Free-Range Living

'Freerange Lifestyle -at Last a Winner -?'

In recent times modernity has struck pretty hard in these parts, a good example being loads of new houses very recently built in the local (5 miles away) town, all with press button heating systems, often still gas and/or oil, no solar panels installed on the roof (??), and all with hankerchief-size miniscule garden plots. And yet, erm, how long has there been an existential climate crisis on the go? These householders, unless they're allotment holders(renters of small plots of ground on which to grow mainly foodstuffs, and they're fairly inconspicuous in their absence), will have to buy all their existential support needs in - no wonder a few giant 'oligopolistic' (few large suppliers) food retailers supply 95% of the food eaten in the UK ---- How many of these new houses are equipped, for instance, even with a small low-cost eco-friendly, very, air-source heat pump, which in itself can supply a surprisingly useful level of heat at minimum cost -----and cool the planet with their cold-air emissions --- ?

'Alternative' living ---- ?'

A contrast can be illustrated by the set-up here at the 'eco organic micro-holding' (small smallholding), currently it seems considered a bit 'out of the ark'  by the 'up-to-date' crowd ---- and yet, and curiously, surprisingly well-placed to cope with the new set of rising living costs arising from current world 'turmoil' conditions ---  One of the strategies of the freerange lifestylers here at the holding is to have reserve capacity where possible, which may have actually just run a little riot in the day living area couple of rooms - there are for instance  six differing  available heat sources using four different fuels (portable gas, air-source heat pump, green electricity and solid fuel) -ok, a bit OTT maybe. At least though there are differing options which can be useful in terms of sourcing economic supplies, and 100% reliance on electricity is bye-passed, a security-plus factor. Outside of course is the larger garden combined in effect with an allotment area, plus as a bonus a small paddock, of which 50% now facilitates an orchard.

It can be surprising what such (o.6/acre, 0.25/hectare) a small 'micro' area can sustain - half the year's supply of potatoes are generally home produced, along with a full years supply of home-grown onions. There's fresh vegetables to pick virtually year round, and even in the 'lean' harvest period of March -June (salad stuff, spring greens/cabbages, leeks, and winter greens supplying the goods ), the other half year's supply of potatoes comes in the form of 'mis-shapens', for free courtesy of mate 'Big Dave' up the lane).

'Economic living ---- '

Back along a bit, when most here in the rural situation seemed to be a bit busy putting in oil-burning systems to centrally heat their houses, there was quite a surplus of timber lying around and just 'there for the taking', which then formed the basis of three/ four decent reserve 'for free' woodpiles, which again have provided a useful and renewable fuel source to mitigate against the rapidly rising energy costs of recent times (100% rise here in the UK, now said to be one of the costliest energy, erm, hotspots on the planet). Operating on fixed pension funds, reduced due to early retirement, it's always had to be domestic policy here to aim to keep  cost levels to economic levels, helped too by being able to buy a couple of reasonably priced motors not that old at three years, and with relatively low mileages on the clock.

Fortunately, them being 'eco emission' models, running costs were reduced due to low 'eco' road tax rates, all in all contributing well to the 'low-cost' living strategy. The two vehicles, still on the go in good order some ten years on average later, at nearly three years old and 'as new', cost just over 40% of new price, nicely them avoiding those pricey yearly leasing charges with their hefty built-in interest charges -----

'Satisfying --- '

Something that doesn't seem to crop up too much is the personal effects on the individual who takes the self-responsible, self-reliant route in life, then taking the active role in meeting the inevitable needs and challenges that life tends to throw their way. There's quite a lot of 'quiet satisfaction' to be had from the achievment involved in taking action to meet the needs, plus of course from gaining skills, knowledge and experience in after all what is essentially a course in survival skills and strategies ---- and this seems to boost both energy and spirit, which can't be bad.

'Boosting ---- '

The 'pyschological boost' effect of being able to reasonably counteract potentially negative living conditions again maybe shouldn't be overlooked - it all helps 'inner strength' --- Yes, the lifestyle can mean departing from 'mainstream culture' which can be daunting but then again the self-strength gained can soon qualm any misgivings - in fact the gaining of 'inner strength' can again be one of the big gains of the whole exercise. Buddha himself was undoubedly a comitted 'freeranger', remembering his well-known quote in support of 'individual striving' :

'Work out your own salvation, do not rely on others. If you find no-one to accompany you on your journey, walk on alone --- '

Buddha is likely recognising that it can be a 'road less travelled', and his words can help the individual to leave the 'mainstream' to then take their solo journey, and being of compassionate nature, no doubt he'd be for 'help and support along the way'. These days with the existence of the internet, there's quite a lot of potential help people can usefully use ---- 

'Not easy --- and 'coming good '

Over the last few years then, living the 'freerange' self-responsible, relatively self-sufficient style here has been living out of the mainstrean culture modes, 'swimming somewhat against the tide' as it were, and not necessarily always the easiest route to take, so to see the system 'come good' and be a good positive help in coping with modern living pressures, gives satisfaction in itself, and of course adds legitimacy to having undertaken that particular course of action ---

General culture, given the reservations relating to newbuild housing above, and other modern trends such as on-going heavy-ish air traffic, would seem somewhat limited in its response to  climate crisis, quite possibly due to reluctance to any 'pulling in of the reins' by more than a few (?) , the era of needed human self-responsibility not yet really gathering apace enough - ??