Back to Earthers: Irresponsible or Visionary

Published on September 22, 2005 By Gideon MacLeish In Home & Family

I am an aspiring back-to earther.

Later today, I will pick up my newly acquired woodstove (I bought it early in case there's a run on them this year). Next month, I will have it installed. Our hope is to be completely independent of natural gas within the next two years, but we may be able to reach the goal in one. We hope to eventually grow most of our own produce, raise a few chickens, and, within 15 years, be "off the grid" as far as electricity is concerned. Our purchasing and lifestyle decisions are geared towards those goals.

If we are successful, we will need to earn very little extra money to support ourselves and our children. Much of the money we do need can be raised by selling excess produce, chickens, and eggs.

And yet there are some who are inclined to call that lifestyle "irresponsible". I call it the opposite, for the following reasons:

A dependent lifestyle is, in fact, irresponsible, because it relies on the consistency of others for survival. What will this individual do, for instance, if, in a worse case scenario, the power grid crashes? What if there's a major famine in this country and not enough food to go around? With our commercial agricultural methods, that's not an unforeseeable scenario at all. What if natural gas prices reach a level where home heating and fueling of power plants is commercially impractical, and thus "rolling blackouts" become the standard of the day (again, not unforeseeable; it's happening in many areas).

One of the key components of environmental stewardship is reducing our own impact on the environment. One way we can achieve that is by being producers, rather than consumers, and by using the land we own or rent to produce as much as possible to be an asset to the planet, rather than a liability.

Money only gets you so far. Jobs come and go, and nobody is immune to the possibility of unemployment. But if you have invested wisely in getting the most out of what you have, you will not feel as severe an impact.

You call it irresponsible; I call it visionary. While you invest in stocks and bonds, I intend to invest in self reliance. In the end, we'll probably both get what we want out of life. But your life plan is dependent upon the successes of others, while mine is dependent upon my own success.

Which is more responsible? You decide.

Comments (Page 2)

ericseba

on Sep 27, 2005

Gideon: I was wondering. Do you have health insurance? I mean last I checked, a family plan was up in the $400.00 range unless you've got a nice benefits package at work. If you don't have insurance and let's say you found out that one of your kids needed a new kidney, do you think you'd be able to scrape up $60,000 worth of scrap wood or would you be willing to accept government assistance provided by us morons that think going out and getting a real job is not so bad an idea? Your sentiments are nice, but you will always depend on working people in the long run. We are the ones that have to go out and earn the money to pay for the "gifts of the land" that you plan to sell.

Let me ask you a couple other questions:

How many kids do you have? I ask because you mention raising a few chickens. Let's keep in mind that chickens in good shape will lay about one egg a day. You mentioned children, so I assume you have at least two. Now I'm one of those evil concumers that goes out and works for a living so I can't speak for you lving off the land folk, but we eat at least two eggs per person at breakfast. Family of four = eight chickens needed just for breakfast. Now that's just breakfast, I assume you'll grow some wheat so you can bake bread. You'll maybe need a few more eggs if you want to do some baking. There's a few more chickens you gonna need. I assume when you say you want to sell the eggs to earn money that you'll sell by the dozen? So how many dozen a day will you need to sell in order to make enough money? I'd say on second thought, your "few" just became several dozen chickens to even begin to see a profit, but wait...Those chickens need to eat right? They will need vaccinations correct?

Wait, wait wait, I forgot. You're going to raise produce as well. I guess you can pay the feed store in tomatoes and I heard once that most Veterinarians happily accept cucumbers in lieu of cash.

I assume your wife is a seamstress or does the clothing store accept turnip greens these days? As far as toiletries, I assume you don't use deodorant, but do you supply your kids with tooth brushes and toothpaste? If so, I heard that Walgreens has begun accepting rutabagas for most toiletries.

Yes Gideon, money only get's you so far. But you need a time machine to get where you want to go, not a few acres of land, some chickens and a wood burning stove. Unfortunately, for the last couple hundred years, most people have stopped accepting poultry products and produce as payment for life's necessities.

Gideon MacLeish

on Sep 27, 2005

How many kids do you have? I ask because you mention raising a few chickens. Let's keep in mind that chickens in good shape will lay about one egg a day. You mentioned children, so I assume you have at least two. Now I'm one of those evil concumers that goes out and works for a living so I can't speak for you lving off the land folk, but we eat at least two eggs per person at breakfast. Family of four = eight chickens needed just for breakfast. Now that's just breakfast, I assume you'll grow some wheat so you can bake bread. You'll maybe need a few more eggs if you want to do some baking. There's a few more chickens you gonna need. I assume when you say you want to sell the eggs to earn money that you'll sell by the dozen? So how many dozen a day will you need to sell in order to make enough money? I'd say on second thought, your "few" just became several dozen chickens to even begin to see a profit, but wait...Those chickens need to eat right? They will need vaccinations correct?

