Free-Range Living

What is Free-Range Living?

'Freerange' living might perhaps be described as the individual(s) aiming to lead an 'independent' style of life, thinking and deciding for themselves, determining their own values, along with aiming to live life in a naturally self and socially responsible manner.

'Home, home---- on the Freerange --- '

October 14, 2015 ·

 

'In range ----- '

Cooler mornings and evenings arrived here at the UK midlands eco organic micro-holding (small smallholding) the latter half of September, springing the air-source heat pump into action, belting out the heat squeezed from outside air into the kitchen and day living room of the cottage . It's effect is like a big blow heater, getting the space toasty warm in double-quick time, and also pretty good as a clothes drier -just yesterday, after a soaking on the golf course, it dried two hats, a waistcoat type of coat, a golf jacket, a pair of trousers and a couple of teeshirts without breaking into a sweat.

Big deluge here also yesterday afternoon (early October) - will have to get into the chickens' run later and shift their wet straw pen bedding onto the compost heap and straw up their pen with bright clean dry straw, in which they love to scratch away, 'chicken chuckling' as they do so -a good sight. Organic veg production hasn't, erm, 'bean' too bad, the runners (beans) lasting well and they should last out till November, longer seemingly than most hereabouts, but they are sown in two time-lapsed batches. The longest they've lasted here, more by luck than judgement probably, was one week short of five months - they're pretty difficult to get tired of, too. As is the contryside hereabouts, now that the leaves on the trees are changing into multi-colours - still plenty of green about, though, offset by the mellow browns of the worked land in the adjacent fields - just gorgeous --- .

The winter veg - mainly purple sprouting and re-growth spring cabbage plants (when spring greens/cabbages are cut off earlier in the year, if a 'criss-cross' cut is made in the top of the remaining stem, they will re-grow and provide handy and hardy greens in the winter) are not brilliant but should amount to something at least -they seem to have been quite slow growing this season for some reason. Caterpillers are still about on the winter greens -they came quite late and not in too abundant numbers, unlike last year when there were hardly any. 'Caterpiller genecide' has to be the order of the day, otherwise no winter veg, and as usual, this year a few non-productive cauliflower plants were sacrificed to them - they have to make their way too  ----.

The onions after their 'alium' attack ended up being a pretty handy crop, now residing with their growing stems tightly twisted off (to deter onion fly attack in storage), on a couple of bread trays in the cool but dry utility room -should last most of the year, with luck and a prevailing wind --- The latest addition to the practical 'freerange' ranks here is the acquisition of a back-up generator as a sort of 'power insurance' , and given that it's not likely (hopefully) to do a deal of work, pretty cheap on a yearly cost basis, bolstering 'independent security'. Come to think of it, 'back up' might make a handy theme for a future 'freerange' piece - ?

Damsons and blackberries have been in season and used recently to make delicious preserves - a sort of semi-liquid jam that has exquisite taste and then lasts through the winter -a nice seasonal winter bonus, along with the damson gin home-made liqueur.  Apparently blackberries were seen in olden days as 'the spawn of the devil', presumably due to their black colour - ? The preserve they make is surely devilish tasty, though --- . The damsons have come from fairly new fruit trees in the mini-orchard in the paddock. There are quite a few Damson trees in this particular neck of the woods, mostly all going past it now, but finding new Damson trees to buy was proving to be a bit of a problem, and then, lo and behold, there were three/four self-set ones discovered in the orchard and they've been yielding quite well. 'The universe providing' ---- ? Providing nice apples too from the young orchard in the paddock, which are very tasty and again should last a few months in store.

 

apples-4.

