being a leader (and what form that takes)

[alisa fox]

 I have been trying and testing the waters of self sufficiency for a few years now. for the last two I have had "troubles". they were ever present but came to a head last fall. I have waded trough to a bright future filled with goats, sheep, chickens, ducks and of course home schooling my children.

we have never made it to a meeting about anything because we live outside bloomington by about 15 miles.  driving in with my three young children seems unhelpful. Keith's emailed suggestion reminded me of something I said a few years ago;  "I will lead a revolution" not by getting people to follow me but by doing what is good, and necessary before others know its necessary. such is a good leader. those who others emulate, not follow blindly. my mother and sister and husband have followed me into this mire of "what is best here?" we are all producing something and have tried to find what we can to produce much more of when needed.

I think what is in short supply is a way of valuing. food cared for and nurtured, probably should cost more but then I couldn't buy it. as an example I recently had a goat butchered. some friends asked if I had any meat for sale. "no" I said "maybe next time"
..because what my own goat is worth to me is too much to ask others to pay. how much should what you spend years of your life on be worth per pound?... who wants to answer that?       I don't.

if we are to move away from the way we have been then we must first "revalue" everything as Nietzsche put it. then my husbands labor would be more valued and my veggies and meat would be gold as would yours. we can't eat money yet we spend our lives trying to pile it up for future needs. as soon as money is secondary life will resume for us all...

late evening thoughts from a very late back-to-the-land-er

[David McFarland]

Love this. "a way of valuing. food cared for and nurtured..."