Homestead mailing list

[Bunjov AT aol.com]

I am not a homesteader, per se, but I believe it's in my heart to be one. I  
have the basic instincts, and have tried to instill it in my children and  
grandchildren, believing that the concept may someday be their salvation.
 
There is a great sense of community here, but we keep to ourselves for the  
most part.
 
My landlord lives not 100 feet away - I have my 'yard', and he has the  
balance of the twenty acres. We are close friends, on infrequent social  
occasions, 
but I don't get in his face, and he doesn't get in mine. I cook  for him 
(part of my deal here) and we exchange pleasantries - but it's minimal. 
 
When one of us is going into 'town', we ask the other if there's anything  
they need. I've done the face-to-face pickup thing in the middle of the road, 
 
but only when it's flooded in the dip down the road to town. Otherwise, we  
sometimes wave in passing (or pretend to not notice - if I'm in a bad  mood). 
 
Regarding the larger community, it's nice to see the local Fire Department  
coming the other way on Newberry Road, and have them recognize my truck, and 
see  a big hairy hand wave out at me as we pass each other. I know that if I 
ever  have to do the 911 thing that Larry or Steve will know exactly where I 
am, 
and  that they'll show up in 'a country minute'.
 
Sandy
Mid-Mojave 
 
 
In a message dated 9/25/2008 4:05:50 A.M. Pacific Standard Time,  
genegerue AT ruralize.com writes:


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.
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