Free-Range Living

Storms, rain, gales, snow have all been in evidence here at the eco micro-holding (small smallholding) in the UK's midlands region in the last few weeks, causing flooding problems for quite a few. It seems that quite a few houses have been built on flood plains which mightn't have helped, and people living close to rivers have of course been vulnerable.

The micro-holding itself has been relatively unscathed and the mini-flock of chickens seen to have coped quite well, and are thriving in their new regime. They've been out in the paddock and orchard in the afternoons for a few weeks now, one effect of which has to have been to reduce bought feed costs, with them doing a fair amount of grazing - the eggs are pretty tasty too.

In spite of the lousy February weather - it's apparently been the wettest February ever here in the UK - quite a bit seems to still have got done, although the woodash and compost, normally put out on the land in February, is still in store. After a problem-free run, they seem to have come along recently like buses, one after the other, and an 'improvement' programme will have to be order of the day for spring/early summer.

Cultures can certainly be different, offering citizens with varying degrees of scope, and varying levels of democratic power and say. Even within democracies the power of the individual via vote can be at times virtually non existent, which might well be an argument for the individual to take, as far as they can, their own ('freerange') reins up - ? Emphases too can change considerably within a democracy, with 'individual' and 'social' often being the two 'opposing' poles.

Here in the UK cultural changes may (or may not) involve moving from a strong individual emphasis to then embrace more social priorities, moves too to counter climate change, and , possibly, moves to make commercial firms more sociably accountable (especially in the 'gig' sector), a call that a group of top executives has been making. And getting back to existential matters, there's a need 'to get the hoe on the go --- '

[Read more →]

Preparing for the growing season by either digging in 'green manure' (self-set weeds and grasses in this case) or scraping off weeds from the soil's surface to then go onto the compost heap, is the priority for February here on the organic eco micro-holding (small smallholding) in the UK midlands. Formerly it was also the month in which the woodash and compost went onto the soil, but as an experiment this year there's been a change in practice. Home-grown produce has been in relatively short supply, although the winter greens - purple sprouting and curly kale - have been coming to hand relatively early in this cool rather than cold winter.

The last of the beetroot 's not been long picked, which mean't it had lasted seven months for picking - not too shabby, particularly after a 'difficult' first half of the growing season. Similarly the celery's done well this year, getting to a good size and lasting well for picking, right into the winter. Seeds for the new coming season have been sown already and the broad bean seed is due to go into earth pretty shortly, this year into buckets with glass over the top as last year for the first time they were 'nipped off' as plants under the normal arrangement of an old windscreen.

Mid to late winter is probably the toughest season to endure hereabouts, especially this year with the lane outside the cottage a perpetual mess with cars dragging water up it from the flood down on the corner. The cottage too is in need of some TLC, looking shabby currently, in need of a lick of paint, or more probably, several licks. It's often a time too where problems rear their head with this year being no exception. The drain run-off from the septic tank drainage system has decided not to work, after decades of service, but maybe getting a bit less attention lately than needed. One or two other problems came to light. but no doubt in the fullness of time and with now a definite 'improvement' approach, will get themselves solved. 

Fraud, robbing via scams and general 'on the make' commercial practice can at times give the impression of living in a society that's not exactly brilliant for everyone and and that actually it's more like 'everyone for themselves' rather than an actual society, which in reality it is. One quote in a paper recently may have hit the nail on the head :

'The trouble with winning the rat race ------ is that you are still a rat'

Another rat got stuck here at the bottom of a 1000 litre water container --- and had to be provided with a metal section acting as a ladder to assist its escape, which may be not everyone's preferred line of action - it was just that it was so hopelessly cornered and the heart wasn't in it to despatch it. There was though a rat corpse a day or two later so maybe Tia the snow-leopard lookalike cat got it - at least then it had been a fairer contest ---Tia is a gorgeous looking feline but my, she sure can hunt, no doubt 'earning her keep' and doing a fair job of keeping the rodents at bay -----

[Read more →]

One winter there seemed to be buzzards everywhere hereabouts at the organic eco micro-holding (small smallholding) in the UK's midland heartlands - no doubt they were pretty hungry birds, but this year it's been jays with at least one sighting a day of these elusive birds for the last two/three months. The other bird in evidence here over the winter has been a gang of woodpigeons, who've made their quarters in the high holly hedge between the veg growing area and the paddock, fortunately though not raiding the veg patch for food. They're noticeably skittish, with a mass exodus of the thirty or so birds as soon as there's any sign of human activity, a result presumably of many years of persecution by people - ?

