The ample recent rains seem to have made the countryside hereabouts (UK midlands), more lush than ever, and the same in West Wales, as experienced on a recent break there. The rural Welsh seem to be a 'well sorted' breed with strong community and family priorities. Maybe living in such stunning surroundings and with such space supports their independence of spirit, and seeming ability to 'go their own way'.
The policy here on the organic eco micro-holding (small smallholding) in these budget tightening times is to explore ways of coping economically to limit 'financial stress', the recent solar hot water provider helping in that direction, and with the possibility of adding a stand-alone heat-from-air extraction system to help provide further insulation/protection from the oligopolistic (few large powerful firms) energy suppliers.
Home-grown food can help significantly to keep costs down, particularly following, say, a 'limited meat' diet option, and it's predicted food prices will rise sharply in the next few years. Growing 'organically' can be cheaper via the use of a 'permaculture' system, as well as providing 'seasonal delight', but certain measures such as rotational growing are needed.
Uk society seems to continue to be geared to favour the 'big and strong' at the expense of so-called 'ordinary folk', with inequalities within the National Health Service being the latest example being quoted in the press. Maybe there's over-emphasis on money and money-making in today's culture, needing more 'balance' with higher priority the given to, say, social priorities, for instance - ? ( as societies exist, i.e. are a fact of life, so then do social needs and priorities - ?)
Hey ho, back to the hoe ----
