I’m often asked how much time I spend on working for my food. The answer is very little really. Once a veg garden is set up you don’t need to do much ongoing maintenance. Maybe I’m just used to it – the work in the patch that is. To be honest, once the plant is in the soil you just keep an eye on it, water it when it’s dry and then harvest it. It’s really not hard. The same goes for keeping chooks. Once you’ve built the hens’ enclosure, you just have to feed and water them and collect the eggs.
Nothing is hard in life unless you allow it to be hard. How you live you life is a matter of choice. I choose not to watch telly. I choose to work for most of my food. I choose to grow veg, to look after some chooks, to hunt, to fish and to learn what food I can take from the wild.
This is not applicable to everyone. And what I do here on this blog is merely a documentary of what I get up to. It’s my food story. It’s open to the reader to take what they want and possibly the reader (you) may incorporate some elements of the WLL approach, and maybe you won’t. That’s your choice…isn’t that fantastic?! I don’t say that what I do is the perfect answer, it’s just what works for me. It’s my priority in life to work at the production of the food for the house…and let me reiterate…not all of the food, but most of it. I don’t grow wheat, I don’t own a flour mill, I don’t make salt or cheese. I’m totally realistic of the fact that I’m striving to be ‘semi’ self-sufficient…not totally self-sufficient. There is a big difference. But I truly believe that if a lot of people tried to grow SOME veg and shopped from local producers we’d reduce food miles dramatically, and slightly sever that umbilical chord we have to the supermarkets of bland.
This approach to food and life might not be yours. And that’s the rad part. Especially in regards to my life and blogging…as a reader you just take out of it what you want.
Here is a breakfast meal that I’m really proud of. It’s a poster child for my work to be semi self sufficient. I grew the asparagus, made the tomato passata, collected the eggs from my hens and flavoured it with fresh garden herbs. I love meals like these, where I’ve been responsible for the production of the raw ingredients and the cooking. It’s really simple but it made me really happy when I ate it. I really do adore these most basic of pleasures. It’s a little reward for the effort I’ve put in. I don’t know…maybe I’m a dreamer. Yes, I am a dreamer. But I’m happy to say I’ve put this dream into action. For that I am glad.
The next round of veg has been planted in the toilets rolls we’ve been saving. Spring will lead into summer and we’ll be blessed with plenty of vegetables. I chose to spend a few hours with my girls on the weekend planting the spring veg. It’s always about choice.
“NOTHING IN LIFE IS HARD UNLESS YOU ALLOW IT TO BE HARD”
You just threw a flying star in my brain.
Talk about serendipity!
I can’t find words to thank you enough for these words.
THANKS AN IMMENSELY HUGE LOT!
You know, some people won’t agree with you… and some will. But like you said, it’s awesome either way! Personally, I aspire to live more like you do. Grow your own food, hunt, fish, and gather. People are so attached to their “things” that they forget to just live their lives sometimes. Hell, I’m guilty of it myself. It’s become so much easier to just walk into a store, not have to talk to a single soul, buy what I need and get the hell out of there… but ynow, the more I seek out farmers markets, and meet people, get fresh veg and make friends. The more I find I look forward to those things. I look forward to talking with Dale (runs my local farmers market), or Ann (Runs a bakery I visit often). And even though it sounds so simple… it’s very satisfying.
In the past few years I have learned to take some time to cook dinner, play with the kids, the dog. Ask my wife or kids how their day was. Sit and eat, and talk. Turn my cell phone, T.V, computer, electronics etc. off when I’m not at work using them actively. You might be surprised how much joy just those simple things have brought me. Besides, those things will be there when I’m done, they aren’t going anywhere. In addition, thanks to WLL, I have a few new things to try. Startin up my own garden soon, and i’m looking forward to it!
Cheers to you, and your family WLL. I wish you the best.
Thanks for the note David.
I’m guilty of the same things. We all are. It’s just that nagging reality….choice. No one is forcing us, we are the ones that need to make the change. For a long time I’d thought about this paradox. Then I decided to put my beliefs into everyday actions. And here I am. Less stuff. Less debt. Less work. Less wants. I now focus on what I need. The basics. I focus on whats practical. I’m and extremist realist!