Wood supplies are naturally dwindling, with the log stove using quite a bit, being a reasonably sized model, and home-grown supplies are too diminishing, as to be expected at this time of year, and especially after last season's relatively poor growing performance here - hoping for a better season this coming year. Now that it's the quiet time for micro-holding activities, there's more time for visits to nearby towns to get needed items and enjoy one or two treats, which then, erm, go down a treat ----

Interesting times in the 'wider world' with planet conservation priorities clashing with status quo 'vested interest' interests, the younger generations becoming more active and vocal, which seems fair enough, as future world conditions will affect them more than the older generations - ? It just seems such a 'natural' thing to do to be taking care of the planet, even if it does mean less 'conspicious consumption' for people in the longer run - ? One point of view recently put forward is that man has perhaps got a little too much into 'ego' mode which has then had a 'distortion of reality' effect - ? Country livers whilst maybe not having the same level of services that townsfolk enjoy, may though benefit by experiencing natural events such as seasonality effects more vivedly, helping then to keep then on the 'reality tracks' - ?

[Read more →]

Wet weather and flooding has been the picture this autumn in the UK and although very damp here at the eco organic micro-holding in the uk midlands, the worse has been escaped. A bit of adverse conditions toughens a body up a bit, though, so maybe it's not all bad -? In spite of all the rain the autumn maintenance programme has had to go ahead, with a fair bit of hedging and lopping done, plus a big hedge lowered a couple of feet or so, then bringing on a couple of 'big burns' to get shut of all the waste trimmings, producing at the same time, useful fertiliser.

Although it was a fairly strange growing season, home grown produce has in the end lasted out pretty well with runner beans, celery, tomatoes, potatoes and beetroot all lasting well into November, providing tasty food, especially the full-of-taste tomatoes. More wood has been sawn up to try to ensure that supplies of dry wood last right through the winter.

Contact with the commercial sector has as usual not been over satisfactory, with some firms  not really getting too far past their 'big is best' mindsets, so it's that 'David v. Goliath' feeling over again. A bit of faith was restored, though, on going to buy a tarpaulin to recover the polytunnel storage area, when quite a chunk of money was knocked off the list price. On remarking to the older sales assistant that their pricing was well competitive against one or two other fairly local suppliers, the response was that it was their policy to give customers good value for money and good service, accepting that they might make a bit less profit initially but would win in the longer run getting good levels of repeat business. A firm with its head well scewed on, and this customer will certainly be using this firm in the future.

'Going big' could well be an emotive-led move to allay insecurity, especially in times in which there are strong trends of the same, although for freerangers it may not be a case of total joy, particularly if then the strength and power of 'small', particularly individuals, is weakened in the process, which might also put 'personal salvation/fulfillment' processes at peril - ? As ever, practical stuff here at the micro-holding acts to provide meaningful and satisfying activity - not at all in any 'big' mode, thankfully 'micro small ---- '

[Read more →]

The local countryside here at the organic eco micro-holding in the UK heartlands has been stunning, in spite of enduring a very wet last six weeks (lots of heavy flooding in the north of the UK currently). That may be a factor in the instance that a lot of wildlife has been in evidence in the same period. The whole growing season has been untypical with cold periods in the spring retarding plant growth -it looked touch and go for awhile for instance as to whether the onion plants would survive - but then coming good in the latter half of the season with some useful later crops. The small mini flock of new-ish chickens are now enjoying their daily excursion into the paddock - proper 'freerangers' now.

The recent rise in prominence of the 'mindfullness' practice movement has focused some thought on how in touch with reality people are, particularly with the phenomena of 'fake news' being evident these days.There's some thought that suggests that the more a person can connect to 'real reality' without a need to 'bend' it to their own spec, the better they'll then be able to handle 'bigger realities' and so to connect with Tao (univeral energy field). At the same time there's also seemingly a rise in movements which work to gain security (in an increasingly insecure world - ?) by collective power, not necessarily though the best news for independent thinkers such as, say, 'freerangers', who can then get 'cancelled' from the 'collective'. The 'real self' realists might of course argue that ultimately finding real self strength and experiencing unity and full 'self validity' might provide the most authentic and longest lasting security ----' Yer pays yer money ----' ('and teks yer choice ---- ').

