When I tell people that I want to buy property in Ukraine and move there as soon as the war is over, they look at me with a strange expression, as if they are unsure of the polite way to tell me that I have completely lost my marbles. Then I show them the photographs!…
Category: Sustainability
Release the Hooligan!!!
It’s 3 January 2023, the start of a brand new year. Most traditions have this image of the “OLD year” (an old man) handing over the torch to the “NEW year” (depicted by a baby). Well, this is how my year started… I had a “key scare” this morning. My work keys got lost,…
Back to the drawing board… or is it the dot-grid notebook???
Now that NaNoWriMo is done and dusted, I can bring my thoughts back to my backyard farm somewhere in Europe. It’s actually much less of a hassle than people think it is, but the one thing that I have since learned is that “doing it myself” is not only a myth but a sin, straight…
And so it begins… Strengthening my resolve
No, dear readers, I have not forgotten my original dream of buying a small house on a large property and turning it into a backyard homestead. On the contrary, that dream is stronger than ever before, combined with the desire to support neighbors and local businesses as much as possible. And – well, duh! –…
If you could read my mind, Love…
Good morning, B! Yes, I’ve heard. T told us. Don’t blame him. I think he needed to share his feelings, too. Feeling helpless is horrible. No matter the circumstances.
Qualified Permaculture Designer, at your service!
The shouting happened yesterday morning when I opened my e-mail box! I first let my boss’s boss know, as he was hugely instrumental in the success of my project, encouraging me every step of the way, inquiring about my progress, and also helping me secure the necessary permissions for the final project plans. And then…
A few thoughts on a sustainable lifestyle
Sustainability is a word bandied about a lot by corporations who wish to “greenwash” their operations. Unfortunately, any operation using a finite resource can – by definition – not be considered sustainable, no matter how pretty it’s dressed up. To be truly sustainable, the components of a system must produce more energy than they consume…
A small step towards a more self-sufficient life: preparing for a PDC course
I am busy preparing to take a Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC) course, offered by Tom and Zaia Kendall of PermEco in Australia. It’s an online course, and even though their courses and other activities are donation-based, I have still paid what I would have paid to take the same course here in South Africa. To…
Bundu, bashed!
All fired up, I contacted a friend who had spent many years based in Maun, Botswana, as a bush pilot. Mostly to ask him about what to take on a viewing trip. And then he gave me the bad news… Foreigners are not allowed to own property in Botswana. Even citizens are only allowed to…
A twist, a translation and an energy boost in (what I feel is) the right direction
First, the background. I am a 44-year-old Afrikaner woman, currently working for the local government in Rustenburg, South Africa. I would like to start a small Permaculture-based homestead/backyard farm, and as South Africa has become increasingly hostile to farmers and smallholders alike, I am seriously considering bringing my energy and resources, such as they are,…