Rich Rayburn

Hi Tess,
Some would say that woodworking has  been to many, contemplative, intriguing and relaxing, maybe most of all a creative outlet.
Many people including myself prefer hand tools to power tools for most woodworking tasks,  with hand tools you can feel the wood responding to the tool much more than with power equipment. Plus there is the sound of a plane shaving and a saw cutting that is enjoyable.
Liken to hand tools I'll keep my recommendation simple. A couple of books that can be picked up online (quite reasonably) and really explain the world of hand tool usage and early woodworking techniques and projects.

1. THE COMPLETE BOOK OF WOODWORKING, by Charles h Hayward.
2. EARLY AMERICAN FURNITURE YOU CAN BUILD,
By  Fawcett books.

These have been my go-to woodworking books for many many years, the book by Charles Hayward my grandmother bought me when I was 12 years old.
Really got me hooked!!
Happy woodworking!!!

What one word or sentence would you use to describe yourself?

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Yes Paul, there are people out there with similar values, myself included .
Hold that juice up proudly!
Cheers ,
Rick

Hi Jack,
Thanks for your inquiry, I'll send you a purple message in a day or so.
Rick

Sent you a PM

Well for what it's worth , earlier this morning I got a purple message that sent me to a site about "water on the homestead", then I received the same purple message three times and now they all look like purple messages.
Also had some very strange format this morning.
Things seem to be sort of straightened out now.
Cross your fingers!!!😁

Hi Brook,
I'm a little older than you are, 68 to be exact. Although living a simple homesteading life has kept me in pretty good shape..
I'm living on a homestead in Minnesota that has a large acreage and a "creek running through it".
The homestead has no electrical infrastructure and everything is done mostly in the old ways.
It's comfortable once you get it all figured out.
I thought that maybe since you are in Ontario that you might be above Minnesota although it looks like you're located probably further east above lake Erie.
Anyways if you'd like to discuss homesteading on various levels I would be glad to open up a discussion with you.
Sincerely, Rick

I would concur with the first three items listed.
The fourth item concerning a reliable power source is the fly in the self-reliant ointment.
It's true that with an electrical power source you can bring everything with you including the kitchen sink with running water, however any power source needs maintenance, usually high tech replacement parts, and has a limited lifespan and the potential for failure.
To live securely off-grid would really mean to literally unplug, not just from the cultural infrastructure but from all plugs.
There are thousands probably tens of thousands or more people in the United States right now living without electrical power for their daily routines, and I'm thinking that the Amish the Mennonite and other such groups are happy and healthy.
To truly live off grid, takes a lot of planning, commitment and hard work, however though as the above mentioned groups prove every day it can be done quite satisfactorily.
Merely an observation from someone who has had first-hand experience in this area.

Anna Pymander wrote: You're choosing this lifestyle shuts out a lot of the world, including women. Didn't you have a helpmate there at some point?  --- Anna in Portland OR

Hi Anna, I think it's the other way around,  a lot of the world including a lot of women have shut THIS lifestyle out.
Most people have forgotten that up until a hundred years or so ago everyone lived similar to this lifestyle (as the Amish and others still do).
It must have been doable  and comfortable because it made it possible for 8 billion of us to be here now!
Just plain living....