Wealth, luxury living, 'flash' living are all in vogue although some problematic downsides appear to exist and there's  fairly obvious conflicts with wider problen areas such as 'planet degradation'. It may be a moot point as to whether wealth brings well being and happiness, in what some have called 'the age of distraction' - ? Micro-holding life holds little 'flash' content with focus seemingly more on quieter longer-term fulfillment, including local community 'well being'.

[Read more →]

Recent very wet times have impacted here at the eco organic micro-holding (small smallholding) in the UK heartlands, including in the chicken pen, whilst modern medical science has restored some of the micro-holder,  hopefully certain brews will still reach 'parts that others don't --- '

The rain hasn't really disturbed the growing side of things, it being a relatively quiet time of the year growing-wise, and whilst it may have been one of the worst first halves of the growing season, there's been quite a revival in the second half. The beetroot bed has done well, with beetroot available for a good while yet, the same with runner beans which should last out till November, making it one of the star crops. Talking of which, the celery crop has been the best ever, and swedes have staged a stunning come back from a very ropey start to their growing  period.

Modern culture  appears to be reducing the social element with the likes of computer/phone shopping and banking and the loss of bank branches from the highstreet. That 'mass processor' of people, the supermarket, has gone further 'non-social' with the introduction of self-processing areas, making shopping a potentially isolated experience. Reports suggest that younger generations are struggling with face-to-face social interaction due to the preponderance of screen use, all of which giving possible implications for future society - ?

'Semi-reclusing' in the retreat area of the micro-holding may too be non too social - maybe though advanced age might mean more need for quiet contemplation - and snoozing - in what Bette Midler termed 'the green oasis' retreat - yes indeedy -----

[Read more →]

'Zen Ways ---- '

Zen involves being spiritual at the personal level (a recent report indicated that over 80% of adults in the UK rated spirituality 'important') but as a religion is unusual having no theology, no fixed rules or regulations. Zen follows 'natural life' guidelines and the 'rule' of 'Tao', the 'universal energy' force, which can often result in 'natural, simple living' practices.

Modern life may not support Zen way living too much then, being generally fast-paced, complex and materialistically based. Some have suggested, for instance  that 'heavy materialism' is about countering existential insecurity which, though, it's said, is unlikely to be long-term successful, real security lying elsewhere in the fuller 'self-realising' development of self-----

It's been a very mixed growing season here at the organic eco micro-holding (small smallholding) in the UK midlands, the first half of which produced poor results due to various bouts of cold and wet weather, but now the latter half of the season is proving to be bountiful, with good crops of beetroot, runner beans, celery and tomatoes. The cottage garden-style flowers have though as usual been abundant, adorning the place with colour. Wood supplies are up to scratch to meet the oncoming winter, with reports of a potentially harsh one hereabouts.

Maybe the commercial world is catching up with Zen-like aspects in life, with a whole gaggle of Chief Executives of large commercial organisations signing a declaration to the effect that business has been too narrowly focused on high profit making, and needs to be in the future more widely defined, particularly in terms of playing responsible contributions and roles in society. So say all - well no doubt quite a few --- And maybe in conjunction with such a 'new', expanded vision, money could be seen as the medium of exchange it is, and therefore a 'means', rather than an 'end' - ?

[Read more →]

'Imperfectly Perfect ---- '

Things don't always go to plan -some might say often don't go to plan - but a writer recently commentated that the same just 'adds to character'. The general culture of a society can often seem though to send out 'how to be' perfection messages and such 'perfection pressure' it's said has been added to via the recent increase in media messaging increasing 'social norming' trends. Maybe these days there's a need for individuals  to 'give themselves a break' - ?

The dodgy weather of June has impacted negatively here on the organic eco micro-holding (small smallholding) in the UK's midlands, with a 'hit and miss' growing season the result, some crops doing not too badly, but quite a few struggling. Not too much can be done about it -nature is a powerful force  -just have to take the hits and remember the few successes., with maybe one or two changes to growing strategies for the future.

