Surviving like an 11th Century farmer

I came across this article from Aeon magazine on Twitter, shared by my friend Jen Maidenberg. Have a read - I think the author really needs to hear the word "Permaculture"... CLICK HERE

I agree. Cool article.
john S
PDX OR

It sounds like he's struggling to survive, but doesn't realise the potential in what he has got. Indeed, he sounds exactly the sort of chap who could benefit greatly from being a hermit curmudgeon host to a young enterprising permapprentice who could hook up with some of the farmers nearby also.

Man, that guy is me, right down to the tension between hours spent at the computer maintaining what's left of my income and finances, and hours spent outside with hand tools learning how to eat from this land in case the ladt of the income fails.

I'd like like to have beers with that man.

I wonder how Keith Ferrel is getting on now?

I picked my spots to make my stands, to preserve in certain areas at least something of the sense of a farm, of what a farm is, what it provides. I did my best to keep the areas nearest the house – the yard and even a stretch that could honestly be called a lawn – neat and mowed. I put in a vegetable garden closer to the house than the big garden had been.

An 11th century farmer wouldn't have wasted his time (and space) on a lawn! Maybe a meadow for winter feed though. It is definitely easier with company.