Free-Range Living

 

'Summer trials ---- ' 

Micro-holding 'trials and tribulations' ------

This morning at the eco organic micro-holding (small smallholding) one of the activities was one of the regular summer wood sawing sessions, with some mixed results. The electric line down to the paddock (it's electric chainsawing via solar power here) refused to activate, even though it was perfectly ok only yesterday, and for the previous sessions. Testing the line with a table lamp from the living room showed the problem was in the line itself, and plug attentions didn't solve the issue. An alternative move of re-positioning the sawhorse up towards the cottage so that an electric extension line from the cottage could be brought into play, along with lugging the wood to be sawn up to the new sawing position, was the practical answer, and the new-ish quite big 'super' saw whirred into life there, only then for its chain to come off on only the second cut it made ---- Going to be one of those mornings ----

An older saw was then sharpened up and guess what? - the 'oldies' win the day - it sorted the job out and a good pile of cut logs was the result, a 'mini triumph' after the dodgy start. The sawn wood was then taken to the undercover wood store by barrow to nicely add to the decent pile of wood already there ------ and giving a good feeling of both having got the job done in spite of difficulties, and seeing 'living security' for the winter ahead taking shape.

Creative lifesyles ---- 

All this then lead to thoughts about getting good feelings, satisfaction and the thought that the life of wealth and leisure, and/or worry about one's position in the 'rich league' (this is said to be often the case)  would not then offer such satisfactions, which can come to the many involved in creative activities, yet the message of wealth and lux leisure promoted by the mainstream culture would appear to byepass such goodies - ?  If life is to be concentrated on accumulating wealth (and then in effect the individual 'being run' by the prevailing culture), then the whole host of potentially satisfying creative and existential activities would not feature for that person, leaving them potentially bereft of significant 'life satisfactions', leading such a 'narrowed' existence - ? Some 'creative living' examples previously featured in the 'freerange' pages are briefly reviewed below :

                                   ------- D had forged a life following his passion for creating items out of wood, living modestly in a pleasant rural village in the UK's borderlands, spending most days in his small workshop creating hand-made wooden furniture, including Welsh Dressers. Even being left quite a lot of money failed to disturb his lifestyle - 'it'd be crazy to change things when I'm already doing what I love', he'd say.

                                    ------- B had worked his way up the farming ladder from modest beginnings -he'd started out as a hired farmhand, and in the process over the decades created a top quality herd of milking cows. The herd type was now generally considered to be past its sell-by-date and B was under pressure to change to the modern 'milk pouring machines'. 'They say I'll make more money but I don't really need more of it, and anyway, where would I be without my beloved gals?', he'd say. The neat creamy white and light brown Ayrshire breed cows really were a picture against the emerald-green grazing grass in the May sunshine ----- B generally went down early to collect the cows for the later milking, just to have time to be with and enjoy his 'beloved gals'.

                                    --------  D and J had both been committed teachers but become disenchanted with their life in education due to the seemingly ever increasing central control, eroding, as they saw it, their professional responsibilty and status. They spent some time considering their situation and looking at alternatives. As luck would have it (or was it 'serendipity'?) they came accross a holding of 6.5 acres (2.8 ha's) for sale with static caravan living accomodation, in a pleasant UK north midlands rural location, then making the decision to sell their house to then buy the holding. 

They then ran the holding as an organic self-sufficiency unit, complete with their own energy from a two acre wood on site, plus growing nearly an acre of organic veg they sold on a market stall at a local rural town. They were able to continue their self-organised independent lifestyle in their idyllic setting for several decades on their 'low cash' income whilst also raising a family   - no flash living or exotic holidays but not a problem - their independent lifestyle and peaceful surroundings more than fitted the bill for them ---- 

A 'crux' question --- ?

