Sat, 2008-11-01 16:32 — rreidnauer
I've always had a great deal of respect for Les Stroud, (best known for hosting Survivorman) and his ideals and beliefs. I've recently had the opportunity to see his documentary of the challenges of changing to a lifestyle of simpler living and more independence in Northern Ontario, and how it affects the entire family. It's an incredible show called Off the Grid with Les Stroud. The 68 minute DVD is available on his website for 25 CAD, or if you got high speed internet, you can watch a blurry 7-part version on Youtube. (actually, on full-screen, it's fairly clear)
I know Kola and Chad (and now Stressman) have an understanding of Les's challenges.
Comments
"Community Sufficiency"
Thanks for the link Rod! I just got free wifi (thanks to my landlord) at my new office and have something to watch tonite. :)
On a side note and after reading last months Mother Earth magazine, my thoughts have changed a bit. It is practically impossible to be totally self-sufficient. There is no way I can raise cattle, hunt and fish, have chickens, grow produce (indoor and out), milk my owm goats, cut hay, chop wood etc etc.
It is more realistic to become "community sufficient".
This is where a "circle of friends" comes into play.
IMO and amongst all the fear and doubt surrounding the current economy, I am very excited and optimistic that many folks will begin to see the light and adapt to simple living and self sufficiency. I have great faith in human nature and our ability to overcome difficult challenges.
Instead of worrying and complaining, the time is here for all of us to learn a new way of life, dig our heels in and help each other out.
It's really possible. First, create it in your mind and envision it, second, believe it...... and lastly take action.
Planning and creating solutions to problems, staying positive and surrounding yourself with a circle of friends easily washes away all the fear and doubt. Heck..just thinking about makes me feel good.
Kola
"community sufficiency"
Kola, I could not agree more.
My escapades on my land taught me this as well as anything. You need friends you can rely on to help you out of a jam. I'm looking forward to getting to know Doug better. I know he has a lot of stuff to tade for (chickens, milk, beef, a Lucas Mill, etc), but I don't know what I have to offer!
FWIW,
Peter
Nice
I watched this last night. I liked it. But...... What was he thinking letting a whole bunch of raccoons loose near his house!! :-)
And I think it would have been cheeper for him to just buy a 100 acres with a livible house on it rather than completely
renovating an old rundown house plus building a completely new kit cabin, and he also has logs to build another new log cabin.
Did anyone else notice that they had a different dog at the end of the show....
we all have skills and things to offer
Peter quoted: "but I don't know what I have to offer!"
========================================
you know how to build the best damn type of a loghome!
(wink)
I agree with ya Ponyboy..helping Rocky Raccoon and his buddies was a kind gesture but maybe not so dang close to their home. They are cute and smart but very mischievieous and can cause some damage....and besides their outward appearance they can be downright vicious.
Kola
I knew a guy who use to feed
I knew a guy who use to feed wild skunks each night. (I was there to see it once) Seemed like not the best idea, but to each their own.
Catching skunks
Pepe le' Stu
thats funny Stu!
I used to catch snakes. I wouldn;t do that now.
Hey, I just watched the entire vid Rod posted. What a terrific inspiring story. I am glad it sowed all the problens, challenges and hardship. Too often TV shows make it look so simple and leave out the gutsy stuff.
The transition is difficult, no doubt about it. You have to be willing to pay your dues.
Right now my biggest challenges will be in the coming months. Hauling in water for my horses and me will be a huge obstacle. I also need my morning shower to wake up. For now I can do a sit down shower in the tipi. I have a 5 gallon kettle. I march across my property and fill it up from the horse trough, lug it back and heat it up on my propane stove. It takes about 15 minutes to warm up. I then fill up my solarbag shower thingy and hang it up over the tub. Right now its pretty cold in the tipi so I shower and dry off as quick as possible. With it getting dark so quick now I often make my dinner in the dark. (I dropped my Coleman rechargeble light and busted it). I try and eat simple things like bread and butter, PB and J sandwiches, soups, pasta and oatmeal. I solved my clothes washing problem by bartering with a lady. I do chiro work on her and she washes and dries my clothes each week.
the woodburner install will really make me happy and improve my living style and more importantly lessen my worries...and I have to start chopping wood. With my new business open, money is scarce so I have to be patient and positive.
I hope other folks watch the video, it was very good.
Kola
I make large crockpot soups
Look, listen and learn
A man who works with his hands is a laborer,
A man who works with his hands and his head is a craftsman,
A man who works with his hands, his head and his heart is an artist.
St Francis of Assisi.
If you need meat Stu can catch you some skunks i never heard what they tast like ahhaha
I do large amounts of soup i do good some time and some times i feed it to the racoons
Meat is so dam expensive coscos the cheep place get good meat.
I might have hunt deer on my own soon i had 2 does here yesterday.
Do you have many deer to hunt there Kola.
I telling you we screwed up bad to kill off the bufflow becuse that meat is the best i think.
