Art of Survivaling

I have been having lots of thoughts about Myself and the Universe - which, according to Existentialists, is the same thing - though I might be confusing Existentialists with Rosicrucians or some other arcane group. Anyway, to cut to the quick, I have been contemplating the the Art of Survivaling, BUT instead of merely sitting in my armchair talking about it, I thought I might offer a more positive contribution to Actual Ongoing Existence by making a few videos (on mobile phone) on how I am single handedly saving the Universe in my own backyard even as we speak by acting locally while thinking Universally. I will, of course, attempt to explain things shallowly so that you can all understand what I'm saying even with your limited intelligences. Stay tuned!  


Caveat: I might lose interest in Edifying you all in the Art of Survivaling - me being more a Poet than a Pragmatist and Practitioner, except on Thursdays - so don't sit around too long with baited breaths waiting for me to make the first 'Ärt of Survivaling' video - it might not happen. Be mindful - always! - that there are no Sureties in life.  

Looking forward to more.

Move over Bear Grylls. {{{Just don't tell Ringo. }}}

Ringo may be happy scrounging around the wilds eating roots and leaves but I'm far more civilized than that.   

Divert a pipe from the necessary room to one of 'em mulch heaps and you'll be even further off the grid.  

Good on ya Orwell   
And dont use water from the washing machine tho, plants dont like it  

    I like it, whats a chuckie house? is it hens?

I thought it sounded like chock-house, but who knows!
Nice layout Orwell.

Just for the record, I should count as a "good Forumshire person" as well, because I've been helping my family do that sort of thing my whole life!
Of course we have goats and chickens, so there's unlimited fertilizer right there.

I knew you for a pack of Greenies!   

It's chooks - as in chickens. I just got six Newbies - peep! peep! peep! - to go with the two surviving old chooks I have. (Chook rhymes with book btw).

Grey water goes to our ornamentals already, Azriel. The heavy stuff still goes by way of the sewerage system. (Maybe down the track we could go the composting toilet way... but that might be a Green-too-far at this stage -- especially for the Missus).  

So you're family are Survivalists too, Forest. Explains your New Age name. (And there's me thinking you were an Ent. Silly ol' me.) {{{I saw a Youtube clip on using leafmold as a soil amendment on a Tedx talk, Forest. Got me wondering if I could use suitable deep rooted deciduous trees to supply biomass (carbon material) instead of imported straw into the chook house (hen house, that is). That has to be a down-the-track thing, of course, as my current number of deciduous trees is small and the one's I plant will clearly take some time to drop enough leaves in Autumn to supply my chook litter/vegetable garden needs. I am using all the usual green stuff, grass clippings etcetera in my compost bin already. Should end up a rich mix, I hope.}}}  

I'm using the term Survvalist btw so I don't seem to be siding with the Biodynamics, Permaculturists, Organics, Biodiversarists, Sustainabilitists, Naturalists --- I check them all out but don't include myself in their Cults. I even listen to practical people like David H... You know, the ones who actually make money by doing it rather than teaching their Conceptual Frameworks, which, unfortunately, most of those Green Cultists seem to do for a living -- Eru Bless 'em though, they're on the right track methinks. {{I'm also using the terms Survivalist and Survivaling because I'm a smart arse - but I guess you guys already knew that!   }}}

Me - I guess I'm semi-practical though loving all the Ecolgical-Farming Theory stuff. I'm also a trial and error sort. My cranberries - for example - have spent time in my Aquaponics grow bed, and then in a bathtub with soil (which is now a pond) and now are back in pots while I contemplate what next to do.    

I'm going for big vegetable beds at moment (while still dallying with other experimenal stuff). I'm thinking along the lines of SPIN Farming at the moment  --- which we called (small scale) Market Gardening at one time.    In fact, the Chinese did it last century during the Gold Rush in Bendigo --selling vegetables while most of the Miners went from bad to worse. Though SPIN sounds very Conceptually Modern and Businesslike. SPIN equals Small Plot Intensive Farming, in case any of you haven't heard of it. It has the bonus (in my opinion) of actually having a viable business model behind it. (Though I suspect there is still more money in teaching it than doing it! The Jury is out  feel.}}}

Forest Shepherd wrote: Of course we have goats and chickens, so there's unlimited fertilizer right there.

My Missus wants a Pygmy Goat. I said she couldn't have one, for while they might be cute, they're not practical and have no place in a Survivalist Future.



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My grandfather is a retired farmer. They used to have all sorts of animals long before I was born, but ever since I can remember he only farmed corn and soybeans (he farmed for a major canning company, they never distributed anything directly from the farm). He doesn't harvest the field next to his house anymore, but he does maintain a sizable garden on his property. I really admire the people who have the "green thumb" and are able to do this stuff. The past couple years I have been wishing I had grown up on a farm, it would have been a rewarding experience to grow your own food and know where it comes from. I don't know much about farming, but I do find it very interesting.