Here's maybe an interesting question :  Can a person gain fulfilment via a lifestyle of accumulating wealth/power, or is a more multi-dimensional approach needed, particularly maybe one which includes heartfelt creative self-expression activity,  often with a 'contribution to society' element - ?  Presumably this latter lifestyle doesn't necessarily have to be 'high powered' - people doing 'service' type jobs for instance are making their contribution, and often having to employ a level of creativity in their work - a nurse for instance may well be 'creatively skilled' in the area of 'people handling', a teacher can practice creative ways to transmit learning, and so forth. 

 'Many of the UK's lifeboat volunteers interviewed on the TV 'Saving Lives at Sea' programme state that there's no feeling like having helped someone in trouble at sea, and 'making a difference''. 

Because money and money making can loom so large in mainstream cultures, it can at times be tricky to see beyond it . Here in this neck of the woods the local millenium social centre is a 'not-for-profit' establishment, a situation that has at times caused difficulties for some, so prevailing is the money-making siren theme. The centre has of course to make some money  to be able to operate - the electric bills have to be paid - but the making of money isn't the prime function of the place, the 'end'' - that's the facilitation of community activities - it's rather the 'means', still important as the 'support act', as it were, and as such there's no need for the accumulation of 'more and more' -the 'sufficiency' level of money provision can do nicely ---  

'Inhumanity to man - and woman ---  ?'

It's a good job the cottage can stay relatively cool, to protect the micro-holders now in a vulnerable 'oldie' category, and with one partner having a long-term health condition known as 'c.o.p.d' involving breathing restrictions due to lung capability deterioration. Not that counted for much with the holiday firm recently mean't to take us micro-holders on a 5-day break by coach, but now in the UK heatwave  considered 'high risk' to oldie health (thousands of older folk perishing in the UK due to high heat conditions). This firm which gave a 100% unsympathetic response to a request to see if there could be a move to a trip at a later more temporate time of year (but since relenting  on receipt of 'customer complaints' ). The 'on the make'  business practice still 'alive and well' - freerangers beware -----  

Dynamic micro-holding conditions -----   

It's been a real heatwave summer so far here at the organic eco micro-holding (small smallholding) in the UK midlands, with currently the third hot period in progress - 31" in the shade here today, lord knows what out in the sun. Transplanting leek plants earlier soon resulted in erm, a 'bolt for the cottage door', the cottage fortunately staying reasonably cool indoors (and the leek plants did not survive). The sitting room has reasonably thick stone walls which helps, whilst the day living room has the benefit of an old-fashioned quarry tile floor, ever cold, and especially with a good-size fan wafting air about. The gorgeous black loam soil here doesn't retain moisture that well, so it's been a summer of more watering and irrigation than ever before in the forty-five years the place has been operating.

Crop results --- 

In spite of all the watering and irrigation, there's still been a tendancy for plants to run to seed quickly, notably back along, the autumn-planted onions, and more recently,  lettuces. The good broad bean crop is now in early July more or less spent, with quite a few beans now in the freezer for eating next winter, and with the runner bean crop, some now over two metres high, looking good with plenty of flowers out. The irrigator will go on this evening when it's a bit cooler to in effect water half the growing area - the other half was done last night , watering the runner bean plants and their flowers -mean't  to help them 'set' to then produce beans, especially in hot weather - and to at the same time water other crops such as celery, outdoor tomatoes, calabrese, leek plants, beetroot, lettuces and landcress (like watercress) .

The strawberry and raspberry crops excelled, both lasting a month of picking but growing peas has been a real problem with a prevously unheard of three rows failing to materialise. Normally 100% of onions are grown for the year but again it's been a struggle this year with only a 50% crop - there are some home sown onions in a bed but they're struggling even with the irrigation --- fingers, and everything, crossed --- 

Hey 'hoe' - and yes, that will have to be in action soon - in this weather and with the watering, the weeds 'proliferate' at a fair old rate of knots ---- but then to supply the compost heap to make useful fertiliser for use two years down the line - neat? - an 'eco friendly' 'no waste' system in practice ----- warming the hearts of ol' eco worriers ----- 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

'Feel Good-ies ---- ' 

