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,…
Hooligan Incorporated
No, that’s not really the name I chose, but it should have been if you know me at all! Yes, I bowed to the Man, and am fully planning to register a Closed Corporation. It’s basically a “lite” company, in the sense that it also protects me as an individual, but is not as heavily…
To monetize or not to monetize… that is the question!
Almost every book or article or blog (!!!) that I have read about blogging makes a big fuss about monetizing one’s blog, either by affiliate marketing or by allowing advertisements. Frankly, I do not like either of these ideas – the one seems extremely contrived, with SEO and blog articles that are designed around…
Too big for the box
Let’s start off with some good news. I have found out today that I should have more than adequate funds to launch my backyard farmstead IF I take it slowly and not splurge on wants before I can safely afford them. I won’t be rich by any conventional definition of the word, but I won’t…
Committing myself to a Permaculture lifestyle: booking an online PDF course
The moment one commits oneself, it is indeed true that Providence moves, too! I have set aside the month of May to take stock of my current situation in life and design a way forward. I know where I would like to be in 5 years’ time, but until now, the path to get there…
I have a shop!!!
I will let you in on a little secret… as of last weekend, I have a shop on this blog of mine! But before you start jumping up and down and wondering where you have last seen your credit/debit card, I must also confess that it isn’t operational. Yet. I have opened a (free) account…
Damaged People
In 1992, the movie Damaged came out, starring Juliette Binoche and Jeremy Irons. It was a heavy movie, with dark themes, including incest. The movie was based on a similarly-titled book, by Josephine Hart, and there is a quote from the book (and the movie) that I have come across quite often: “All damaged people…
Getting inspired and getting going
Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative and creation, there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one…
Building some savings
First off, I have to confess that I have never really given thought to the idea of building a nest egg for whatever reason. After all, my debt is entirely manageable and I contribute extra to both my employers’ pension fund and my bond. And yes, that’s cringeworthy in itself. Why? Because I am a…