2/27/12

Small-Scale Homesteading, Etc.

This thoughtful essay, about 'urban' homesteading, was written by Nick Grabbe, former editor of the Amherst Bulletin and an acquaintance of mine.

He writes: "We live in a farmhouse-style home on a half-acre lot a mile from downtown Amherst (MA). I work four days a week and enjoy writing the newspaper articles that provide us with a modest income and health insurance. Betsy has not worked for pay but has supervised the children and had time to contribute her talents to our home economy and the local community.

It isn't exactly living off the land, but it's a balanced life. Our beliefs are interwoven with our tasks, and as we go about our household chores, we have that good feeling you get when work and play become one."

Nick also describes how much he enjoys wood stacking and composting.

While he promotes the frugal lifestyle, Betsy Krogh, Nick's wife, got arrested (last year) for participating in a protest against the Keystone XL Pipeline in Washington, D.C. Here's an article explaining why some Tea Party activists (usually 'drill, baby, drill' types) also oppose the pipeline.

While I rarely agree with Betsy and Nick's politics, I do admire how they practice what they preach. Being "green" isn't a term they toss around to impress their fellow libs on the wine-and-cheese circuit, or to browbeat folks. Betsy, who attended Smith College and is very energetic, once spent an afternoon patiently teaching me to knead bread.

Here's to fresh loaves, raised-bed gardens, and agreeably agreeing to disagree. (Toasting with a homemade smoothie made with homegrown strawberries.)

Yum!

4 comments:

Kenneth said...

Nice. It is unfortunate that environmentalism and sustainable living is now largely the domain of the left and is something brain-washed "conservatives" hold in contempt. Actually, the original organic agriculture movement in England and continental Europe (1920s and beyond) was more of a right-wing phenomena than a leftist movement.

TCC said...

I didn't know that (about the origins of organic ag. movement).

Kinda off-topic: I'm dismayed at how Big Agriculture and GOP politicos have formed an unholy and unhealthy and unconstitutional alliance.

Kenneth said...

The more I study the machinations of Big Ag and Big Pharma and their corruption of the political process the more disgusted with all the players (liberal and conservative, Republican and Democrat) I become.

Justin said...

Nice. It is unfortunate that environmentalism and sustainable living is now largely the domain of the left and is something brain-washed "conservatives" hold in contempt. Actually, the original organic agriculture movement in England and continental Europe (1920s and beyond) was more of a right-wing phenomena than a leftist movement.