 

Micro-holding 'trials and tribulations' ------

 

This morning at the eco organic micro-holding (small smallholding) one of the activities was one of the regular summer wood sawing sessions, with some mixed results. The electric line down to the paddock (it's electric chainsawing via solar power here) refused to activate, even though it was perfectly ok only yesterday, and for the previous sessions. Testing the line with a table lamp from the living room showed the problem was in the line itself, and plug attentions didn't solve the issue. An alternative move of re-positioning the sawhorse up towards the cottage so that an electric extension line from the cottage could be brought into play, along with lugging the wood to be sawn up to the new sawing position, was the practical answer, and the new-ish quite big 'super' saw whirred into life there, only then for its chain to come off on only the second cut it made ---- Going to be one of those mornings ---- An older saw was then sharpened up and guess what? - the 'oldies' win the day - it sorted the job out and a good pile of cut logs was the result, a 'mini triumph' after the dodgy start. The sawn wood was then taken to the undercover wood store by barrow to nicely add to the decent pile of wood already there ------ and giving a good feeling of both having got the job done in spite of difficulties, and seeing 'living security' for the winter ahead taking shape.

 

Creative lifesyles ---- 

 

All this then lead to thoughts about getting good feelings, satisfaction and the thought that the life of wealth and leisure, and/or worry about one's position in the 'rich league' (this is said to be often the case)  would not then offer such satisfactions, which can come to the many involved in creative activities, yet the message of wealth and lux leisure promoted by the mainstream culture would appear to byepass such goodies - ?  If life is to be concentrated on accumulating wealth (and then in effect the individual 'being run' by the prevailing culture), then the whole host of potentially satisfying creative and existential activities would not feature for that person, leaving them potentially bereft of significant 'life satisfactions', leading such a 'narrowed' existence - ? Some 'creative living' examples previously featured in the 'freerange' pages are briefly reviewed below :

 

                                   ------- D had forged a life following his passion for creating items out of wood, living modestly in a pleasant rural village in the UK's borderlands, spending most days in his small workshop creating hand-made wooden furniture, including Welsh Dressers. Even being left quite a lot of money failed to disturb his lifestyle - 'it'd be crazy to change things when I'm already doing what I love', he'd say.

 

                                    ------- B had worked his way up the farming ladder from modest beginnings -he'd started out as a hired farmhand, and in the process over the decades created a top quality herd of milking cows. The herd type was now generally considered to be past its sell-by-date and B was under pressure to change to the modern 'milk pouring machines'. 'They say I'll make more money but I don't really need more of it, and anyway, where would I be without my beloved gals?', he'd say. The neat creamy white and light brown Ayrshire breed cows really were a picture against the emerald-green grazing grass in the May sunshine ----- B generally went down early to collect the cows for the later milking, just to have time to be with and enjoy his 'beloved gals'.

 

                                    --------  D and J had both been committed teachers but become disenchanted with their life in education due to the seemingly ever increasing central control, eroding, as they saw it, their professional responsibilty and status. They spent some time considering their situation and looking at alternatives. As luck would have it (or was it 'serendipity'?) they came accross a holding of 6.5 acres (2.8 ha's) for sale with static caravan living accomodation, in a pleasant UK north midlands rural location, then making the decision to sell their house to then buy the holding. They then ran the holding as an organic self-sufficiency unit, complete with their own energy from a two acre wood on site, plus growing nearly an acre of organic veg they sold on a market stall at a local rural town. They were able to continue their self-organised independent lifestyle in their idyllic setting for several decades on their 'low cash' income whilst also raising a family   - no flash living or exotic holidays but not a problem - their independent lifestyle and peaceful surroundings more than fitted the bill for them ---- 

 

A 'crux' question --- ?

