Blogs
Voluntary Adversity
Voluntary adversity is a denial of the comfortable life. It is practised by forcing oneself out of a life of comfort and convenience and into a life of challenge and voluntary hardship. In pursuing our green lifestyle we became aware that we were going about it somewhat differently than most. Articles in popular 'green' publications tout the stories of people building large homes complete with massive solar arrays, wind turbines, solar thermal and generator backup systems all in an effort to live a green life without sacrificing any of the creature comforts they have become accustomed to when living on the grid. Although I applaud anyone pursuing a more sustainable lifestyle it seems there is a missed opportunity here.
Literature of Nature 2
Here is a passage by Thoreau in the essay entitled ‘Walking,’ “Where is the literature that gives expression to Nature? He would be a poet who could impress the winds and streams into his service, to speak for him; who nailed words to their primitive senses, as farmers drive down stakes in the spring, which the frost has heaved; who derived his words as often as he used them, -transplanted them to his page with earth adhering to their roots; whose words were so true and fresh and natural that they would appear to expand like
Literature of Nature
As an English Lit. student at U of T I have noticed this theme of self-sustainability in nature is an obsession of writers in the past couple of centuries and particularly in North America. Some of the most inspiring and relevant to the quest for self sustainability are of course, the trancendentalists: Henry David Thoreau's 'Walden,' and Ralph Waldo Emerson's essay's and lectures, especially 'Self-Reliance.' Here is an example of what Emerson has to say:
Ethical Christmas Trees
So for the first time in years I have a real tree in my livingroom for Christmas. Years ago I bought a fake tree thinking it was 'the environmental thing to do' but after a bit of research and contemplation I am rethinking that belief. I've always known that Christmas tree farms aren't really forests but just a well groomed crop of plants that people only harvest and buy in November and December.
Wood Splitting - The Game
What’s the difference between a chore and a game? This question occured to me one day when I was in the bush, busy with the annual gathering of firewood, and contemplating the similarities between wood splitting and the game of golf.
We are Bear Naked
We haven`t had many encounters with wildlife since we arrived on our acreage. We know they are here. Their tracks litter the trails and we can pick out deer, moose, racoon, coyote... or maybe dog. The only wild things we see are the grouse who burst into the air and blast your quiet reverie to smitherines.
The only deer or moose we have seen were crossing the highway on our way in. We have heard, though, that we are deep into bear country so we were feeling a little vulnerable when a wildlife visitor did come calling and got a little closer than was comfortable, It was under the house...
Cooking on a wood stove
This weekend we vacationed in Greg’s ancestral town. The town bears the name of a famous Roman. Although they pronounce it differently. The Old House of Birds is still there, though a bit run down. However a wonderful Aunt is working to restore it. Since it is still furnished we decided to stay there. We jumped back in time to somewhere in the earlier part of the 1900’s. Heat from wood stoves, only cold running water in the kitchen sink and a wood cook stove for cooking. (obviously)
First Loaf from the wood cookstove
With the new to us wood cookstove now installed it was time to try it out. Our first attempt was a loaf of homemade bread. There's nothing like the smell of homemade bread in the oven and we wanted that smell.
Outhouse Verboten...Now what?
Now what!?
As you may know, if you have viewed our Sustainable Sewage System video, our outhouse functions on rainwater. It is now October, however, and with it comes lower temperatures and our rainwater system is now pretty much frozen solid. We knew, of course, that this would happen eventually but we were so happy with our outhouse that we put it out of our minds...until now. So, here's the question: What do we do now?
Just to give you an idea of our situation, we have no indoor fascilities and no running water in the old homestead and no septic system. We are looking for a good solution.
Wind Shear
Going to town has its obstacles no matter where you live but out here off the grid we have some unique difficulties. This one is called 'wind shear'.
