Michelle Gillian

I have had to take a news fast for my mental health, I am also on a social media fast- these feeds have become as divisive as the news and only seem to want to generate anger and angst. Of course I do keep my personal art and herbalism pages very clean!

r ranson wrote:

A powerful video looking at where we are today, productivity, and hobbies.

One line I especially liked was how hobbies are supposed to be part of our life where it's safe to be terrible at something, experiment, mess about, and just do it for ourselves.

It breaks my heart to think of the grind culture. I got caught up in it when I worked for younger people because they saw my talent as something that should be exploited. I tried to make their vision work and gradually became unable to paint anything. Once I realized that I don't have to monetize anything and stepped away from what every other person thought I "should" be doing, I found my love of painting again.

The biggest problem with a social media driven world is there is no lack of others telling us what we should be doing and how we're worthless if we don't follow them. How exhausting is that! I love that I can come to Permies and find gentle, hardworking souls who are making their own little corners of the world beautiful.

I love all the tree talk in this post! This year trees have been my focus. I have been collecting a variety of native fruiting trees that we will share with the wildlife- rather, we hope the wildlife will share with us! They usually get off with everything!
So far I've put in 4 American Elder (s. canadensis), a mulberry (morus rubra), and I've sprouted 3 oaks, not sure the genus but they have big round acorns with a rough jacket.
My passion project in our home has been to heal the land from some previous owner spreading asphalt across 1/4 of the backyard. I grow that area as a meadow in the spring and summer, with lots of nitrogen fixers, the blacktop is almost broken down. At least we have nice space for pollinators and some bunny families nest in the tall grass.

I prefer to be able to shop than try to grow everything. Since I have to work full time, I use our local farm store. I feel good knowing I'm supporting small, local farmers. I am sad that I live in 1/2 acre and its going to waste- mostly. I could not maintain the amazing food garden the previous owners built.  I let the weeds grow for the wildlife and I am growing some cold weather veg on my back deck.
We all do what we can in the ways it makes sense for us.
This year I am planting trees, fruits, nuts, whatever I can get in the ground!

I agree with the idea that we are creatures of habit. At work I am ravenous by 11 am, this has been my work lunchtime for decades. But on the weekends and other time away from the office I don't notice hunger until the early afternoon.

My biggest question with this is I have heard you need new fuel for exercise. Once I lamented that my body is carrying plenty of fuel for a workout, so why do I get so hungry afterward? I would love to burn off this old fuel!

I would love to make a home for bees in my garden, but do I have to collect honey? Or could I just let them all bee?

Great topic! I tend to shape my wardrobe based on my current life interests. I work in a professional office so I need nice office clothes, I also love to hike and need sturdy clothes that can get dirty. Plus, we just bought a home with a garden, and I am finally able to realize my dream of urban homesteading (YAY!!), fortunately many of my older hiking things can be worn in the garden.
Having an intention when designing your capsules will definitely help, I do appreciate that you need sturdy, durable fabrics. Looking into thrifting and resales is a great way to stock up too. Sewing is in danger of becoming a lost art, so I'm cheering you on in that art!
Having basic color schemes will make for a cohesive wardrobe but remember to save space for those "out there" items that make your heart sing!
Cheers!

Chicken TV is my favorite channel!!

I have so many books that I start and never finish. Braiding Sweetgrass was the first book I read cover to cover in quite some time. I even got my favorite local book seller to carry it. I often describe Braiding Sweetgrass as a love letter to Gaia.
Kimmerer is both a scientist and a tree hugger, proving that we can be both and the earth is the better for it.

Jay, to your discussion, I was raised during the clean your plate era, and have had struggles with my weight as an adult, as well as eating way too much to avoid waste. In relearning habits, I am thankful for the options now of gifting the chickens and the compost heap and worms. The pendulum swings and we are moving from wanting too much to knowing that we need just enough.

Hi Kate! Welcome. I'm interested in reading your book to see how I can adapt it to living the van life as a nomad. I'll be as off grid as one can be while traveling the country. Heading over to buy it now.