Free-Range Living

Not much in the way of sunshine over the last few weeks to report here on the organic eco micro-holding in the Uk heartlands, and parts of this country have been awash and flooded, in spite of flood defences in place. Thankfully no destructive flooding hereabouts bar in the chicken's pen which has had to be repeatedly cleared and supplied with fresh dry straw - c'est la  vie 'microholding' , n'est-ce pas?

There's not too much seasonal work on the go at the moment, apart from a bit of wood sawing and collecting the not over-plentiful produce from the veg growing ground , with stored produce  running out apart from onions.

The recent Paris climate control agreement has lightened climate change 'gloom and doom' - it probably remains to be seen whether the appropriate level of actions to combat global warming can occur - presumably there needs to be a cut back in consumption from the 'materially advanced' countries - ?  Maybe, too, 'large' governments need to take into account more the findings of 'smaller' entities, as one example could indicate.

'Mad, Black, Jack' was a character who also brought a few 'rays of light' and did quite a bit to raise spirits ---- .

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Late autumn can be a beautiful time to be abroad in the local peaceful countryside, with  its array of stunning colours, helped presumably here in the UK midlands by an exceptionally mild autumn. Produce on the micro-holding has then lasted well, and seasonal work such as sawing and hedging has gone pretty well.

The woodstore in the 'logs-istics' centre was filled 'fit to burstin' to give good 'fuel security' type feelings, added to by winter preparations such as laying in reserve supplies, and other 'reserve' activities such as commissioning the new diesel stand-by generator. Several back-up heat sources to the daytime living area of the cottage hopefully ensure on-going heating in the cold weather to come, not forgetting too to cater for the wildbirds that live on site.

One paper report highlighted 'non-care' aspects to modern western-style competitive cultures, questioning whether they might not yet be the most effective societies over the longer-term and pointing to the success of inclusive Sandinavian-type cultures.

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Heat is now necessary in the cottage here on the UK north midlands eco organic micro-holding (small smallholding) now that cooler autumnal mornings and evenings have arrived, although there's still recently been quite a bit of daytime sun powering the solar panels nicely.

The organic veg harvest has been non too bad with the beans lasting well and the winter greens veg plants coming on, together with useful beetroot, onion and potato harvests. Nature's harvest of damsons, blackberries and sloes have also been reaped, with 'natural' andd delicious products such as preserves and liqueurs made out of them.

Independent self-reliant-type of living may well be good for 'human spirit' levels, along with facilitating 'freerange' type of 'open-minded' thinking - ? And, of course often good in terms of helping the micro-small domestic economy, as well as providing sources of personal achievement and satisfaction. Two mini case-studies help to illustrate  ----- .

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Crops have gown on ok in the changeable month that's been August, needing though more protection than hitherto. The potatoes have had mixed results with lessons for next year, but the onions have come out remarkably well, considering they had a nasty attack of the 'aliums'.

This year's building out of spare re-cyclable materials project has been to addd a 'converandory' onto 'The Retreat', which was last year's project, and is just about finished now -a bit of extra motivation needed for the final push.

Motivation, though, almost seems to be a thing of the past, in today's 'control' type cultures in the west, with even traditionally self-motivated souls such as the professional classes not these days seemingly trusted to self-responsibly 'get on with the job' - 'carrot and stick' management styles ruling - ? There's some evidence too, of the very wealthy having some motivation-type problems ---.

H's rural motivation case-study looks at a 'heart v. head' conundrum situation, whilst Bob Dylan gets nearly the last word -----

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The 'lazy, hazy month of August is here, bringing a bit of a slower pace. The organic micro-holding crops have been their usual mix of good and not quite so good, with broad beans and potatoes doing well, and still plenty of produce with  which to make lunchtime stir-fry's.

The 'Wild Bunch' hen flock got depleted by the fox -probably a hungry vixen with cubs to feed, and extra fortifications have been the order of the day, to protect the replacement birds, which are proving to be just as lively as their forebears.

Growing via the organic method without chemicals dictates to some extent the pattern of farming/growing and needs carefully worked out rotational land use planning, still based on farming systems in use before the advent of chemical farming systems. Small-scale organic growing is basically similar to organic farming, just with one or two differences.

The word 'organic' can also signify 'natural', and many rural businesses, for instance. started small and then grew 'organically'. Some sort out their housing 'organically'. The work on the micro-holding here could be said to proceed 'organically' ---

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Colourful flowers hit the eye on leaving the back door of the cottage on the organic eco micro-holding (small smallholding), here in the UK heartlands, raising the spirits. Much growth all round this year with the trees, hedges, and lane borders all flourishing, and the crops here on the micro-holding all seemingly doing well, bar the onions, hit by pests again.

Getting away for a break was good, but having builders in mean't quite a bit of work to get back to, all helping to keep quite busy and get some of that satisfaction Kevin McLoud on UK TV talks about from 'doing and making'. Being able to change and rotate jobs helps stave off  'the dreaded ennui' - long periods doing the same thing could seem to be a recipe for boredom - ?