Actually, ONE egg is, technically a "serving". A quick check of the USDA's website will verify this.

Also, eggs, like everything else, are not an "everyday" food. We go through about two dozen per week, since you are so concerned (thanks, though...your concern is appreciated).

Apparently you are unaware that labor, as well as produce and eggs, has a market value. Apparently you are also unaware that I DO work outside the home for the money we need for these particular projects (again, thanks for the concern), and that complete self sufficiency is a LONG TERM, not an immediate goal (I should not need to address a financial genius such as yourself as to the difference between the two). In fact, I mention about a 15 year timeline in the article itself. We are taking gradual steps to self sufficiency, not making an immediate leap. If, for instance, we take an initial flock of 25 "straight run" chicks (the minimum order; "straight run" means they haven't been sexed before the sale), and, as time and resources permit, buy more land upon which to raise them, a flock of a couple hundred birds within that time frame is not wholly unreasonable. While that is still a small enterprise in terms of today's society, it is still a reasonable contribution. And the eggs I sell will be from chickens that aren't factory farmed in inhumane conditions, a side effect of the "efficient" manufacturers.

As for farming produce, the same rules apply. We gradually increase what we produce (even if, within two or three years, we are producing 60-70% of the food for our table, that's a SIGNIFICANT financial gain, if it were calculated...the money saved can be applied to other purposes.

As for health insurance, your figures are WAY high. That's all I will say about that, except to say: "shop around, dude!" I have, and while I really don't care to discuss the specifics of our financial standings with a total stranger, will tell you there are many better options out there, for those who care to look.

No, I don't need a time machine. All I need is a plan, and to adhere consistently to the plan over the years, and we'll be able to realize these goals (for the record, wind and solar grid intertie setups that supply enough electricity for an entire house run about $20g each, and both carry 20 year warranties. We are fortunate to be able to consider both options where we live, but haven't yet decided which way we will go, once we can afford it).

You may consider such enterprises a waste of time, but that's YOUR values. While I respect your right to hold those values, don't make the mistake of trying to force those values on ME.

Thanks again for your concern.

infantry wife

on Sep 27, 2005

We gradually increase what we produce (even if, within two or three years, we are producing 60-70% of the food for our table, that's a SIGNIFICANT financial gain, if it were calculated...the money saved can be applied to other purposes.

My inlaws have a few acres here in Georgia, that land and everything on it is paid in full-thanks to good budgeting while on active duty. Anyway, they grow all kinds of vegetables, a few fruits and have a pecan tree orchard that he had the forsight (sp) to have their four sons plant about thirty five years ago. He is an avid hunter, eats everything he kills and has two freezers full of venison and squirrel...yuck on the latter. They even make their own blueberry and muscadine wines. She cans and freezes all excess and they sell their abundance of blueberries to the corner market and to friends from church who come out to pick. The pecans have't done so well in the past couple of years thanks to the squirrels which is why the freezer is full of squirel instead of nuts.
So anyway, on the produce thing I am with you, have seen it work with my in laws, they do it for the pure satisfaction of working for those things. Not to say my hubby doesn't work hard so I can go to the commisary! haha

ericseba

on Sep 28, 2005

Gid:

I don't doubt being able to supply for you and your family, I just wonder if you won't need a full fledged farm for earning enough profits to pay for life's necessities that can't be bartered for.

Good luck to you and most of all to your kids.

Rightwinger

on Sep 28, 2005

I was wondering....how will you power your generator? You'll have to buy gas for that, right? Otherwise no electricity. Your car, too. You won;t be able to be compeletly and utterly self-sufficient until you can get away from having to purchase this one item.

Gideon MacLeish

on Sep 29, 2005

I was wondering....how will you power your generator? You'll have to buy gas for that, right?

I never heard of a gas powered wind turbine or solar panels. You'll have to enlighten me.

Your car, too. You won;t be able to be compeletly and utterly self-sufficient until you can get away from having to purchase this one item.

I have already answered this several times in the comments. Produce, chickens, and eggs, can be sold for income. There are many ways to make an income once we're set up. As for a car, actually, even in rural Texas, we could eventually get by without a gasoline powered car if we needed to.

Good comments, but remember, this is about long term goals, not something we intend to do overnight.

Rightwinger

on Sep 30, 2005

I never heard of a gas powered wind turbine or solar panels. You'll have to enlighten me.

Here's an idea: set up your own little refinery....if you're out by yourselves, you should have no problem running it out of a shed or barn, like a still. Think of it as making moonshine that can run your car.

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