But it be bad if they roamed the land like deer. Can you imagine hit one them with a car we be killed.
Raise some bufflows there kola they are tasty not much up keep on them except some hay in the winter.
ok seya
The videos were great. I
The videos were great. I can’t imagine what he spent on the tent, backhoe, the temporary house and the renovations on the existing structure. I think he would have been way ahead going the LHBA way. And that chopper had to cost him an arm and a leg.
The coolest thing is that they are doing it. I got a kick out of them cross country skiing to get to their place and bring in staples. Hopefully there will be a few more videos.
rods video post
yeah..the guy spent some dough huh? Chopper?? heck, I 'd hire a cowboy to bring in some draft horses and haul it in.
another thing, he shoulda bought one of those already built little logsided cabins and they could have just rolled it in. bing boom done.
many folks are fortunate if they have plenty of cash to make the change. Thats makes it a helluva lot easier. OTOH if he took out some huge bank loan then thats another story too.
I'll pay my dues now by working my can off for 5 hard years instead of working my can off for 30 years.
i noticed he played guitar too and had a lil band. that was cool.
Chad, I enjoy Buffalo meat but Elk is my favorite. I want to try bear as I have never eaten it..i heard you can't eat the fat because its nasty tasting.
i also enjoy wild organ meats, heart and liver especially.
dobble post sory
dobble post
i saw this on old yeller ahahah
Look, listen and learn
Im Your Huckleberry!
Keep Rocking With Dokken!
Was he the adult version of the kid on old yeller here kitty kitty haahahha
My be thought they were cats ahhaha. I threw a rock and sticks at night at one and only figure it was a skunk later by his eyes and the way he jumped at night. i looked at it and said to small of body to be a racoon there large and the shade was more black. And the eyes hit with light were red and everthing i hit have been other colors. It was kinda creapy.
I always got little buggers outside.
Rember tomaoto juice bath if you get hit by one i think ahhh
good documentary
I just watched parts 1, 2 and 3. This is good.
I like that it shows that it can be done with a wife and 2 kids.
Too bad this guy didn't take the LHBA course. He would have saved himself a lot of work and money...and him and his wife would have made great LHBA'ers.
I find it interesting that by doing something like this you re-connect with nature and all her beauty..even if you are not trying to. Once you unplug from the modern world, a new and better world emerges and it is a world that everyone falls in love with. I noticed how the kids easily made the transition and that is really inspiring.
And yes, you can see what happens when winter comes... you have to make huge adjustments.... or else...and lessons come hard and fast.
In the video, he said something that I often say..."this isn't for everyone".
He also talks about how overwhelming it can be..and I agree...as sometimes I often wonder if I am doing the right thing. But I don't dwell on it and I continue onwards following my heart and its desires. That is why I often look back at what I have accomplished and I feel good about that. If one constantly looks at what HAS to be done it can easily eat a person up. That is why I posted my past years work on my land (tipi living thread) and took a step back to see what I have done. I think Dave (Rocklock) did a similar thread and many other folks post their progress as they go along. It really is mentally therapeutic and keeps a person motivated.
As more and more people take on this challenge and show others it can be done, more and more people will be inspired to do the same.... because it IS possible.
light your fire,
Kola
Kids
Yes, you bring up a good point. I've repeatedly heard the excuse of the kids, as a reason not to make such a change. Their school, their friends, they'll get upset, etc. I don't buy it. I believe kids are far more resilient to change than adults. Sure, they may get upset to loosing friends, (who wouldn't) but they recover and adapt incredibly fast. There is also a bit of fear of the unknown. (the same apprehension us adults suffer as well) But kids also thrive on change as well. Les and his wife recognize the needs of their children magnificently, and no doubt made their transition smooth as possible.
Yes, I thought the same thing about wishing he knew about LHBA before he started, but he also was on a time crunch, so I understand his decision. Les is a survivalist, but I don't think he's much of a builder, which he freely admits in the show. (I just wish I were there before the electrician put the light switch behind the boy's bedroom door!!!)
Also, I found it funny that they refer to grid power as "hydro." I'm assuming that means hydro-electric power, unless it's the name of the supplier.
i like what i could watch but frezze to much
Look, listen and learn
Im Your Huckleberry!
Keep Rocking With Dokken!
Verzion frezze up to much for me wath it and it was drive me nuts.
I was thinking would not let my kid fish where there killer wales becuse you ever seen them jump out the water and grab in prey in mid air.
Those things are no joke and i did wath a show on sharks this no bs they have ramed boats and sunk them.
It was a dollar store we got a thing on sharks and they also jump out of water and ram small boats.
I love see the utbes some times they load fast and some times they go slow dial ups.
Bear grills what a joke and a fake i heard so much on his fake show.
Ok cool shows Rod
with the wifi here, the
with the wifi here, the utube vid loaded quickly and the picture was very clear.
kola