AndrewF, I am not your average John Q. Public town/city dweller. I don't support industry or business if I can do it any other way.
Air conditioning? Thermostats? Not in my house. I get my heat from dead fall and A/C is a luxury I don't need. I had 2 children and closed the factory. I purchased 50 acres with a handyman special home that is being renovated as much with recycled materials as possible while I live in it. My chicken coop is made from 100% recycled materials and my laying hens provide me with all the eggs I need. My garden combined with my preserving keeps me in vegetables ( I'm working on plans for a cold cellar as well ) and I make jam from the wild fruit trees in the area. Have you ever had Choke Cherry jam? It's awesome.
I have meat birds and will be purchasing a mating pair of cows this year as well as a mating pair of pigs for other meat sources. Within the next few years my home will be run totally on solar and wind power. My water comes from a natural spring source and during the winter all my meals and water heating needs are provided by my wood stove. The only luxury's I have right now is a water pump and a hot water heater so I can shower, and my computer to keep up on world affairs and stay in contact with friends and family with (It's cheaper than long distance fees
). Coming to boards such as these is a bonus as it is a social outlet for me. My husband car pools to work and we only drive to town once a week.
What else is there that would make me less dependent on society and kinder to the earth? Give me time and I will find it and you can be darn sure it will be incorporated into my life.
Oh yea, my dogs are being slowly switched to a totally raw and natural diet. I will be raising meat birds and rabbits for them too. My husband will be going hunting for their and our needs as well.
Your preaching to the choir here. Not many people would give up their creature comforts to try living the old ways. The closest town has a population of 2500. I love my life here and will live out my days here. The less I need to provide from the outside the better. My goal is to be as self sufficient as possible.
I've always hated the city life and the smell that goes with it. The only thing I can see that will stop me from being totally self sufficient is clothing. Though I'm sure my hubby wouldn't mind if I ran around naked all day either LOL
Maybe you can explain to me why it is necessary for anyone to own or build a home that is 5 times or more the size required to keep a family? What is the purpose in owning more vehicles than necessary? The waste is abominable. It's for status yes? All the trees that were killed to provide that one home? All the wiring, plumbing products? These things do not make any sense to me. Being rich is one thing, being wasteful is another.....