Susan Mené

paul wheaton wrote:Another angle to all of this:  There may be a thousand different philosophies about what things will look like in two years.  Therefore, a thousand different suggestions for the woman considering a return to college.  It is clear that there are some that are thinking what I am thinking, and they are saying "don't."

And when it comes to how to prepare for two years in the future, I feel like the core is:  a humble home and a large garden.

I want to go a little further and say:   for 30% of the population, a humble home and a large garden is a massive life improvement for nearly any scenario two years in the future.  It's just basic math.  

   A humble home and a large garden seems to be a wise goal for anyone.  I think that knowing how to do things without technology can provide skills for when/if technology takes over many jobs.  
    Debate always exists, but it's not an efficient means for solutions when dealing with unknowns.  None of us knows exactly what this future will look like.  
      So from that point of view, a solution could (must?) be to start with the children.  Instead of hard-core STEM education, teach also sustainability, the science of soil and gardening, and life skills.  And from the view of sustainability and practicality, skip the government and offer it ourselves.  I know all the "why-we-can't-do-that's".  One can't do it alone, but a community can.  
   People don't know there are options like boot camp. The young are still open and curious and open to ideas. Now this is not a solid business plan, organized vision, detail oriented solution.  But it's an answer.

     
   

John C Daley wrote:What are these please.

We have some ROCs here in our state already and hopefully there will be more

I found this:
https://rocusa.org/why-resident-ownership/

Lina Joana wrote:

Susan Mené wrote:
    I am living kind of like Gert; Gert in densely populated suburbia.  I aspire to be full Gert. Can I grow all my own food? Nope, not yet, working on it on my shy acre. I forage, I pressure can/water bath can, I make my own bread when I want it, make "yarn" from old clothing and crochet into mediocre rugs and blankets among other skills that seem useless to the outside world. Leaning into, immersing myself, living permaculture and homesteading in place is my new career.  I know where my money is if I need it.
     
   

I am curious how you achieve this? As I said, I haven’t seen any real life examples of gert.
My understanding of the gert story is that she doesn’t need a paycheck, doesn’t need to work hard most of the year, because she just doesn’t have big expenses and can save money from selling a bit of her easily grown food.  How does it work in suburbia? You mentioned growing and foraging and making rugs - how about water, power, garbage bills? Repairs to the (presumably mortgage free) house? Internet/phone bills? Transportation costs?
I am really curious: my family recently went down to one income, with a toddler I stay home with. I garden, can, cook, haul ass to use wood heat, and do various fiber arts. Seems like we are getting ahead, and then the pressure tank breaks, the wood stove’s baffle is broken, the solar panels don’t cover our electricity usage, the baby needs a hospital visit that reinforces the need for health insurance, and a dozen other little things come up.
I don’t want to suggest we are struggling - one income is enough for our current lifestyle. But gert, we aren’t even close. Either in finances or in the time we spend putting up our own food and all the rest of it. Heck, I can’t even keep the dishes done after all the cooking.
I would love to here how others manage!

     
     Be very proud of yourself!  In my opinion, and this is only my opinion, of value only to me, and not official gert policy and procedure:  You are Gert, way more than me!  And thanks for addressing the overwhelming exhaustion of facing the clean-up after cooking, canning, etc. That is solid truth, so holler it and don't hide it!  I feel it and I don't have a toddler. Everything you do everything while having a toddler besides?  Woman, you are living the Gert life, with all the struggles and joy involved. Getting to a fully stable Gert takes time, luck, and work and you are living the path to achieving it.
      How do I do it?  I'm decades older than you.  My children are grown. We have a nest egg.  So, I guess I am an early retirement Gert-ish woman.  My husband works and always will, because what he does is a calling, not a job. And when I list what I do (canning, etc.) it's not bragging, it's just stuff I learned over the years because I knew what I wanted my life to look like.  
        Be gentle with yourself. I worked part-time as a nurse, plus I was the home anchor for my husband, my daughter, and my wonderful neurodiverse son.  There was probably a decade where I was, well, can't even find the words. Let's just say there was no bread making going on.  
        Oh, the struggle is a difficult, painful, yet achingly beautiful time of life.  At least for me it was.  I don't believe there is any way of life free of struggle and imperfection.  So let the life that you live be all that you need. That to me is Gert.  If I offend the originators of the term, I will give it a new name. And know you are doing well!
         