Three new pullets (young hens) arrived in July with the job then being how to integrate them with the older resident hens, who wouldn't automatically welcome a bunch of strangers in their midst. After some difficulty there now seems to be a degree of harmony in the chicken pen and the newcomers are laying well, their eggs as yet smaller.

The weekend broadsheet papers recounted the story of the latest 'wellnness' guru from America making a hit with quite a few famous names, espousing the cause of 'non-perfection', arguing that too much 'perfection pressure' exists in society. There's a link with mindfulness practice which the individual can use  to be better able to accept imperfection, and then if sought, 'change the record' to practising more productive traits. One person's version of 'perfection' may not be anothers as maybe is shown here at the weed-laden micro-holding veg patch - leading though to longer-term benefts ------

[Read more →]

A cold, wet spring here at the organic micro-holding in the UK midlands has translated into poor growing conditions, with some crops such as onions, struggling. Potatoes have had the predictable blight attack in the wet conditions, although due to having been planted early under bubblewrap plastic, there seems to be a reasonable crop. The 'cottage garden' style flowers though seem to have thrived and have been making a good and welcome display.

The chainsaw armoury has had a new and useful addition due to a closing down sale bringing its price down, The new saw is of the cordless variety, useful particularly for the further flung nooks and crannies of the property, and of course by charging it up in the daytime, it's powered by the sun courtesy of the solar panels, a useful advantage of battery-powered equipment.

Have some of the finer human qualities such as generosity of spirit and sociability been diminished in modern western-style cultures due to the seemingly strong level of pressure involved in 'heavy profit chasing' - ? Maybe too in a rational technical and scientific age non-measurable qualities such as trust and loyalty haven't thrived overly well, in a culture that's been described as an 'on the make' commercial approach. Some of the 'heavy control' work situations have  been criticised as being less than fully civilised, even attracting an olden-times description of 'the dark satanic mills'.

One European entrpreneuer operating in quite a large way has though kicked over the traces and operates a positive and supportive staff management strategy, reportedly getting more long-term productivity and fewer problems operating in this enlghtened manner. One of the world's largest (and richest) operator, the founder of Amazon apparently spent a three-day trip to see this positive-based operation in action. Many small operators undoubtedly operate in positive mode - a survey of progressive and effective staff managers in the UK (by this author) found that the great majority practised inclusive, supportive management that took into account peoples' own motivation drives.

The micro-holding acts as a unique work and living environment with the attribute of then being able to work and live close to nature - another feature recently found to be good for health - no doubt physical and of the spirit ----

[Read more →]

Nature's splendour and abundance shines through here at the organic micro-holding now in late spring. Blossom of various types and hues has been out for several months, contrasted with the light green of the leaves from the trees and hedges. The case for 'working with nature' has to be to some extent at least, intuitively felt - ?

The veg. plot has done ok after a cool and lengthy start, and shows some promise, with the potatoes, beans and peas being especially forward. Most of the seeds and plants are in the ground now towards the end of May, with routine jobs such as weeding and sticking now the order of the day. Much of next winter's wood is now in the woodstore in the 'logs-istics' centre, busily drying away, to be added to by regular sawings of wood already stored on the place, and contributing to lower-than-average energy costs.

Faroe island visitors are attracted there by its 'un' status, being an 'un' 'in' place that's pretty un-busy. In the  same paper, it was reported that UK charity staff feel pretty un-cared for, overworked and overstressed, which could be the effects of the un-inclusive, authoritarian-based 'theory X' style of managing staff . The longer-term staff productivity results of the inclusive and supportive 'theory Y' style have shown to be more sustainable.

Various 'problem' areas in the UK might well mean that there's some degree of difficulties for various groups of people, a fact confirmed by a UN observer recently. One such difficulty that's been suggested is that there could have been an erosion in the levels of individuals' strength, given a strong current of social normed fast mainstream cultural flow, which then potentially impacts on any 'freeranging' possibilities --- A couple of case-studies are reviewed and potential pitfalls in general and at the micro-level in particularly are reviewed.

[Read more →]