Free-Range Living

Migrant geese have colonised the field next to the cottage, here at the organic eco micro-holding ( small smallholding ) in the UK heartland. They've been feeding up, maybe to continue the journey , reminding of the flock of lapwings which did likewise two/three years ago.  The autumn micro-holding work has proceeded as usual, with quite a bit still to do, and home grown produce has lasted out pretty well.

'David v. Goliath' mini battles ensue as ever, trying to limit the adverse effects of what's often perceived as quite a 'grasping' commercial culture, with car insurance and broadband and phone provision being the latest 'battlegrounds'.  Getting past the 'it's all about money' mindsets seems to be at least some of the problem ----- Local good community interaction has helped in the 'faith in human nature' restoration department. It's reported generally that faith and trust are in dwindling supply, which may just be to do with the aforementioned commercial cultural style and a propensity for 'big is best' mindsets , given the extent of 'corporate power' - ?

The individual, though, can still practice the independent ( 'freerange') style of thinking and to at least some extent, the independent style of living ----

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Autumn is both the maintenance and the 'preparing for winter' season here at the organic eco micro-holding in the UK midland heartlands. Sorting and sawing wood is a major part of the latter, with both two man chainsaw and one man sawbench operations taking place to ensure a decent wood supply to last the winter out, and at the same time providing satisfying work.

It's been a pretty good growing year for both micro-holding veg and for wasps, with old fashioned cornfield gleaning  resulting in straw for the chicken house and run, aiming to look after them well, the same intention apparently as a local food supermarket which announced that it would only stock milk from grazed cows. A variety of seasonal tasks beckons , all working to the 'end of season' satisfying purpose.

Getting pleasure and joy out of everyday activities might be seen as 'small beer' in today's 'fame and fortune' culture, but also as a blessing for those who can, employing even, an 'expanded awareness' approach - ? Various authors have expanded on this theme, raising again Fritz Schumacher;s theme that 'small can be yet beautiful',  supported too by eastern mysticsm examples..

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The lazy, hazy days of August passed by nicely with a fair bit of sun and heat for a change  - the last two/three Augusts haven't been that great, weather-wise. here on the UK  Midlands-based eco organic micro-holding (small smallholding). With fewer cattle about  there's more corn stubbles sitting in the sun these days, increasing the 'golden glow' factor. The caterpillar pest on the brassica plants has been prominent this year, and steps have had to be taken.

According to some, the modern scientific, rational age has impinged adversly on natural feelings, so innateness and intuition, for instance, have waned, maybe to a point where 'imbalance' has occurred - ? No imbalance though, in the compost compartment, although the simple ( but effective) method used here doesn't match up to that of the TV experts, who's recommended methods seem to involve quite a lot of work - ?

Loss of intuitive powers might imply that 'wrong roads' could be taken and that the potential for fulfillment, for, instance, could be lessened - ? Modern cultures, though, seem to hold more store by 'external display' success factors such as wealth, fame and power position, with then less emphasis on 'internally directed' success factors such as self-integrity , self-development and fulfillment - ? The semi self-reliant micro-holding style of life here is definitely 'internally' motivated, with wealth accumulation a fairly distant prospect - may have to settle instead for a pint of Holden's aptly named beer ----- .

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Now at the end of June the countryside here in the English heartlands is looking good -at its best - and a simple walk down the lane is a feast for the eyes. The old collie dog, Pipster, can just about make a couple of hundred metres or so, but soldiers on gamely. A recent break in the scenic Yorkshire Dales area of the UK brought a moving tale of animal loyalty, again concerning a collie dog.

The results of the organic growing in the eco micro-holding here have been mixed, with the legumes, the broad beans and the peas, not really living up to their early promise. Potatoes, though, seem to have done not too poorly in spite if the customary attack of blight, and similarly the maincrop onions, which are recovering well from their usual attack of the alium leaf miner fly, courtesy of a couple of doses of good ol' nettle juice.

The UK referendum result appearsto have 'put the cat amongst the pigeons', with various factions unhappy with the 'leave the EC ' outcome and apparently trying to reverse the decision. Might though, any difficulties and hardships incurred in 'going ot alone be worth it in terms of regaining independence and protecting democracy - ?

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Hot weather here at the eco organic eco micro-holding (small smallholding) in the UK midlands has mean't watering the crops has been  on the agenda, there being fortunately plenty of water supplies. New transport of the 'reasonably eco friendly' variety has also been a recent project, although an economic electric small pick-up would have been the vehicle of choice.

Good views from the new vehicle of the stunning and verdant Welsh countryside were enjjoyed on a recent 'chill-out' four day break to the west Wales static caravan, re-charging the batteries. Local visits to plant fairs and the like have lead to going to some stunning sites, probably looking at their absolute best at this time of year (early June), and promoting that particular 'awe-inspiring' experience.

An 'awe-inspiring individual to many, Muhammad Ali, recently past away, a man with a 'big' persona' but who could seemingly relate humanely to so-called 'ordinary' people. One of his daughters relayed something of Ali the family man in the UK national press. Ali had seemed to command 'natural respect' from many, and maybe could act as a role model to aid those engaged in leadership roles , some of whom who don't seem to overplay the repect angle - ? Respect for the planet, for Mother Earth is another area which could be, and may need to be ramped up for the future - ?