Wonderful achievement!  Congratulations!

    Here on Long Island, we have trucks pick up recyclables once a week.  Glass and plastic (#1-#5) one week, alternating with paper and cardboard.  The problem is that we don't know where these truckloads of plastic are going since other countries have stopped taking our trash and we don't know how to efficiently do anything with it here in the USA.  Now  I focus on buying/using as little plastic as possible and avoiding single-use items.

paul wheaton wrote:

Susan Mené wrote:      We all wandered down the wrong path, I guess.  Just to clarify, What solutions were were you looking for? Solutions to get more people into permaculture, or skip, or ERE. or FIRE?  Or was it more personal to your situation, like getting people into bootcamp?  Or raising awareness of what is to come and the need for society to rapidly shift the definition of success? Or expanding permaculture communities?
     My original response was suggesting that aside from working the land, both hands-on and compassion type life callings are largely robot proof.  And will be needed/beneficial in all communities.
 

Suppose 70% of jobs are gone.  

Without exploring politics and what the world will be like ...   I am attempting to explore what does permaculture provide as solutions.  

My brain seems thoroughly stuck in "gertitude".   A humble home and a huge garden.  

My brain also offers up the automatic backyard food pump.  

My brain also turns to how to get land.  SKIP.  Bootcamp.  

I am thinking that there are a dozen more things to add to this list, but I am so biased with my own stuff, maybe I cannot see it.

Thanks, Paul for clarifying.
          Reading your OP over and over made me think that maybe we don't need more solutions, but ways to awaken people to "real" living and a new perspective on luxury.
          Gert is a huge part--if not the best--answer.  Not sayin' it to stroke your ego.  This is not a situation in which one needs to need to be ringing bells or kissing rings.
          But how to spread the message?  In my experience, the best way to introduce the message of GERT is through through appealing to their tastebuds, stomachs, and wallets.  If I talk about soil, or seed saving, or planting sprouted onions, garlic or potatoes, or the exquisite luxury of getting clean after getting filthy in the dirt, their eyes glaze over.  When I give them homemade raspberry jam made with home grown and foraged berries, a bag of tomatoes or peppers, and do it again, and maybe again, then invite them to "pick their own" while visiting, their minds slowly open, questions get asked, and a few have started their journey into gardening.  So, I feed people to spread the message.  Feeding people in some way, sharing the harvest with food banks, or allowing some supervised gleaning, invite the local TV news team for a meal and a tour: feeding people can be used to inform and inspire interest in skip, bootcamp, Gert, permaculture, and a change in priorities.
    I am living kind of like Gert; Gert in densely populated suburbia.  I aspire to be full Gert. Can I grow all my own food? Nope, not yet, working on it on my shy acre. I forage, I pressure can/water bath can, I make my own bread when I want it, make "yarn" from old clothing and crochet into mediocre rugs and blankets among other skills that seem useless to the outside world. Leaning into, immersing myself, living permaculture and homesteading in place is my new career.  I know where my money is if I need it.
    How many times have I heard, "You know you can buy that in a store, right?".
     I respond with "You know I can grow that myself, right?"
     It definitely makes them think twice.
     
   

     We all wandered down the wrong path, I guess.  Just to clarify, What solutions were were you looking for? Solutions to get more people into permaculture, or skip, or ERE. or FIRE?  Or was it more personal to your situation, like getting people into bootcamp?  Or raising awareness of what is to come and the need for society to rapidly shift the definition of success? Or expanding permaculture communities?
     My original response was suggesting that aside from working the land, both hands-on and compassion type life callings are largely robot proof.  And will be needed/beneficial in all communities.
 

  This is the first year I tried carrots.  What do you all use for companion planting with carrots?
  From what I've read here, I need to plant in sandier soil, which will be easy to do here on Long Island.  I'll seed more heavily too.
   I harvested one carrot this year, and it was somewhat embarrassing!  Keep in mind my husband is a urologist, so it it quite appropriate.