It seems that I've lamented on (and on, and on) about our recent pork procurement and what great stewards of the earth we are by using this local farmer or eating this local thing, getting eggs right from the bum of our own chickens, drinking the fluids secreted from the underside of a lactating goat or growing all those plants in our garden. And then I remembered that not all of you are on a homestead or anywhere near a butcher or baker (or candlestick maker) that provides local foods. Maybe you're in a high-rise apartment or a bungalow with a postage-stamp sized yard. Maybe you don't want to garden, or farm, or shoot tree rodents from your back porch and put them in the stew pot.
I realize not everyone can, or wants to be a homesteader. Maybe your calling or circumstances dictate that you provide housekeeping services, desktop publishing or even chocolate to the citizens of your town. Maybe you pine for a farm of your own, but can't afford to do it (yet....don't ever give up!), or your partner doesn't share your homesteading urges and prefers to hang out at the local watering hole with his friends. And that's fine with me because although I occasionally forget about it, this amazing diversification of people and skills is what makes it possible for me to live my homesteading dream.
The plate that is currently in front of me? The one that is currently holding those homegrown, homemade and local eggs, bread and sausage (yes, it's all about the sausage)? I sure didn't make it. And although I'd like to try my hand at throwing pottery one day, I'm sure not going to rely upon my skills to fill up my cupboards with dishes and cups. The jeans and shirt I'm wearing? Although both made of cotton, I'm pretty sure that I'm not going to till a field to plant cotton in order to start the long process of making my own clothing. Heck, I even take our taxes in to the accountant in town so he can do them - and I went to college to study accounting!
A few years ago, I stumbled upon a blog that was basically about a city-girl-turned-country-girl. I loved it. I checked for updates on a daily basis. And eventually she inspired me to start my own blog. Not only to journal our little adventures, but to provide that little inspiration to someone else that may need just that final little nudge. To let others know that you can escape the daily-grind. That you don't have to move to North Dakota in a cabin on fifty acres of land to homestead. That it is possible to live comfortably on one income. That you CAN do it!
That is, if you WANT to. Because I am not so naive to think that others (like my sister or best friend) are going to head for the country and start shooting and eating squirrels or move where there is not a (good) Thai or Sushi restaurant within a five minute drive.
Excuse me, but what the HEAK are you apologizing about?? Methinks whoever reads your blog reads your blog because they find it interesting, informative, educational and (side-splittingly) funny. Nobody's forcing anybody to read your blog. We're all here because (for whatever reason) we love hearing about your life and escapades! Keep it up, please.
ReplyDeleteI second Mama Pea's comment!
ReplyDeleteIf I did not have your Blog to read each day, There would be a gap that I would be hard pressed to fill. I can always count on you for a laugh or two and you inspire me to try to do better with what I have.
And it's fun to tease you and be teased by you!
I was told a long time ago that it did not matter what you write about, as long as you write!
WRITE AND THEY WILL COME!!
TOM
Oh Caorlyn, you so are NOT a snob! If I had a freezer full of deeeelicious pork sausage, I would be braggin too! Oh I love sausage... Wish I could have some right now... And it looks especially awesome in that cast iron pan...
ReplyDeleteYup, I understand were you are going with your thoughts. Everyone is needed. But....we all enjoy reading your blog
ReplyDelete-- don't change a thing :-)
Oh, Amen to all of the above! You are such a precious resource, you are. There is no need to promote local, sustainable living - none whatsoever. (However, you may need to apologize to all the vegetarians who read your blog for hitting them in the puss with all that amazingly tantalizing food (to us non-veggies, that is)(there, I've said it - veggie, veggie, veggie!))
ReplyDeleteSigh, I MEANT no need "to apologize" for promoting local, blah, blah, blah. You know what I meant.
Delete"...getting eggs right from the bum of our own chickens, drinking the fluids secreted from the underside of a lactating goat..."
ReplyDeleteROTFLMAO!!
The only thing I think you should apologize for is not sharing all that yummy, dee-stinking-licious pork sausage with all of us!! LOL!!