 

'Free - Ranging -----'

Leading a reasonably active life sorting out a few of the basics to life isn't obviously in today's 'press button', 'wireless' time, everyone's cup of tea, but for those who are into it , it can bring a 'harvest' of goodies - both materially and maybe too, at the 'human spirit' level - ? Somehow it can be surprisingly satisfying to be actively involved in 'existential' processes, as Kevin Mcloud has said on UK TV, and as many have undoubtedly found, and which may bring also 'real life' awarenesses - ? People, such as, say, farmers, who work in and with natural resources, often seem to gain a sense of the longer-term,  of the inter-action of life processes, for instance, together with an ability to cope with reverses. And being active outside, according to the report in the paper today of one scientific study, presumably is health-giving, warding off the 'sickening' effeccts that apparently go with central heating and artificial light living (weakening the immune system). 

The same 'farmer benefits' though, can presumably be had by inter-action with nature and life processes on a much smaller (and affordable) scale such as here on the micro-holding, or , say, with a garden and an allotment (small area of ground rented on which to grow vegetables), or just a garden, of course. All this would appear to relate to the 'internal' achievements and satisfactions to be gained by such activity, along with  potentially significant support for the independent spirit, maybe needed, especially for 'freerangers', now that modern life seems to have such a 'mass' 'homogenisation' component - ? The writer Oscar Wilde back along didn't hold back concerning his 'independent self' reservations :

 'Most people are other people. Their thoughts are someone else's opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation'

Freerangers, though, will likely want to make up their own minds, to be 'their own persons' --- ?

 'Doing and making' (as opposed to 'consuming and spending'), as Kevin Mcloud has it, can maybe bolster the 'sense of self' , thereby bringing greater self-worth,  supporting then the human spirit - ? The individual, though, is part of society and generally has to whatever extent, do what is necessary within that society to 'survive and thrive', which in practice in these times tends to mean that one 'life component' needs to be that of  being a 'mini capitalist', as money is a needed commodity. 

One couple who aimed (and succeeded) at living a 'balanced' life, ran a six acre (approx 2 ha's ) smallholding in a peaceful rural area of the UK north midlands, not a lifestyle to suit everyone, maybe, but they were happy bunnies running their own little ship and being their own 'lifestyle masters', with no-one else involved to disturb their idyll. They lived mostly off the holding but did need a certain level of money (in pounds it was less than a five-figure yearly sum), which they got by growing organic vegetables, biking  the produce  then four miles into a nearby market town, and selling it at a market stall, the process of which also provided their social contact needs, talking to their loyal band of customers. Happy days!

Another keen and practical environmentalist, found it difficult to get a paid position in the competitive environment sector. Not to be daunted, she took on weekend shift working at a basic level, to pay her bills, leaving her plenty of time in the week to follow her passion by undertaking volunteer work in the environment sector. The 'un-sting' in her tale was that one of the organisations she volunteered for was impressed with her approach and her fortitude,  then giving her a full-time paid position doing what she loved.

'Range finding ---- '

The couple described above were certainly 'freerangers'. living independent lives - very independent in fact, with no connections with any major utility suppliers, or government, happily 'home on their own freerange', and  catering even for their own energy requirements (there was a two-acre wood on the property, for instance). To be able to have quite such an independent lifestyle gave then other freedoms, such as to be able to open-mindedly think without having to have to consider restrictions such as vested interests or be guarded in their thoughts and comments due to survival considerations (eg. keeping a job). Thus it could be argued, they stood more chance of 'being themselves' and developing to their own particular individual potential - ? (one school of thought indicates that developing such potential is, or should be, the 'true' goal of life, for instance - ?).

 Presumably again due to their independent lifestyle, (and leading life in 'natural' surroundings - ?), this couple exhibited strongly positive characteristics/attributes, such as self-reliance, practical personal skill levels and quiet 'centered' self-assurance and calm. Paradoxically, support from 'external' sources, more often than not other people either live or via media sources, could be useful, necessary even ( - ?), in terms of the development of the 'human spirit'. This was brought home strongly due to a recent visit to a conference organised by the 'permaculture' groups in west Wales, which coincided with a visit to that glorious area.  Knowledgable and sociable people with common sense, practical 'eco-friendly' approaches  to life made for a stimulating and rewarding event - good to experience, and strongly affirming ('permaculture' - includes growing food via built-in on-going long-term soil fertility and with due regard, respect and facilitation for nature).

