“The ultimate goal of farming is not the growing of crops, but the cultivation and perfection of human beings.” Masanobu Fukuoka, The One-Straw Revolution
Adrienne, I just always look forward to your posts and am giddy when I see a new one. "We always say that every day is a good and pampered one for the animals except for their last." - YES! This is our saying, too - almost verbatim.
I also feel like the myth of independence has really infiltrated the modern 'homesteading' movement - when in fact our rural ancestors were very inter-dependent, not independent. But this is a struggle for me, too...I want those old community celebrations, yet I'm an introvert who struggles to actually do it.
Kristin, thank you for your encouragement! I'm so glad to have such a kindred spirit here.
I wonder if people in the past even had the luxury of being introverted. LOL. I'm reading a beautiful memoir about an upstate New Yorker's memories of growing up on a farm in the 1870's. So many uncles, cousins, grandparents and neighbors in and out of their house and in their business. Of course, she loved it all. But she also could escape to the woods. ;) I guess this is one of those things we have to grapple with that has no easy answers. I always tended to think of rural places as empty (and beautiful for that), but a hundred years ago those places were filled with big families and community. You're right, the struggle is real for introverts!
Adrienne, I just always look forward to your posts and am giddy when I see a new one. "We always say that every day is a good and pampered one for the animals except for their last." - YES! This is our saying, too - almost verbatim.
I also feel like the myth of independence has really infiltrated the modern 'homesteading' movement - when in fact our rural ancestors were very inter-dependent, not independent. But this is a struggle for me, too...I want those old community celebrations, yet I'm an introvert who struggles to actually do it.
Kristin, thank you for your encouragement! I'm so glad to have such a kindred spirit here.
I wonder if people in the past even had the luxury of being introverted. LOL. I'm reading a beautiful memoir about an upstate New Yorker's memories of growing up on a farm in the 1870's. So many uncles, cousins, grandparents and neighbors in and out of their house and in their business. Of course, she loved it all. But she also could escape to the woods. ;) I guess this is one of those things we have to grapple with that has no easy answers. I always tended to think of rural places as empty (and beautiful for that), but a hundred years ago those places were filled with big families and community. You're right, the struggle is real for introverts!
This was beautiful.
I'm so glad you enjoyed reading it. :)