What with soaring fuel and food prices, an economy on the brink and the way both the Republicans and Democrats are hell bent on bankrupting this country, I've been taking an increasing interest in going to a simpler, more self sufficient lifestyle. To that end, I've been doing/planning/thinking about the following:
Saving money for land to grow a few things (doing).
Getting a scooter or small motorcyle (thinking about, shopping around)--you can get them for under $2k and they get 90-100 MPG.
Reading FOXFIRE, BACK TO BASICS and MOTHER EARTH NEWS (doing).
Planting a garden (doing).
Making compost (doing)--this has been my most successfull adventure along these lines.
Turning down the thermostat (I can do that now that the wife has given birth and no longer has the pregnancy hot flashes).
Trying to make soap (doing)--without much success.
Trying to make a basket with native materials (doing)--without much success.
Researching to compile a "FOXFIRE" book for South Louisiana (Doing at the library)--so far I can tell you how to make candles with a wax myrtle and how to build a pirougue!
Going to the Lake Charles Farmer's Market (doing)--mostly a rip off. All but one guy buys crap at the grocery store and sells it to unsuspecting folks. You can, in fact, find more locally grown food at Market Basket, a local (LA and TX) grocery store chain.
AND NOW, MY CRUSTY COMMENT ON BLOGGING. I think blogging is a big disappointment. It has so much potential, but it tends to suck up a lot of time and you run into 50 blowhards for every rational person. So, if you are wondering if I'm "blogging again", I'm not. I'll post or comment when the spirit moves me.
Love,
Crusty