I have little idea either. I once owned a Plant Nursery -and promptly lost all my money due to my patent lack of Botanical and Business acumen. I've only got back into gardening in the last few years. I dream of growing most of my food - an old dream revisited - and now I'm determined to do it - and maybe make a part time living from some aspect of it. I'm a born and bred city slicker - well, suburbanite - but I would like to be a proper Homesteader before too long. (Livestock, of course, will not go beyond poultry methinks). I'm thinking of growing Heirloom variety vegetables as a selling point, but also grow a few novelty type vegetables (at least, novelty as far as we Redneck Bendigonians go), like Sacred Lotus and Duck Potatoes - aquatic vegetables that is. The Duck Potatoes will go in shallow ponds I plan to create - it's on my list of things to do before I die.   

Hey Bungo, a thought. Buy a few pots and try growing a few vegies or herbs*. Green Thumb business is bogus. Anyone can grow plants. It's all trial and error (and fun).   


{{{*If you're worried about over-watering, buy self-watering pots. There you go. All you need to know}}}

i want pygme goats! so cuuute!
i like ur garden

the Chinese did it last century during the Gold Rush in Bendigo --selling vegetables while most of the Miners went from bad to worse.- Orwell


During the gold rush the people who made the most money were selling the shovels- true story.

Orwell is doing 'The Good Life' its great stuff, my ancestors up to my grandparents were all farmers, and I grew up partly on their farm, the hunt used to meet at my aunties house, but I rebelled against it I hate killing for sport, I am totally townified now and wouldnt last two minutes without shops. It must be very satisfying growing all your own produce, healthy too. I love your vids Orwell its lovely seeing your land, its on the other side of the world and its intriguing.

I have tatties!!   (potato's to the non-Scots) was harvest day today from the veggie patch and a mild winter followed by the second warmest summer on record here have produced some right crackers this years- Ill try to get a pic of them.

I'm using the term Survvalist btw so I don't seem to be siding with the Biodynamics, Permaculturists, Organics, Biodiversarists, Sustainabilitists, Naturalists --- I check them all out but don't include myself in their Cults.

Speaking of cults, I'm not sure if you are aware of the connotations of the word "survivalist" in the good ole red-blooded red-necked US of A, Orwell.

'Round here the survivalist expect the whole distribution system will go belly up during our lifetime, and they plan to be sitting pretty when it does. But they also expect other people who were less wise will try to move in and acquire some of the goods for their own selves. So a Yankee style 'survivalist' is likely to be stocking up on all sorts of fire-arms and ammo, not to mention land mines and 'bob war'. Nice people, most of them, but they are planning to turn mighty nasty if they have to.

so no going round to ask for some sugar then?   

If you've got a sack of potatoes or a box of ammo to trade, showing you can pull your own weight, I'm sure they'd be right glad to see you.

um I have got some nice slingbacks

Had to google it. Don't think the survivalist types will be impressed.

 

halfwise wrote: 'Round here the survivalist expect the whole distribution system will go belly up during our lifetime, and they plan to be sitting pretty when it does.  But they also expect other people who were less wise will try to move in and acquire some of the goods for their own selves.  So a Yankee style 'survivalist' is likely to be stocking up on all sorts of fire-arms and ammo, not to mention land mines and 'bob war'.   Nice people, most of them, but they are planning to turn mighty nasty if they have to.

You should really quote me fully, Halfy. See highlighted bit below.    

Orwell wrote:I'm using the term Survvalist btw so I don't seem to be siding with the Biodynamics, Permaculturists, Organics, Biodiversarists, Sustainabilitists, Naturalists --- I check them all out but don't include myself in their Cults. I even listen to practical people like David H... You know, the ones who actually make money by doing it rather than teaching their Conceptual Frameworks, which, unfortunately, most of those Green Cultists seem to do for a living -- Eru Bless 'em though, they're on the right track methinks. {{I'm also using the terms Survivalist and Survivaling because I'm a smart arse - but I guess you guys already knew that!}}}

Actually, I was thinking of Rednecks all the time --- but not too obviously... in case they take a dislike to me.

Mrs Figg wrote:Orwell is doing 'The Good Life' its great stuff, my ancestors up to my grandparents were all farmers, and I grew up partly on their farm, the hunt used to meet at my aunties house, but I rebelled against it  I hate killing for sport, I am totally townified now and wouldnt last two minutes without shops. It must be very satisfying growing all your own produce, healthy too. I love your vids Orwell its lovely seeing your land, its on the other side of the world and its intriguing.

You know me too well, Julia.    {({I'm discussing with Missus about me resigning from my day job, actually. Pay off the house, grow and sell vegetables, mow lawns maybe...}}}