 

Here's maybe an interesting question :  Can a person gain fulfilment via a lifestyle of accumulating wealth/power, or is a more multi-dimensional approach needed, particularly maybe one which includes heartfelt creative self-expression activity,  often with a 'contribution to society' element - ?  Presumably this latter lifestyle doesn't necessarily have to be 'high powered' - people doing 'service' type jobs for instance are making their contribution, and often having to employ a level of creativity in their work - a nurse for instance may well be 'creatively skilled' in the area of 'people handling', a teacher can practice creative ways to transmit learning, and so forth. 

 

 'Many of the UK's lifeboat volunteers interviewed on the TV 'Saving Lives at Sea' state that there's no feeling like having helped someone in trouble at sea, and 'making a difference''. 

 

Because money and money making can loom so large in mainstream cultures, it can at times be tricky to see beyond it . Here in this neck of the woods the local millenium social centre is a 'not-for-profit' establishment, a situation that has at times caused difficulties for some, so prevailing is the money-making siren theme. The centre has of course to make some money  to be able to operate - the electric bills have to be paid - but the making of money isn't the prime function of the place, the 'end'' - that's the facilitation of community activities - it's rather the 'means', still important as the 'support act', as it were, and as such there's no need for the accumulation of 'more and more' -the 'sufficiency' level of money provision can do nicely ---  

 

'Inhumanity to man - and woman ---  ?'

 

It's a good job the cottage can stay relatively cool, to protect the micro-holders now in a vulnerable 'oldie' category, and with one partner having a long-term health condition known as 'c.o.p.d' involving breathing restrictions due to lung capability deterioration. Not that counted for much with the holiday firm recently mean't to take us micro-holders on a 5-day break by coach, but now in the UK heatwave  considered 'high risk' to oldie health (thousands of older folk perishing in the UK due to high heat conditions). This firm which gave a 100% unsympathetic response to a request to see if there could be a move to a trip at a later more temporate time of year (but since relenting  on receipt of 'customer complaints' ). The 'on the make'  business practice still 'alive and well' - freerangers beware -----  

 

Dynamic micro-holding conditions -----   

 

It's been a real heatwave summer so far here at the organic eco micro-holding (small smallholding) in the UK midlands, with currently the third hot period in progress - 31" in the shade here today, lord knows what out in the sun. Transplanting leek plants earlier soon resulted in erm, a 'bolt for the cottage door', the cottage fortunately staying reasonably cool indoors (and the leek plants did not survive). The sitting room has reasonably thick stone walls which helps, whilst the day living room has the benefit of an old-fashioned quarry tile floor, ever cold, and especially with a good-size fan wafting air about. The gorgeous black loam soil here doesn't retain moisture that well, so it's been a summer of more watering and irrigation than ever before in the forty-five years the place has been operating.

 

In spite of all the watering and irrigation, there's still been a tendancy for plants to run to seed quickly, notably back along, the autumn-planted onions, and more recently,  lettuces. The good broad bean crop is now in early July more or less spent, with quite a few beans now in the freezer for eating next winter, and with the runner bean crop, some now over two metres high, looking good with plenty of flowers out. The irrigator will go on this evening when it's a bit cooler to in effect water half the growing area - the other half was done last night , watering the runner bean plants and their flowers -mean't  to help them 'set' to then produce beans, especially in hot weather - and to at the same time water other crops such as celery, outdoor tomatoes, calabrese, leek plants, beetroot, lettuces and landcress (like watercress) . The strawberry and raspberry crops excelled, both lasting a month of picking but growing peas has been a real problem with a prevously unheard of three rows failing to materialise. Normally 100% of onions are grown for the year but again it's been a struggle this year with only a 50% crop - there are some home sown onions in a bed but they're struggling even with the irrigation --- fingers, and everything, crossed --- 

 

Hey 'hoe' - and yes, that will have to be in action soon - in this weather and with the watering, the weeds 'proliferate' at a fair old rate of knots ---- but then to supply the compost heap to make useful fertiliser for use two years down the line - neat? - an 'eco friendly' 'no waste' system in practice ----- warming the hearts of ol' eco worriers ----- 

 

 

