Is this really all there is?

loveisdivine

Yes it would be hard work, but I would say it would be a more fulfilling work than sitting at a desk all day. I'm sure it would have its own ups and downs.

The Amish seem to do quite well with regards to growing a large amount of their own food and preserving plenty for harsher times.

Anyway this could easily stray off topic.

MayoSalmon

Potatoeman wrote: »

I think people have a idealistic of a simple life. Living off the land would be very hard work and you would have very little support. Illness, injury, crop failure or weather changes would be catastrophic.

Hydroponics/Aquaponics & greenhouse have all but eliminated this sort of thing.

meeeeh

Ok let's be real here. People who live in sustainable way in tune with the nature, of their own produce are also on top of the trocaire list for free goats and vaccination.

Yes simple life is more fulfilling for some (personally I would take sitting at the desk any time) but it would not work on the big scale. And before someone mentions Native Americans, some of them were also very fond of sacrificing people to make life better for themselves.

Potatoeman

MayoSalmon wrote: »

Hydroponics/Aquaponics & greenhouse have all but eliminated this sort of thing.

Kind of expensive though and you still have pests and disease.

username123

I think people are confusing the idealistic view of living off the land and being self sufficient in a bygone era with a more realistic view of actually living off the land in some sustainable sense in todays world, where there will always be the option of going to the supermarket if the garden crop fails.

I dont think anyone, OP included, would wish to return to uneducated and primitive times where the threat of injury, weather, disease or crop failure could mean yourself and your family were wiped out.

Certainly my own view on it is that I would simply rather not be in this constant rat race, up in the morning to rush hour traffic, at a desk all day doing boring things to make an old grey man richer. I would prefer a more peaceful and balanced existence where I didnt feel that I was being rode silly by an ever more greedy government expecting me to work longer hours for less pay with higher taxes and no let up from it in sight. It just seems so pointless.

MayoSalmon

Potatoeman wrote: »

Kind of expensive though and you still have pests and disease.

Absolutely not expensive once you WILLING to put in the effort. Also in a controlled environment pests and diseases can be easily controlled.
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MayoSalmon

meeeeh wrote: »

Ok let's be real here. People who live in sustainable way in tune with the nature, of their own produce are also on top of the trocaire list for free goats and vaccination.

Plenty of native people still living a self sufficient sustainable life in this world that are not African.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sami_people

loveisdivine

username123 wrote: »

It just seems so pointless.

Exactly. Whats the point of it all? Its all entirely irrelevant. You've got millions of people across the world who are either in poverty or have little money, yet money is an entirely human created concept. Why can't someone who has no paper money go into a shop and say "I really need food and I'm also great a sewing, I'll make you some clothes in return for some food" Or something along those lines.

loveisdivine

meeeeh wrote: »

Ok let's be real here. People who live in sustainable way in tune with the nature, of their own produce are also on top of the trocaire list for free goats and vaccination.
.

But they are not really living in tune with nature are they? They are living on land which is by and large incompatible with large human populations.

If in the future we could slowly but greatly reduce our population size, there would be a better quality of life for all.

I do often feel like I'm fighting against the tide with some of my views, which is probably why I get sad. I'm not on a crusade to change everyones opinion/goals to match my own, I'm just sad that the vast majority don't really think about these things.

meeeeh

loveisdivine wrote: »

But they are not really living in tune with nature are they? They are living on land which is by and large incompatible with large human populations.

If in the future we could slowly but greatly reduce our population size, there would be a better quality of life for all.

I do often feel like I'm fighting against the tide with some of my views, which is probably why I get sad. I'm not on a crusade to change everyones opinion/goals to match my own, I'm just sad that the vast majority don't really think about these things.

I know of couple ways but none will put you on the of the Nobel peace prize list. You can also go for one child policy which would either heavily tax burden them when working or significantly lower the quality of living of pensioners and those on social welfare. As for offering sewing services, money makes possible for those without any relevant or needed skills in that moment to get things. Actually similar concept works in business sometimes but it is not a prefered option.

It's not that nobody is thinking about those issues it just might not be your way of thinking.

Potatoeman

loveisdivine wrote: »

Exactly. Whats the point of it all? Its all entirely irrelevant. You've got millions of people across the world who are either in poverty or have little money, yet money is an entirely human created concept. Why can't someone who has no paper money go into a shop and say "I really need food and I'm also great a sewing, I'll make you some clothes in return for some food" Or something along those lines.

If we all done that there would be no safety net for people that need help.

Jenneke87

Potatoeman wrote: »

If we all done that there would be no safety net for people that need help.

Actually this is something that's has been developing over the years, it's what known as Weconomy, kind of a local economy set up by struggling communities where people help each other out by trading thing, be it clothes, time, food, childminding,or other services offered. There are towns in America who have created there own currency so they are less dependent on the dollar and it's this kind of trading that allowes people with little money to get the things they need without paying for it.

limnam

loveisdivine wrote: »

Exactly. Whats the point of it all? Its all entirely irrelevant. You've got millions of people across the world who are either in poverty or have little money, yet money is an entirely human created concept. Why can't someone who has no paper money go into a shop and say "I really need food and I'm also great a sewing, I'll make you some clothes in return for some food" Or something along those lines.

Would it not make more sense to go and work in a job like sewing or start your own sewing business and then go to the shop to buy your food?

From your posts it sounds to me like you just don't want to take responsibility for how your life is and blame everyone and everything else for your unhappiness.

Why can't the world change and be more like how I want it to be.
It's a pretty mighty ask.

thegreatgonzo

Have you checked out the smallholding forum here? There is a thread about renting land I think

Taltos

Thread closed as this last page was pure discussion.

Thanks
Taltos