Have to agree completely, we live in Thornbury not on the land and also enjoy the fruits of our labours …..our plot is small but we have taken over all our fences…..3 apples, passion fruit, 3 pears, a fig, 3 sorts of berries, peas,and 3 olive trees…and that’s just the back little patch…..love reading your blog…and seeing your toilet rolls..we too…use ours what a great recycling…happy eating and growing
Karen…..the poster child for backyard farming. LOVE LOVE hearing feedback like this!
Love the toilet roll idea. Putting that into action this summer!
put it into action now!
Surrounded by moving boxes here! Soon soon!… Patience!
I have just recently stumbled across this blog from Cabin Porn – that site has me whiling away many an hour daydreaming (and planning). The WLL blog is shaping up to do the same – i’ve just recently built our house on five acres on the west side of the blue mountains in nsw and i’m just about to get my permaculture garden up and running (my first ‘real’ vege garden) – chicken tractor just about complete, ready to go on the beds and have the ‘girls and a boy’ added. My main conundrum was what to do with seeds for growing my seedlings – i’ve been saving any spare receptacle i can get my hands on. Your toilet paper roll pic has just solved my problem! Practical, space saving and pretty much an endless supply : ) Thanks.
I’ve already spread the love of this site to my friends with similar interests . . .
Thanks Simon. Sounds like you have it all sorted out brother.
Go well!
Still cant believe you arnt brewing your own beer yet Rowan, its the ultimate man skill
*chants* beer, beer, beer, beer!
I’m just not a man then!
I’ll just drink yours instead!!!!
where do I leave the bottles?
Well played sir. Well played.
Or, you could take up bee-keeping, and make your own mead!
….
*chants* Mead, mead, mead, mead!
Mead. Yes I’ll drink that too!
Actually I’m going to try making Elderberry wine this summer!
Oh that sounds delicious. I can’t wait to see how it comes out!
I agree with your words wholeheartedly Rohan! Growing/baking/butchering/making all takes time but isn’t it better to spend time doing these things than watching telly etc. I know how I would prefer to spend my time. I ordered your book yesterday…I cannot wait for it to arrive.
Thanks Jane. You’re spot on. I really lament the hold television had on a lot of the western population. Don’t get me wrong…there is some stunning educational and entertaining stuff on telly. But from my experience as once being a tv addict, I never had time for anything. Then I chose to live my own life…not live it via whats on telly. I do watch movies, and if there is something that someone tells me is worth watching I sometimes use iView on my lappy.
I dont know the in’s and outs of elderberry wine (I did make a mead but its so so), but 2 things on fermentation – use a no rinse sanitiser (somethign like defender or star san) and make sure you look after your yeast! happy yeast, happy booze
and lets not forget…happy booze makes for a happy booze maker!!
indeed, and a happy booze making session leads to a high level of Zen
Hey – I’m a new fan from Virginia in the U.S.A. That smokehouse video got some notice over here I think. Anyway, that’s how I found you. What an awesome blog and holy cow, the pictures. Is your book available in the US yet?
Hey John, the book comes out in early October in the US….http://www.powerhousebooks.com/site/?p=14978
And thanks for dropping by and saying hello!
I must say you truly are a fantastic photographer aswell. (Assuming this are yours) out of curiosity what equipment and lens do you use? Where have you gathered all this knowledge with your cooking? Is it mostly like my way though trial and error? Sorry I’m still fairly knew to your blog so please excuse me if these questions have already been answered.
Good on you mate. The remarkable thing about your choices is that you are actually out there acting upon them. And that ought to be congratulated. There’s not that many people nowadays (or at least it seems) that are willing to take action on their convictions. I for one am glad that you do and that you share it. And I choose to read and enjoy your successes and failures.
love reading about your “farm” life…has me dreaming of having my own chickens… keep writing! we ARE reading and enjoying!
Yes to that! Here’s to semi self sufficiency! :)
So inspirational – I’d love to be growing my own fruit and veg.