The Self-Sufficient Life And How To Live It

"To allow ourselves to be dependent on some vast Thing created by the Merchants of Greed is madness. It is time to cut out what we do not need so we can live more simply and happily. Good food, comfortable clothes, serviceable housing, and true culture - those are the things that matter. The only way this can happen is by ordinary people - us - boycotting the huge multinational corporations that are destroying our Earth, and creating a new Age - an Age of Healing in place of the current Age of Plunder.

"Self-sufficiency does not mean â??going backâ?? to the acceptance of a lower standard of living. On the contrary, it is the striving for a higher standard of living; for food that is fresh and organically grown and good; for the good life in pleasant surroundings; for the health of body and peace of mind that come with hard, varied work in the open air; and for the satisfaction that comes from doing difficult and intricate jobs well and successfully."

~ John Seymour



This is one of my favorite books. In part, this is what inspired me to move to the country. Oh, I had plenty of other reasons as well, but I'm just talking about this one at the moment.

What kind of impact do you think it would have on our environment, on our economy, and even on our society, if everyone in the country started to produce their own food? Of course, it's just not possible for everyone to produce all of their own food. You need to have room to do that, and there is no room in our cities. But what if those without enough room produced at least what they could?

Even if all you have room for is a single tomato plant growing next to a window, imagine what kind of impact that would have if every home in the country had a tomato plant. That's a lot of tomatoes that wouldn't have to be grown commercially and chemically, tomatoes that wouldn't have to be processed and shipped, and tomatoes that would just plain taste better.

If you grow more than you are going to use yourself, give the extras to a neighbor. If you don't like tomatoes, then grow sweet peppers, or bush beans, or whatever suits your fancy.

I don't know. I'm pretty baked right now. But it sounded like a cool idea to me. :stoned:

Multi nationals have a back bone and that back bone is people. So effectively, if you want to stop multi nationals you have to get people to stop using them. And in a day and age like this I doubt the majority of people will turn their backs on the giant economic machines that not only provide services to millions of people, but also provide jobs to millions more. It takes time for society to move in a more spiritual direction but I'm convinced it will happen eventually, there are alot of people that do care. it just takes time, everything takes time.

Sounds like an interesting book to read. I think I'll go pick me up a copy tomorrow. Thanks for the post. :)

95 percent of people are lazy
they would starve to death
or rob there neighbors

Maybe we can start some kind of movement. We'll start with something simple. We can call it the "A tomato for every home" campaign. Just an attempt to introduce the public to the idea, and encourage them to think about it. We can start a tomato for every home website. We can put messages in newspapers, on radios, and on tv. We can rent billboard space, and pay kids to pass out flyers.

Just grow one single tomato plant at home, and help make the world a better place for us all.

"You must be the change you wish to see in the world." I think that is a Gandhi quote, but it could just as easily have been Mother Theresa. So meh. There you go.

Well, I'm definitely being the change I want to see in the world. Gardening is my passion. But I would like for more people to feel the same way about it as I do.

People just don't realize what they're missing. Grocery store produce is so inferior to garden fresh produce. The taste is horrible, but that's all most people have ever known, so they think that's how it's supposed to taste.

Once I first tasted a strawberry fresh from the garden, I've never been able to eat one from the store again.

Gardening is so relaxing. I miss it. I used to grow my own tomatoes, horseradish, peppers, zuccinis, cucumbers, pumpkins...we used to go around the neighborhood and leave some veggies on their doorsteps and they'd do the same. It was great. I moved and things changed.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Cheery Cherry

we used to go around the neighborhood and leave some veggies on their doorsteps and they'd do the same. It was great.

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That's how things should be. Gardening not only provides you with food, it also promotes friendships and closer communities.

People are far less likely to hate someone, when that someone has shown them a little kindness and generosity.

Mmmm tomato....
cucumbers...
potatoes...
ooh, and sweet corn.
lots and lots of sweet corn.

*can't wait for spring*