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Busy micro-holding activity taking place in the newly-emerged spring countryside has been the order of the day here on the organic eco micro-holding (small smallholding) in the UK midlands, varied though due to weather influences, especially the spells of cold air. A mild winter has mean't a significant slug/snail problem with quite a few seedlings eaten right off. Quite a number of jobs of various types and hues have had to be undertaken, with still quite a list to complete.

Maybe 'competitivism' has its potential problems if overdone - ? Many TV programmes appear to include the competitive element these days, even some seemingly geared originally to 'r and r' activities - ? The 'get rich' message seemingly apparent from various angles these days, could presumably fuel competitivism to the 'overdone' level, although there is evidence to suggest (as ever?) that wealth is not necessarily the precurser to 'automatic' health and happiness - ? Some appear to be able to successfully combine competitiveness with sociability -----

In a fast-paced world it might well pay to take 'antidote' measures to counteract, for instance, stress and tension. Meditation, for instance, is said to be 'non-competitive' and so can be effective 'time out' to allay stress and recharge batteries. Then again, so can hoeing the leeks -----

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Cold  March has delayed sowing and planting somewhat, although some stuff has gone in the ground under plastic. The useful crop that are the broad beans should be in the ground sometime soon. Even at the end of March the countryside hereabouts still has winter's clothes, in spite of the mild first half of winter.

The latest 'eco' addition - a cheap electric bike - posed some initial problems , now overcome, and proving to be a more than economical form of transport, especially as the solar panels mainly charge it up. It's useful too as a reserve transport form - no public transport in these rural parts of the UK midlands, where th eco organic micro-holding sits.

One local 'frugalist' was well able to 'cut his cloth', solving quite a few life situations creatively and economically, as well as helping otheres in the area with his formidable array of practical skills. He certainly wasn't on the 'more, more', wagon, preferring to follow his own route, and finding creative answers to living within a budget. There's something too about turning spare recyclable materials into cost-effective useful edifices or contraptions, giveing an extra frisson of satisfaction ---- ?

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Stirrings are afoot for the new growing season, with the woodash and the compost going on the veg ground towards the end of February, which has also at last given some good, cold blue-sky days. Various early seeds have been sown, alongside the normal winter activities such as wood sawing.

The wild birds seem to be doing ok, surviving without mod cons, but with the benefit of supplementary feeding - good to be giving them some support. Trees too are admirable 'survivors', giving a stoic and reassuring presence, in an un-reassuring world -? Taking in CO2 and giving out oxygen makes them pretty vital entities.

There's been quite a bit in the papers lately expressing concern that in modern western-style 'power and control' cultures, real democracy could be under threat - not necessarily the best news for 'freerangers' - ? Traditionally self-motivated and responsible sections of society seem not to be too trusted too in such times, as the uk's junior doctors seem to have been experiencing. Maybe though, if internal self-motivation energies are stymied, a longer-term sustainable source of productivity is foregone - ?

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Time to think now of the coming growing season, to get the woodash and compost  on the growing area and the early broad bean seed shoved in under glass, to be then planted out as plants later on. Potato seed ware buying has been on the agenda with mixed results. One strong need is to be able to try to combat the organic grower's common foe of blight disease and to this end a local potato event proved to be useful, as well as interesting.

Older people these days appear to have often attracted the 'grumpy' tag, but is this because of their varied life experience, no longer have a need to see things in just a positive light, thereby being better able to be in touch with reality - ?  Looking at possible negative outcomes within business planning processes certainly used to be seen as a useful 'positive' exercise -if the plans could then show a still viable business journey, then comfort and confidence not only to the entrepreneurs themselves, but also to their lenders.

A rural case-study describes how one operator reacted to a 'reverse'.

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Shortage of sun has been the feature of the last winter period here in the UK midlands, along with some stormy wet weather causing flooding problems for some. Climate change seems to be a more generally accepted factor in the weather, and some scientists are suggesting that quite a bit more needs to be done to prevent/limit potential damage. Micro-holding life has continued at a subdued pace, with some  opportunity for 're-charging the batteries'.

Personal debt problems have once again hit the headlines, reminding that it may be a good idea for individuals to 'go freerange' on this, working out their own debt strategy and setting their own manageable levels of debt - ? Interest rates represent a considerable on-cost to personal borrowing, putting potential pressure on the household economy and at times resulting in longer-term problems. Interest rates for, say, plastic credit, which could be a large part of personal debt, do not seem to take risk levels too much into account, with  seemingly no cheaper plastic credit opportunities for very low risk individuals - ?

Is a future seemingly sustained by rising debt level and rising property values , as some reports suggest, a sound basis for longer-term security, throwing in also the longer-term resource potential problems implicit in the 'planet degradation' current scenario - ?  Maybe more freeranger 'frugal' type of consumption patterns will be needed , along with the geo-engineering measures currently being mooted - ?

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