Yvonne Scott

I second (or third or fourth) the idea of a Permies Dating Site. I'm in the older category, healthy, independent, living on my beautiful nine acres in southern Illinois. I don't want to move or move into someone's place. And I'm sure there are many amazing men out there on their homestead who don't want to move either. But we all want some companionship, sharing of resources or at least seeds and transplants, a movie now and then, dinner we prepare together, maybe dancing!!! (COVID really messed that up.) I do peruse the Permies Singles forum but most want to find their 'person' to build their homestead and I applaud that wholeheartedly. It's just not where I am.  If this resonates with others, would love to learn how you're doing the dating thing. Thanks and Happy New Moon!

I’m very happy to learn this little guy IS a dragon—moth. He/she was quite small, barely two inches across wingspread. Thanks Ann for his scientific name. Now to do some more research. Thanks everyone!

A small moth that looks like a miniature dragon was on my porch yesterday outside Carbondale. Is it a menace or not? Sorta cute for what looks like a strange moth.

Hi Blake I’m just getting started with a few elderberries. Bought two varieties Adams and Wilde this year and have some bushes sprinkled around that were already here. I call them Mama Elders. Do I need to worry about cross pollination? Good or bad? Thanks

Hi Barbara!
Great to hear from another potential woman/neighbor. I moved just two miles south of Carbondale in 2020 from New Mexico. I miss the mountains and family there but not 300 days of unrelenting sunshine with 8 inches of rain. I wanted some acreage and an easy house to care for which we landed after just a few months searching online. We were able to hook up with a real estate agent which was so helpful. My 9 acres was purchased about 40 years ago, passed through a couple of owners and this house was completely renovated from a modular home.
As Eric mentioned there are small housing clusters scattered around further from C’dale that will probably be more affordable and with more land than closer in. It’s truly a lovely place to be.
As for medical services it feels like between SIU and Shawnee Health Services I’ve found what I need but I have no major health needs. If you come here to check it out get in touch so we can connect. Maybe we can convene a Southern Illinois group meeting for you!! Keep us posted👍

What a fascinating thread she says as she types out this missive on her iPhone. I realize how my voluntary simplicity differs as I am in a house that came equipped with all new appliances and I’m learning how to be frugal with their use. As a single person of several decades I’m very self sufficient as far as gardening, minor repairs and maintenance, etc. But I’ve got 9 acres I’m reclaiming from autumn olive and honey suckle, setting up a pollinators area and herb garden by myself. I’m a writer so I am lucky that I can immerse myself in this land and that dishwasher and washing machine used sparingly give me more time and energy to create self sufficiency in other areas. I am fortunate that this house was gifted to me so no mortgage and my 10 year old car is paid off long ago. Bravo to all our efforts to tread lightly on Momma Gaia and experience joy in that as well.

Welcome Kathryn!! I’m part of the southern Illinois pirates err Permies group and happy to have you. Grew up in central IL and had a farm in Schuyler County a few decades ago. Would love to connect over lots of topics we share. Have a granddaughter with me for a few weeks to decompress from the big city and too much screen time. She’s stacking wood and doing her art instead😀 Glad to meet you.

Congrats grand papa!! Will be good to meet up and swap baby pics😆
Like to see your cows some day one of my favorite breeds. Wrote a piece for AcresUSA a few years back on a couple in upstate New York raising them and their process for making raw milk cheese.

I'm open to postponing till August. Tim is still waiting on his DIL, rain may bring down the temps hopefully and get some work done, and would not be a full house without John. Early August works better for me. In the meantime, one of my intentions for this group besides getting to know people in the flesh not just on this screen was learning from each other: what your situation looks like as far as land and what you are or hope to do with it; what skills we have that we can share; if you have or will have items to barter or sell; what help you need now or looking ahead i.e. putting up a hoop house or cutting up timber for firewood. You get the idea. Hoping to create a group that can relate and interact with like neighbors even if we're spread out a bit. Also maybe more will find their way to our forum. I wish I could see that the immediate horizon is getting brighter but I feel we'll be in the twilight zone for awhile (this is not a political statement as the problems have been building from different directions for a long time.) As the world turns (and heats up) I want to know who to lean on and who needs support. So while we're figuring out a next face to face, maybe we can do some sharing here in the forum. Give us an overview of the lay of your land. What are long-term and short-term goals, needs, hopes, dreams? Or whatever comes to mind when you think about getting together. And remember: spouses are welcome in this. The more the merrier. Over to you all----

The 27th is good. WF is good. But could we find someplace that also serves ice cream???😋