Encouraging skills, omg yes! Just think about the vast diversity of skills, abilities, knowledge, insights etc a community holds, most of these not really being used in the community setting. I have dreams of our entire parish assessing all local resources and using them in the most wholesome possible way. We have enough of everything; woodland, some streams, pasture, arable land, Jersey cattle, horses, barns for winter food storage etc . Even an old water mill, which i'm sure can be reinstated with the input from local people. There could be a kitchen hub, both for folks who love to cook, love company, and for those who can't or don't like to cook. Education would have to change, too; can't after all anyone learn from anyone and anything? Choose one's own "teachers", any age, any background... There are healers among us, too. Etc etc. Making inroads on this turns out to be tricky but, as one who doesn't "own" a scrap of land, my parish allotment is bursting with plants (an extensive range of herbs, forageables, heirloom veggies (many perennials), fruits, also mushrooms both in the ground and on logs) waiting to be shared with those who wish to live more in line with Creation. Own seed saving also very important, as down the generations the seeds will become better adapted to local conditions. This is nigh on impossible on allotments, what with neighbouring plotters growing a diversity of varieties that will inter-pollinate and produce mostly inferior seed. Pests and diseases too are rife, so looking at our entire parish we could greatly reduce these problems by having a dozen or so separate veg growing areas; if something doesn't do so well in one patch, we'll still have produce from other patches. Why on earth hand over the fulfilment of our basic survival needs to unknown 'others' anyway??? Thank you all for your work and for haring, it makes me feel less alone. 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽 🌳🕊💚
It occurs to me that these principles and methods of living are things we learn must learn and they are not things we teach. (mainly due to the worship of money)
