew the land and had lived and relied on it for generations. In a survival situation, local knowledge is a GOOD THING. I just wonder how many people there are around you who may be able to give you this knowledge in addition to material things you may need. Have you ever considered adding foraging to your skills base? I know you say you are a vegetarian, but perhaps moving beyond your own plot and looking into fishing and foraging along the shoreline (if you are near to a river or the coast) may stand you in good stead if you ever had to rely on the land around you 100% of the time in the future. Brewing some hedgerow wine or beer or even keeping bees and collecting the honey would be a great thing to trade to your neighbours.
These days in french life blog : http://www.flickr.com/photos/81951381@N00/
Thank you Tawnyhare. My prepping or whatever people would like to call it is still very much in its infancy. There is still much more to be done. But I believe that it can be done which is the maon thing for me anyway. As I progress the more confident I have gotten. When I first started thinking this way I was overwhelmed witbh worry and didn't know where to begin. It can be quite daunting. Initially I was still working and trying to do a full time job and convert my lifestyle to be less dependant on what are really only luxuries. But it was counter productive. I was burning the candle at both ends and achieving nothing. My business failed due to nobody having enough money to hire me anymore so I gave it all up and just concentrated on this instead. I have only really been giving it my all for the last year but have been actively striving for it for four years and was dreaming of it for nearly ten years.
My local community is pretty well intact. I am not the most sociable creature around by any means, but I know that I have things to offer them, and I know that they have things to offer me in return. To be honest, currently I am the odd ball on the island and don't really mix with anybody. But I don't need people to like me. I am not looking for lifelong friends, but just a stable "working relationship" which is mutually beneficial. I do intend to support people with surplus food and assistance when required. I know a fair few folk who are trying to prepare for a bad situation, but they are keeping it pretty secret at the minute. They don't want to be labelled a whack job prepper as it has quite some stigma to it.
The isolated location comes with many benefits and many pit falls. The weather this far north can leave a nasty taste in your mouth during winter months and the best thing we can do is just knuckle down and make do till the spring. Spring and summer are hard graft to prepare for the winter as going and cutting wood or peat in horizontal rain and 50mph winds isn't that fun - and that's on a good day. I am unlikely to face raiders for example as the effort in getting to my location will be great, and I live in a pretty well armed society (in comparison to cities where FAC holders aren't everywhere you look anyway) where I will have allies who can depend on me, and I them. The pitfalls include sourcing things that are perishable. There are only so many spares that one can keep, or afford to buy at any one time. To cover this, repairing things as and when required to keep in top condition is paramount. I am learning to knit (I am surrounded by sheep, so wool isn't an issue and know a few folk who spin it themselves), know how to sew, can do plumbing, electrical and building repairs myself. Nothing is fool proof and I expect that I will run into hardships. But I am confident that I will find work a rounds for most of the necessities by either bartering for supplies or botching things together.
As for meat, I am not all that fussed on it at all. I can't stomach it and has nothing to do with moral misconceptions about killing animals. My family are still omnivores, so I am not opposed to hunting the odd rabbit, culling some hens, or fishing. And, like I mentioned, I am surrounded by sheepand know how to slaughter them.
Prepping for me isn't just a way to try and secure a future for my family, it is a hobby. I enjoy the thought process. I enjoy the labour involved. I get a lot of satisfaction at the end of the day. I enjoy learning new things, and the old ways. I also like hearing of other people who are doing similar things.
Thanks for the link, I will have a look through in the morn.
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