Homestead mailing list

[Gene GeRue <genegerue AT ruralize.com>]

On Sep 25, 2008, at 2:15 AM, Susan Trickett wrote:

> I wonder if most of you do have a close community or are you islands  
> unto yourselves?

Most serious homesteader types are very self reliant. In most cases  
they can get along quite well on their own. In many rural areas  
neighbors wave but don't stop. In some they stop and talk, two pickups  
facing different directions. I see less of that as people have become  
more in a hurry.

That's a shame and it is foolish to be in such a hurry all the time  
that one is too busy to talk to one's neighbors.

I wrote an article about country neighbors being more important than  
city neighbors. It might be on my existing web site. I recently sent  
it to Don, who is constructing the new web site.

I have four neighbors who are also good friends plus a large number of  
more casual friends and acquaintances in the surrounding area. We do  
meals together with two of them. One has a yearly get-together at  
their place. Another one comes down to visit on a pretty regular  
basis. We help each other as requested or as we notice help would be  
useful. My nearest neighbor is physically challenged. Don helped him  
and his wife make firewood a couple days ago. Don and I will be  
attending a community presentation tomorrow titled Seed Saving 101, by  
a lady author. Before that presentation we will join a tour of a local  
friend's medicinal herb gardens and business.

It's not that country people need much help. But they know they can  
rely on getting help during special times. And the social aspect of  
community cannot be overestimated. I don't need much but I feel good  
knowing it exists and that I am part of it.

No, Heartwood is a wonderful, nurturing place to live, but neither it  
nor I are islands.

All is connected.