Take that photo of the sausage back, and you're forgiven. ;) Kidding! We love you and your blog, so keep it up! And the picture, too. Just let me look at it...
ReplyDelete"Pork sausage" means never having to say your sorry. At least in my book.
ReplyDeleteEven someone in an apartment can have a few herbs growing in the window, even if that's all the homestead they can do. And if you've checked the price of spices in the grocery store lately, you know growing your own can add a little extra to your meals without breaking the bank.
My wife and I are lucky enough to be able to grow or purchase local, grown-by-real-farmers produce and meats. Not everyone can, and that's a fact.
Some of that is due to the luck of the draw in life, but much is due to an active pursuit of those things that make us healthier or feel better (and they also taste better). I don't think anyone should apologize for that.
I have the same reaction as you to a good serving of pork sausage, so I understand completely.
And see how many folks here support you!
No apologies necessary girlfriend! Yep, I'm in the city but do what I can - and look to bloggers like you to satisfy the rest until I can do more! You had me rolling in laughter about "tree rodents", since a hard core city dweller would have ample opportunity for some serious eatin' if shooting tree rodents was legal from your balcony hehehehehe! I am lucky that we can get humanely raised and butchered pork from a farm fairly close here, but waiting lists are getting longer by the day, so I am looking forward to having it be in more plentiful supply since we pay a premium for that stuff in the city. Blog on, my friend!
ReplyDeleteBe glad you're in AR and not in Michigan. Do a youtube search on pig farmer vs DNR. Michigan just decided in their infinite stupidy to make heritage breeds illegal and they all must be put down. This farmer currently has 3 videos up about it and is sueing the state of Michigan to keep his livelyhood.
ReplyDeleteTo all my beloved followers & those that have commented on my "Apologies" post:
ReplyDeleteI hope I didn't mean to make it sound like I'm going to stop blogging about my farmish adventures; mercy no! Blogging about all this is my way of avoiding a trip to the looney bin! :)
But for some reason I suddenly became somewhat self-conscience about all my bragging and such and thought that maybe there were those that couldn't, didn't or haven't yet been able to attain such "high and lofty" goals that we have here. As if I were rubbing their faces in it like, "Ha ha, look what we do, too bad you aren't!" kind'a thing.
But then again, I've probably overreacted to an imaginary situation brought on by anxiety. Imagine that :)
So thank you all for your encouraging comments, and don't fret, you'll have to pry the laptop from my cold, dead hands before I stop blogging.
Wow, you sure cooked up a big heapin batch of puns in the last post - I loved it!
ReplyDeleteWhat was the name of the blog that inspired you - On the Way to Critter Farm?
Chai Chai, the name of the blog was "Farm Livin is the Life for Me" by Lori H., I found her blog on Homesteading Today a few years ago. Up until her, I had no idea what a "Blog" even was! Sadly, she no longer posts on her blog (either that or I can't access it), I really enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteCritter Farm is also very inspiring though and I read hers often, hoping to see more kitty pictures of course!
Im hoping you dont stop talking about your sausage. Im about ready to brag about our meats in our freezers. Lol. Keep up the good work!!!!!
ReplyDeleteyou said it all so nicely! AND..North Dakota is a pretty cool place ya know...not so far from me!! I'm not sure how I got the itch to plant myself out here in the middle of nowhere and add all the critters, responsibility, and FUN! I am pretty darn sure it was that chemo induced year I took off ....and frankly I haven 't looked back
ReplyDeleteYou expressed what I sometimes think when I brag on our home-grown food realizing that lots of people want to live like we do, but can't for what ever reason. I feel guilty knowing that. You are right that not everyone wants to 'homestead' but I figure they aren't the ones reading these living in the country blogs.
ReplyDeleteI hope they forgive us for getting giddy about our food!
We all gotta start somewhere, no apologies!! I keep bugging my husband to find a job farther out so we can move, and get an acre or 2 or 3. Not happening, YET. So we do our urban homsteading, with our chickens, garden and fruit trees, learned to can, etc. Here's hoping! http://littlehomesteadinboise.blogspot.com/
ReplyDeleteLOLOL! And huzzah for the chocolate makers!!!!
ReplyDelete