Daphne Rose

Wow, just today I was cutting firewood when I noticed one of the logs had a heart-shaped cross section. So I made some coasters.
No tools needed besides a bow saw. These can be used for a lot of things.

I have many candidates for food including rhubarb, oak, brambles, apples(including crab apples- best apple butter!) and ramps but can I include a nonfood use? Maple trees are amazing firewood producers. In our household, maple trees provide almost all of our home heating and cooking fuel needs, and I use a bow saw and have never had to cut a living tree.

Some ideas.
Low-impact hobbies like writing, drawing, cooking, baking and knitting can provide entertainment in addition to fulfilling actual physical needs.
Mending your own clothes, and wearing natural fibers.
Foraging is a really good one. Even with limited resources you can learn to forage much of your vegetables, fruit, and herbs. If you have more time and the right equipment, try nuts and acorns. Learning to preserve food makes a big difference too. I’m about to make jam out of around 10 pounds of frozen wild raspberries I picked last year.
Taking a walk or going to a local spot instead of driving far for experiences. There’s so much to be found locally wherever you are. Also consider
“staycations” instead of typical vacations.
Learning to cook from scratch, and with bulk
staples, cannot be overrated!
Same with thrifting and salvaging household items.
Of course, there’s a lot more actions I could name- mostly big ones, and probably things most Permies are already working on. But these are some of my big tips. And these are things almost anyone can do, and besides helping the environment, can save you money and help you maintain good health!

leila hamaya wrote:love greta.
yeah ok she's young, she hasnt figured out how complicated things can be, how most people are doing the best they can, and etc. i cant wait to see where she comes to once she matures.
agreed,  it would be great if she finds permaculture and related ideas.
for now she's the child whos calling out the emperor on his lack of clothes - crystal clear - definitely an old soul.
i dont see any acting here at all - this is 110% sincere, in a way most humans arent brave enough to express.

couldn’t agree more. Greta is such an inspiration to me

Also, I forgot to mention, I’m working on a regional plant and animal list for NW Michigan where I live. (Strictly species I personally found)
I have dozens of rare plants and animals( including a wild cougar I saw) on the list( too many to share in this post) And by the way I don’t use
AI for anything.

I’m doing some serious art(drawing), song writing, and fiction writing. 2023 and 24 were rough years for me (long story) and I didn’t have much inspiration to do creative stuff… I recently (re) discovered my calling as an artist and writer. All my works are still in progress… thinking of becoming a published writer/artist.

I use a bow saw to cut firewood. I usually go for 2-6 inch thick logs, which is the ideal for our woodstove. It’s very easy to cut small wood such as shown in the video. Personally I would use that over an axe. It’s more ergonomic and much less dangerous. It only takes a few seconds to cut through a log of that size.

M Ljin wrote:Being a ruminant who can digest roughage could be a good one!

I don’t know- for me, maybe being able to breathe underwater, or fly,-or honestly, on a less fantastical note, just being better at drawing, or climbing trees(apples!) I don’t know if those count as superpowers, but… they do to me.

Although, being able to digest roughage? No thanks… ruminants have to spend most of their days eating to get energy from roughage. I can’t spend my life munching grass. And, you would have multiple stomachs? Doesn’t seem like a very good idea for a human.not to mention, I think roughage seems rather icky.
LoL

We have over 3 feet of snow in some areas. The temp has been very cold. Usually -15 to 0 fahrenheit at night and 0-10 in day. It’s quite unusually cold. Although I don’t really mind it, I have been having to cut a lot of extra firewood to keep up with the cold.

M Ljin wrote:I think the best permie car is the one someone else is taking in the same direction you want to go.

I have never ridden one, but I have always thought that for a single person or couple, a motorcycle seems like a good option for efficiency. There is so much less bulk to it than to a car. I also believe that one should have adequate winter clothing as a rule (which for many might make certain forms of transport more daunting). I assume you could reasonably attach a trailer to it for hauling sawdust, wood, manure, etc. around.

I don’t really believe there are any convincingly “better” cars environmentally speaking. It seems to me like trying to have your cake and eat it too. I do think we can radically cut down on our transportation needs by living sanely, using our brains and being prepared, especially in winter time.

Yes, I do think, the most “permie car” is one that is used less, shared among more people. Walking and biking are more eco-friendly. For a disabled or sick person, a rickshaw ride would work. Canoes are good too. Although, nowadays things tend to be spread out to the point where it’s hard to live totally without cars. It’s definitely true, by being prepared and localizing economic activity, the need for cars can be done away with. But, it’s not always straightforward. And it takes collective effort.