posted 11 years ago
Hello from Norther MI!
My partner and I are explorers (of the mind, spirit and land) looking to join a community that shares our values and where our skills can be of use. We have read about your farm and intentions, and would like to get in contact with somebody to learn more. Here's a little about ourselves first, so you know who you are writing to.
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> My name is Flora Bee, and I am 25 years old. My hobbies and interests include(but are not limited to) crochet, singing, painting, playing the violin, writing (essays, poetry, and stories), playing in general, reading, herbalism, speaking with plants, anthropology, neuroscience, metaphysics and farming. There is a blog that I have not kept up on lately, and it can be found at www.florathefauna.blogspot.com
> The skills that I have built and am looking to share are, baking (5 years professionally), childcare (13 years experience), physical laborer and working with animals (fostered and rehabilitated dogs).
> A summarized version of how I started living as an explorer; Two summers ago I gave up my home, job, and car to work with friends on farms around my area in Michigan. Lived a primitive life style in the woods with my dog, Mukwa, for about two months. Hunting and gathering, making shelters and being completely free. Then, when we(Mukwa and I) started working on a farm again it was decided a hitch hiking adventure was to be had. We made it 200 miles or so, living each day in the moment and letting go of uncertainty to trust in life and love. Eventually came back to my hometown with plans to go further next time. Last summer I did go farther, and this year I am hoping to leave this state and learn through adventure and community.
> My name is Rüs Erikson and I am 26 years old. Over the five years I had been working at an organic farm a few miles away from where I grew up in Wisconsin. Out there, I was entrusted with a lot of the maintenance in addition to the in's and out's of organic vegetable production. It was at the end of the 2012 season that I decided to take a break from the farm and went 'Up North' to camp and hike and canoe this last summer. Although the farm was certified organic it was still a business, one that I slowly learned couldn't adopt a lot of the permaculture principles that I had come value.
> What I seek could be written off as modern/radical homesteading. But, what I feel I'm looking to accomplish is living and growing and creating under my own pretenses, without trying to apply my skills to appeal to 'consumers'. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to share my bounty for profit, or barter, for coffee or wool or some cash for new boots.
> Quite simply, I'm interested in a lot of 'low-tech' trades like metal working and textiles and woodworking and horsemanship. I'm looking for an environment that seeks to cultivate this attitude and lifestyle.
> A little about my skills:
> Academically, I've earned a bachelor's in Horticulture. Also, have a year's worth of education in tool and die design.
> I'm extremely mechanically inclined. In the off-season(winter), I've usually found work in trades like welding, fiberglass application, and woodworking, and operating heavy equipment. Understandably, I was able to take these new skills the farm every year.
> We came together in our travels and are committed to being committed to each other. So now, our sights are set on traveling to a place to share our skills and to live with a community with whom we share values.
> Thank you for taking the time to read this, and we hope to hear from you soon!
> ~Flora & Rüs
homestead that I have been rehabilitating for 30 years now. It started out as a chemically depleted piece of dirt (commercially farmed for years) that I have been able to restore back to 'way-beyond-organic' and probably better than it ever was. I have used biodynamic, organic, and, the biggie, which I give most of the credit to - a tree-trimming business which I ran/owned since before i owned the land and all the tons of wood chips, logs, trunks which were harvested for 30 years have been incorporated into the soil and today my soil profile is possibly some of the best on the planet. I've tried everything from microbial inoculants to sea water to biodynamic preps to cosmic pipes = I love the soil & growing things - not too big on the technology (needed)to promote it although I'm coming around. Today, on the farm, I use Joel Salatin's farm model(s) and have learned a lot from him. Also, Rudolf Steiner has, IMO, the best 'handle' on where the energy needed for running the farm comes from and permaculture seems to incorporate common-sense into farming.
