Posted on 06/27/2010 10:01:25 AM PDT by fight_truth_decay
Some of the characters (including author Carolyn Chute) from my next book - OFF THE GRID - Inside the Movement for More Space, Less Government and True Independence in Modern America, published by Penguin 1st August 2010 - "I traveled around America meeting these extraordinary people and writing about their lives. Above all I wanted to find out WHY they live off the grid." VIDEO
(Excerpt) Read more at youtube.com ...
Lots of milk( often powder if short ), biscuits, gravy. It was considered a badge to get an older brothers coat because he was older and did things. Lots of basement/garage ping pong, dirt lot baseball. Street hockey in the streets. Rock throwing at most everything. Hunting golf balls at the golf courses. Wiffle ball. Swimming until you puked or were dizzy such that you felt you were still swimming when you went to sleep. Toughened foot soles in summer from wearing no shoes. Gardens. Kool Aid in the afternoon. lawn mowing. Going in basements or garages because they were cool. Riding to gas stations to get air in the tire. Pine cone fights, water balloon fights, rainy day board games and I remember the neighbor had a den full of decades of National Geo-graphics. We’d read those and clip the maps in case we started off for Australia, they’d come in handy. A bit of depression but also excitement at the end of summer with going back to school.
I don't think that is the correct analysis for this group. There is another flavor of "withdrawlers" besides the eco-hippies. This second group is very much based in libertarian, small government ideas, and is very much in opposition to the eco-hippy leftists. They are supporters of the Second Amendment, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, small government, and lots and lots of self-reliance, none of which describes the eco-hippies. See "Backwoods Home Magazine" and its associated website for more information. Read some of the writings of Claire Wolf (or maybe Woolf). She is a sometimes columnist at BHM.
We picked string beans in the summer and it became competition who could pick the most and make the most. We all did it, or at least my friends did it so we knew no better to complain. Went the Lemonade or Kool-aid stand route beside the road. Marched off each summer morning walking a mile plus to the lake for swimming lessons as long as lightning wasn't around. Stayed out of the water 1/2 hr after we ate. We went on picnics on our bikes taking rotisserie chicken(yes back then from the general store), root beers or Crush. Now kids are not safe to take those bike trips and sit by the stream, fish alone etc.
I remember I had to Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF! People figured you didn't need candy if you took money. Wondered if that money ever got to the poor kids in poor countries. Probably not. I didn't need that much candy anyway. We never really thought about rich or poor--although you had to be really poor for us to take notice--shack living of a classmate outside town. UNICEF money should have gone to them.
Transportation by car was never an option. We walked or biked-so your friends remain the ones in the town neighborhood.
We did the best in school we could as we knew there was more out there we wanted to be part of (the great unknown). it was a pride thing-who wants to bring home a bad grade? Teachers were good then, and some were bad-that never changes. The good ones you remember fondly, the bad ones you blame. Then there was that scary "ruler" held by the princi*pal..remember he is your "pal".
Weekly walk to the library with my library card, feeling real small looking up at that raised desk where the librarian satso she could see everything. Then to the basement to the Children's books. Was cool down there in the summers. Real quiet.
We never missed what we didn't know about. We did not go without.
And you know what we never knew about was child abuse, molestation etc.. But a few years I learned a neighbor was said to have molested his kids(one committed suicide)-he traveled around the world for a company..no one mentioned it til after he died. The damage he must have caused. Relatives guess knew but was never talked about. I thought he was a nice guy, always friendly. I guess we were protected-quietly. I think about that.
That would be correct. I believe her getting off the grid had to do with making sure as little of her money as possible ended up in the hands of any large corporation.
There used to be little paper mills and logging mills all over maine. (not to mention sardine plants, clothing mills etc.ect) Over the years they have been bought up by large corporations and closed. Nautica is a good example.
Looking at TARP I would say she has a point in regards to the Repubs and the Dems selling us out.
I am working on designs for a new house. Interest is low, and I wish wood and roofing were as well. Painting all sides of the clapboard is a good idea.
There is a guy down in Oregon that actually makes wooden windows. They can be triple pane, and I have been thinking of using them on the north side of the house.
The north side is where the view is, so that is where the dinning room and living room will face.
As for heat, I was thinking of one of the new enclosed fireplaces, where you can set up a fan and blow heat into other rooms, and the BunWarmer for the kitchen, or some other sort of stove.
Also I am planting cider apples. May well need something to trade!
Also found that red cedar shingles on my roof spaced at 4" instead of the "5" (showing)don't curl..the tops can look worn sometimes but underneath there is another 3 layers are like new. Rain comes and the tops look good again. Roof can last for 50 years. 30 is more accurate perhaps. May go steel next. They even have a rusted metal "RCM"s for that look. Then Core Ten has been said by lab tests to last an average of 80 years in the Rocky Mountains. Am no expert here! And might not venture into that look. Example: http://www.buildingforhealth.com/products.php?cat=404
I shopped prices for the clapboards linear foot - at the lumber yards. Yes, priming the (red cedar) clapboards on all 6 sides before installation saves bubbling down the road and paint adheres. Less of a chance for mold build up on the north side even though trees are not on top of your structure.
You should check this out for your kitchen or outdoor kitchen for bread baking, pizza etc. Have seem the different facades on this oven and impressive-La Panyol wood fired oven. Next time around am going la panyol somewhere.
Distributed in the USA as well.
www.mainewoodheat.com for gallery. Outdoor copper is cool.
I don't know that much about the types of E glass but was told that #3 could keep out the sun's rays?(winter) #2 was better. Will look into that when the time comes.
And am really impressed with the new Phantom screens-up and out of the way for any opening when not needed. Keeps the windows clear when down. Does not distract from the look of the window. Keeps the sills clean. I am checking into that for two big roof Velux windows screenless.
http://www.phantomscreens.com/
And my favorite wood burning stove--might as well cook on it besides heat Esse cooker [colours].Some above are on my bucket list to research in the near future.
Good luck on your new home.
Washington is real generous with the tax breaks. Basically I need to make 1500 off my 5 acres, and then I can get most of it taxed as ag.
Cider apples are rarely grown in the US. I think I can fit about 700 on about 2 acres. You get about 2-4 bushels each tree, and about 2-4 gallons of juice each bushel, and 3 bottles of the good stuff from each gallon.
Like the cook stoves, saved the link. The Pizza stove is cool. I have looked at some in the past, but I know I am not going to have time.
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