'Feel Good-ies ---- ' 

 

Micro-holding 'trials and tribulations' ------

 

This morning at the eco organic micro-holding (small smallholding) one of the activities was one of the regular summer wood sawing sessions, with some mixed results. The electric line down to the paddock (it's electric chainsawing via solar power here) refused to activate, even though it was perfectly ok only yesterday, and for the previous sessions. Testing the line with a table lamp from the living room showed the problem was in the line itself, and plug attentions didn't solve the issue. An alternative move of re-positioning the sawhorse up towards the cottage so that an electric extension line from the cottage could be brought into play, along with lugging the wood to be sawn up to the new sawing position, was the practical answer, and the new-ish quite big 'super' saw whirred into life there, only then for its chain to come off on only the second cut it made ---- Going to be one of those mornings ---- An older saw was then sharpened up and guess what? - the 'oldies' win the day - it sorted the job out and a good pile of cut logs was the result, a 'mini triumph' after the dodgy start. The sawn wood was then taken to the undercover wood store by barrow to nicely add to the decent pile of wood already there ------ and giving a good feeling of both having got the job done in spite of difficulties, and seeing 'living security' for the winter ahead taking shape.

 

Creative lifesyles ---- 

 

All this then lead to thoughts about getting good feelings, satisfaction and the thought that the life of wealth and leisure, and/or worry about one's position in the 'rich league' (this is said to be often the case)  would not then offer such satisfactions, which can come to the many involved in creative activities, yet the message of wealth and lux leisure promoted by the mainstream culture would appear to byepass such goodies - ?  If life is to be concentrated on accumulating wealth (and then in effect the individual 'being run' by the prevailing culture), then the whole host of potentially satisfying creative and existential activities would not feature for that person, leaving them potentially bereft of significant 'life satisfactions', leading such a 'narrowed' existence - ? Some 'creative living' examples previously featured in the 'freerange' pages are briefly reviewed below :

 

                                   ------- D had forged a life following his passion for creating items out of wood, living modestly in a pleasant rural village in the UK's borderlands, spending most days in his small workshop creating hand-made wooden furniture, including Welsh Dressers. Even being left quite a lot of money failed to disturb his lifestyle - 'it'd be crazy to change things when I'm already doing what I love', he'd say.

 

                                    ------- B had worked his way up the farming ladder from modest beginnings -he'd started out as a hired farmhand, and in the process over the decades created a top quality herd of milking cows. The herd type was now generally considered to be past its sell-by-date and B was under pressure to change to the modern 'milk pouring machines'. 'They say I'll make more money but I don't really need more of it, and anyway, where would I be without my beloved gals?', he'd say. The neat creamy white and light brown Ayrshire breed cows really were a picture against the emerald-green grazing grass in the May sunshine ----- B generally went down early to collect the cows for the later milking, just to have time to be with and enjoy his 'beloved gals'.

 

                                    --------  D and J had both been committed teachers but become disenchanted with their life in education due to the seemingly ever increasing central control, eroding, as they saw it, their professional responsibilty and status. They spent some time considering their situation and looking at alternatives. As luck would have it (or was it 'serendipity'?) they came accross a holding of 6.5 acres (2.8 ha's) for sale with static caravan living accomodation, in a pleasant UK north midlands rural location, then making the decision to sell their house to then buy the holding. They then ran the holding as an organic self-sufficiency unit, complete with their own energy from a two acre wood on site, plus growing nearly an acre of organic veg they sold on a market stall at a local rural town. They were able to continue their self-organised independent lifestyle in their idyllic setting for several decades on their 'low cash' income whilst also raising a family   - no flash living or exotic holidays but not a problem - their independent lifestyle and peaceful surroundings more than fitted the bill for them ---- 

 

A 'crux' question --- ?

