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["Jeanne Driese" <jeanne13 AT earthlink.net>]

Very interesting Gene, thanks!
I would enjoy reading more.
Jeanne
tnhillwoman
North East TN zone 6
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Gene GeRue 
  To: Homestead 
  Sent: Tuesday, February 03, 2009 2:11 PM
  Subject: [Homestead] Those who move to the land


  The recurrent interest in homesteader identity sent me to my book to  
  see what my definition was the last time I thought about it. Chapter  
  Four includes many different groups of those who move to the land.  
  This is the first part:



  Chapter 4 - Who are you?


  Development of character

  consists solely in moving toward self-sufficiency.

  Quentin Crisp



  Most of us feel pretty confident that we know who we are. In fact we  
  proudly disclose ourselves to the world—to total strangers we meet in  
  stores, bars and especially at parties. Less willingly we reveal all  
  (well, nearly all) to employment agencies, credit agencies and the  
  I.R.S. Extended city living dampens such enthusiasm. In the city world  
  of crime and incessant, aggressive marketing we retreat behind  
  security doors and answering machines. From a state of willingly  
  proclaiming ourselves to all who ask, we have evolved to using  
  defensive screening techniques. “Who are you with?” “How do you know  
  her?” “What is your business with him?” “I’m very busy; is this  
  important?”
  Knowing who we are and acknowledging the truth, if only to ourselves,  
  is of critical value in determining which country conditions will make  
  us happiest. People who move from city to country generally fall into  
  definable groups, rather like subspecies. For some, moving from city  
  to country is like mutating—for others, simply reverting to type. I  
  don’t particularly like labels but in this case using them will be  
  helpful to our quest. Categories of those repotting themselves in  
  country soil, in no particular order, are back-to-the-landers/ 
  homesteaders, boomer burnouts/urban refugees, concerned parents,  
  retirees and cashing outers, environmentalists, and survivalists.



  Back-to-the-landers/homesteaders


  The back-to-the-land movement is correctly named only in that all of  
  our ancestors once lived on the land. (If Eve and the snake had not  
  collaborated on the apple thing we all might still be living—tightly— 
  in the original garden.) Some writers label all who move from city to  
  country as back-to-the-landers. This is a gross generalization. True  
  BTTLs—who may or may not be rock ’n’ rollers—are those who were born  
  in country, moved to bright lights for fun, fame and futures fortunes,  
  burned out on city heat, remembered rural serenity, and moved back— 
  typically either to their growing-up place or another like it. Those  
  who desperately desire to belong to this group but were city reared  
  are hereby allowed ancestral exemption, the grandfather clause for  
  BTTLs. Reach back as far as necessary.

  Back-to-the-landers and homesteaders lead very similar lifestyles.  
  Homesteading is a self-reliant way of life on the land. There is  
  tremendous satisfaction and security to be derived from eating  
  homegrown food, staying warm with our own wood fuel and building and  
  maintaining buildings and support systems.

  It is not possible to be entirely self-sufficient and still live a  
  high-quality life—such an effort quickly becomes long-hour drudgery.  
  It does make sense, however, to become self-reliant. Using current  
  technology, it is now possible to enjoy long-term, secure, lower-cost  
  living largely independent of public systems. A wind or photovoltaic  
  system with generator backup provides independence from the electric  
  company. A ram pump will supply gravity-fed water. Freezers and  
  canners extend homegrown food availability year-round. An energy- 
  efficient house, owner-built and maintained, can keep us winter-warm  
  with only solar gain, a stove and (homegrown) wood for heat. We can  
  even cook with wood—new wood-burning kitchen stoves are available  
  (but, boy, are they hot; an alternative stove for summertime use is  
  indicated). All of these things and more are possible right now.

  One factor against being totally self-sufficient is that most of us  
  want to use as many labor-saving devices as we can afford. My father  
  taught me to make firewood with an axe and a crosscut saw; trust me  
  when I say that a chainsaw is more humane. Abe Lincoln is but the most  
  well-known of those who quickly tired of working wood with an axe.

  As with rearing children, there is one area—home food production—where  
  the results are worth almost any effort. Growing food takes more time  
  than earning dollars and buying it. But the quality of homegrown food  
  far surpasses the best food in the best stores of the best food- 
  growing regions in the country. Homegrown vegetables and fruits are  
  fresher, more nutritious and are safe from chemical residue. Eating  
  poisoned food is courting an early demise—we might as well take up do- 
  it-yourself bungee jumping. Home gardeners can look their potatoes in  
  the eyes and feel good about what they see there.

  Homesteading with modern tools and technology can be a very high- 
  quality lifestyle. Becoming self-reliant and independent from “the  
  system” are worthwhile and enriching goals. Our body, our family and  
  our planet benefit.

  ____________________________________



  Other species of people moving to the land will be forthcoming if  
  interest is expressed.



  Gene GeRue
  www.RURALIZE.com




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