Customer  experience/reaction may be important to longer term sales, as two examples could indicate. The large and powerful energy companies in the UK are being taken to task again, currently, erm, being charged with hitting the poorest sectors of society. One recent UK TV programme recently charged banks with over charging and restricting local authorities loans, affecting the provision of local community services.

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'Green leaf' lane walking with collie dog Hipster Pipster has been a pleasure recently, to be diminished somewhat, though, by council cutting machines. The trees lining the lane have looked too pretty impressive in their 'timeless strength'. In spite of cold air in May here at the eco organic micro-holding (small smallholding) here in the UK midlands, the micro crops have been doing ok, bar one or two in need of warmer air. Fingers crossed that blight and alium leaf miner attacks of recent years are avoided, which might just be quite a bit to ask for. Next winter's bought log supply has been stored in the 'logs-istics' centre, to be added to later on by wood already here to be cut up. 

The so-called 'free market' may now not be quite so free due to the activities of large powerful commercial firms, some being investigated by regulators for alledgedly less than fair customer treatment. Might the profusion of large-scale organisations tending to use their considerable 'muscle' impact negatively on those lacking power, such as small firms, and individuals themselves - ? Although traditional 'comfort' source such as religion have waned in some western cultures, spirituality itself might yet not be totally past its 'sell by date', as the emergence of new religious type movements could seem to indicate, even if some appear to be influenced significantly by 'man' - ?

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A fast-coming spring this year at the micro-holding has mean't that countryside, wildlife and growing crops have all 'blossomed' in double-quick time, with for some reasons, a profusion of goldfinches hereabouts - ? Hopefully the foot-high healthy crop of onions won't be hit by the alium miner fly again, but if they strike ,the nettle juice is on hand ---- .

Next year's bought wood supply is currently arriving on the driveway, to then be wheelbarrowed into the 'logs-istics' centre to get hopefully pretty dry by next winter. The woodstove consumes quite a bit of wood over a winter running as it does for a fair length of time each day, relying on the bought supply and some already here in various logpiles.

Has the effect of money, for instance, over-simplified 'complex' life, which might contribute to some of the modern day limitations/problems - ? Whilst wealth seems to be a strongly desirable feature of modern culture, one report suggests it may not necessarily always be a bed of roses for the wealthy, leading to the question as to whether, as one ex UK Prime Minister recently stated, a more balanced society isn't needed for longer-term sustainable viability - ?

Energy firms in the UK were once again recently in the spotlight with complaints about their practice of changing their customers payments, generally upwards it seems, without any consultation or permission sought for them to do so. As this could seem to impinge on personal freedoms, the question would seem to be as to whether such an autonomous practice could be upheld in law - ?

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Spring hereabouts in the English heartlands has been non too early due to March's coldish weather, and the growing side here on the organic eco micro-holding has been relatively slow going. In spite of cool weather though, the solar electric unit has done quite well, as has the air-source heat pump unit installed last October.

Quite a bit of needed stuff has arrived on the doorstep in the form of recycled materials, maybe giving succour to that saying - 'the universe provides' - ? It still needs a helping hand, though, especially at this time of year, busy putting in various crops. Somehow it's a good feeling 'working with nature' -a sort of 'connection', although one recent analysis suggested that 'collective' man has eschewed longer-term responsibility, but would yet 'reap what has been sowed' -? Apparently, such a theme was the essence of the singer Don Mclean's famous song.

The postcript to the 'Soddy's farm' case-study brings the tale to a good end.  Has 'making money' become too much of a theme - is it in fact 'putting the cart before the horse' even - ? Not that it's too much of a theme here at the micro-holding, along with fame, power and 'big' lifestyle. Still, it's not too bad for reflection and 'longer-term quiet satisfaction' ----

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Some major hedge pruning has been order of the day recently, with some of the prunings saved as small wood for future use, and with the debris going on the bonfire. Recent cold weather here at the organic eco micro-holding (small smallholding) in the UK heartlands has resulted in lots of (hungry) bird sitings, and the consumption of a fair bit of wood of various shapes and sizes, well aided and abetted by the new air-source heat pump, which when solar powered , gives 'free' heat. Micro-holding seasonal work is under way with various sowings made and woodash and compost spread on half the veg growing area.

Modern increasing animal welfare production systems seem to be being reversed by the trend of introducing large dairy production units with cows kept mainly under cover, thereby unable to practice natural behaviour patterns such as 'roam grazing', at the same time limiting independence opportunities, with small family based farm businesses being put out of dairy business due to lowered prices. The idea that man should be respecting nature and animals is probably more 'feeling' based and maybe therefore harder to argue for in a 'head' based culture based largely on rationality - ?  'Large' concerns too, seem to 'automatically' view 'small' as inefficient, which, may, though, not be the whole story - ?

The 'Soddy's Farm' case-study continues, showing why the retired 'meet-er and greet-er' boar was not unproductive, and then the case of a couple living the simple life officially below the poverty line but rich in other respects, is outlined.

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