 

Here's maybe an interesting question :  Can a person gain fulfilment via a lifestyle of accumulating wealth/power, or is a more multi-dimensional approach needed, particularly maybe one which includes heartfelt creative self-expression activity,  often with a 'contribution to society' element - ?  Presumably this latter lifestyle doesn't necessarily have to be 'high powered' - people doing 'service' type jobs for instance are making their contribution, and often having to employ a level of creativity in their work - a nurse for instance may well be 'creatively skilled' in the area of 'people handling', a teacher can practice creative ways to transmit learning, and so forth. 

 

 'Many of the UK's lifeboat volunteers interviewed on the TV 'Saving Lives at Sea' state that there's no feeling like having helped someone in trouble at sea, and 'making a difference''. 

 

Because money and money making can loom so large in mainstream cultures, it can at times be tricky to see beyond it . Here in this neck of the woods the local millenium social centre is a 'not-for-profit' establishment, a situation that has at times caused difficulties for some, so prevailing is the money-making siren theme. The centre has of course to make some money  to be able to operate - the electric bills have to be paid - but the making of money isn't the prime function of the place, the 'end'' - that's the facilitation of community activities - it's rather the 'means', still important as the 'support act', as it were, and as such there's no need for the accumulation of 'more and more' -the 'sufficiency' level of money provision can do nicely ---  

 

'Inhumanity to man - and woman ---  ?'

 

It's a good job the cottage can stay relatively cool, to protect the micro-holders now in a vulnerable 'oldie' category, and with one partner having a long-term health condition known as 'c.o.p.d' involving breathing restrictions due to lung capability deterioration. Not that counted for much with the holiday firm recently mean't to take us micro-holders on a 5-day break by coach, but now in the UK heatwave  considered 'high risk' to oldie health (thousands of older folk perishing in the UK due to high heat conditions). This firm which gave a 100% unsympathetic response to a request to see if there could be a move to a trip at a later more temporate time of year (but since relenting  on receipt of 'customer complaints' ). The 'on the make'  business practice still 'alive and well' - freerangers beware -----  

 

Dynamic micro-holding conditions -----   

 

It's been a real heatwave summer so far here at the organic eco micro-holding (small smallholding) in the UK midlands, with currently the third hot period in progress - 31" in the shade here today, lord knows what out in the sun. Transplanting leek plants earlier soon resulted in erm, a 'bolt for the cottage door', the cottage fortunately staying reasonably cool indoors (and the leek plants did not survive). The sitting room has reasonably thick stone walls which helps, whilst the day living room has the benefit of an old-fashioned quarry tile floor, ever cold, and especially with a good-size fan wafting air about. The gorgeous black loam soil here doesn't retain moisture that well, so it's been a summer of more watering and irrigation than ever before in the forty-five years the place has been operating.

 

In spite of all the watering and irrigation, there's still been a tendancy for plants to run to seed quickly, notably back along, the autumn-planted onions, and more recently,  lettuces. The good broad bean crop is now in early July more or less spent, with quite a few beans now in the freezer for eating next winter, and with the runner bean crop, some now over two metres high, looking good with plenty of flowers out. The irrigator will go on this evening when it's a bit cooler to in effect water half the growing area - the other half was done last night , watering the runner bean plants and their flowers -mean't  to help them 'set' to then produce beans, especially in hot weather - and to at the same time water other crops such as celery, outdoor tomatoes, calabrese, leek plants, beetroot, lettuces and landcress (like watercress) . The strawberry and raspberry crops excelled, both lasting a month of picking but growing peas has been a real problem with a prevously unheard of three rows failing to materialise. Normally 100% of onions are grown for the year but again it's been a struggle this year with only a 50% crop - there are some home sown onions in a bed but they're struggling even with the irrigation --- fingers, and everything, crossed --- 

 

Hey 'hoe' - and yes, that will have to be in action soon - in this weather and with the watering, the weeds 'proliferate' at a fair old rate of knots ---- but then to supply the compost heap to make useful fertiliser for use two years down the line - neat? - an 'eco friendly' 'no waste' system in practice ----- warming the hearts of ol' eco worriers -----