'Home ranging ---- '

Whilst then it would seem possible that self-reliant/semi self-reliant 'freeranger' type lifestyles can bolster and support the human spirit and human positive attributes, the 'freeranger' approach can also  often help with more practical life issues, such as living costs and generally 'getting by', as well of course in helping to keep fit. Here on this particular 'non perfection targetted' 'freerange' micro-holding type of lifestyle unit, the combined savings provided by the various eco and recycling lifestyle activities :

- cheaper motoring via car auction buying, growing approx 30-40% of own food, using cheap and renewable fuel (wood - quite a bit obtained at no cost), recycling sources for work (and other) clothing, air-source heating, electric-powered transport (hopefully coming shortly), not having to pay high rates of interest on plastic borrowing (i.e. avoiding borrowing - living within means), using nature's  'free' harvest, practising the art of 'NSM' ('not spending money'), having absorbing hobbies/activities not costing anything (and often being productive in their own right  eg. organic growing) -

are estimated to be possibly around £5000 pa, not a lot maybe in 'mega money' world, but certainly pretty useful for this micro economy, particularly now that interest payable on savings is at rock bottom rates (who said that pensioners haven't felt the austerity effects - ?). Oh, and using recyclable materials on-hand and at no cost to build useful, workable structures like the backdoor porch and 'The Retreat' in the paddock.  And getting too, pretty useful harvests of personal satisfaction, personal strength and fitness into the bargain - all contributing to bolstering the human spirit ----can't be bad---- crikey, almost feel like doing a bit after that build-up ------ .

 

 

Tags: Eco-holding husbandries · Free Range Living

Comments

40 responses

  • 1 Mike Robin // Oct 16, 2015 at 8:57 PM

    Looking through comments (306 on 'Counter' piece - ?!) I realise I've not replied as requested to quite a few -they come in and then seem to be allocated randomly to pieces so I don't necessarily get the chance to reply. I've put below some answers to F.A.Q's :
    - website facilitated by 'Interactive Information Services' (can be net searched) using Mango blog.
    - I just use notepad to write original, copy it, and paste onto 'new page' section in FR site admin section, then post it to FR site and edit (several times generally).
    - the site has a books page for FR type pieces, e-books etc and contributions are welcome (subject to usual editorial control). The forwarding e-mail address is freerangerpress@yahoo.co.uk where MR can be contacted.
    - pics retention seems to be an on-going issue -some of older pieces may have pics missing -if they go missing in the last eight blogs, they're generally replaced.

  • 2 Mike Robin // Oct 18, 2015 at 3:22 PM

    Just a quick comment on 'comments'. As quite a few seem to come through these days, not all can 'be accepted' i.e. some are 'unallowed'. The grounds for non-acceptance of a comment are a) if it's very long b) if it uses non-English vocab. c) if the English used doesn't seem to make too much sense d) if it seems to be a repeat comment, as many seem to be e) if it seems to relate to some other topic not particularly related to 'freeranging', as a few seem to and f) if it was deemed to be somewhat offensive -fortunately all comments so far have been very civilised, and thanks for that.
    Of course one or two have undoubtedly 'slipped through this net' - I hope this clarifies to some extent and all best, Mike r ps. still trying to work out why the 'Counter' piece has hundreds of comments -presumably that's where the website's allocating them to - the infinite mysteries of 'computer world' - ?!

  • 3 Mike Robin // Nov 1, 2015 at 4:39 PM

    Seems to be some problems with comments at the moment, many appearing to be 'repeats' and also quite a few 'scam' comments, along with one piece getting a bit of a deluge. Will have a 'comment break' for a week or two to try to sort. All best, Mike r

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