Book Review-The Good Life

It was the summer of 97 when I picked up The Good Life by Helen and Scott Nearing and it has been one of the most influential books in my life.


The Good Life is the journey of Helen and Scott during 60 years of self sufficient living. The first part of the book provides details of their move from the city and the establishment of their Vermont farm. The second half of the book is about them leaving Vermont and starting fresh in Maine. Their journey begins in 1932 when Scott was 49 and Helen was 28.


For the most part the book is simply written. They have put a lot of thought into their beliefs and how they choose to live. In the book they share their experiences in building stone houses, gardening to feed themselves, maple syrup production and heating with wood. At times the book can be a little technical and drawn out but I wonder when I am actually trying to do these things if I won't have a greater appreciation for the amount of details they provide.


What amazes me the most is how clearly they saw the direction society was heading. They raise issues of pesticide use, the western diet and the use of fossil fuels long before these were concerns making the news. Instead of following the crowd they forged their own path and with hard work they created their version of a good life.


I don't know that I would recommend trying to duplicate their lives for most people.They were incredibly motivated and disciplined. They did not consume meat, tobacco or alcohol. However they were able to live without debt, or any of the health problems that plague society today. Scott lived to the age 100 and Helen the age of 91. While they worked hard they worked only 4 hours a day on "bread labour"(work directed to meet shelter, food, clothing requirements) which left time for intellectual pursuits, recreation and community service. They were also able to travel frequently.

Each year I reach for The Good Life, usually in the spring when my mind turns towards planting a garden. I know that I will never be able to give up some of the comforts and little luxuries that bring me joy but I do find inspiration in their words. We may not need to go to the extreme that they went but we also don't need to keep up with the neighbours. Every year when I pick up this book I am reminded of who I am at the core, what I believe and my dreams for the future. It brings me hope knowing that there are others out there pursuing alternative paths towards a good life.

Meditating With Trees

Written October 5

Meditation is something that I have never been able to fully grasp as much as I want to. I get it in theory but as much as I try I have never been able to completely let go and meditate. The closest I come is a sort of walking meditation;hiking along a trail amongst the trees and woodland creatures.

Currently we are living on 133 acres in the woods of Quebec. Those 133 acres are surrounded on one side with crown land and Gatineau Park on another. My husband has commented that when we sell our place back home we should try to buy this place. I don't disagree. This has made me wonder, how long would it take for me to get to know all 133 acres? On the surface it's just trees, thousands of trees but each day as I walk my dogs, help my husband chop wood, or go to the lake and take the canoe out we make new discoveries. Each little area has it's own character, own personality.

As I look out the window beside my computer just beyond the porch is a little wooded area that I have seen but not yet explored. It is covered with mostly maples, leaves golden and amber. The October sun breaks through the forest canopy making patterns on the ground. I walk out there with a warm mug of spiced cider. I stroll for about 50 feet then reach a somewhat gradual slope down to a stream. Halfway down the hill there is a big old tree lying sideways in some stage of decomposition. It is covered in moss and mushrooms. When my children were little we knew all the wonderful things in the forest covered in moss were where the fairy folk lived. This old tree is most certainly a fairy castle with it's moss towers reaching for the sky. There are several large rocks on the way down some with moss, some without. About three of them are the perfect size and shape for one to have a seat. As I sit, I really take in my surroundings. The air is crisp today. There is a breeze that whispers winter won't be long. The ground is carpeted with fallen leaves. I notice pieces of white birch bark on the forest floor yet see no birch tree in sight. There are several chipmunks scampering here and there chattering while they work.

I'm wondering if I should go down and cross the stream to investigate the other side when my husband comes out with one of the dogs. Not one to sit and watch trees he is clearing the stream of old leaves, sticks and other waste within a few minutes of his arrival. Immediately there is a difference. The stream goes from a trickle to a flow. You can hear the water cascading over the rocks more clearly with each handful of debris he removes. I go down to have a look. The water is clear. I wait expectantly hoping to see minnows or a frog but not today. There is a pine tree at the edge of the stream;perhaps I will decorate it for Christmas with popcorn and cranberries for the chipmunks and birds. Although the area seems strangely absent of birds. As I walk back to my rock part of me wishes my children were still young so we could race acorn boats down the stream. Maybe I will ask them anyway, they may be up for it.

Every day here is fresh and new. Just as each person has a story each place has its story. There are trees that have stood on this land for a few hundred years. They have stood while the people who have passed through have known love, anger, happiness and despair. They will continue to stand long after I am gone. But for now they give me the greatest sense of peace. Is this a kind of meditation? I don't know and maybe it doesn't matter. What I do know is that no matter what else is going on in the world while I am in the woods, whether it is this little piece or the one I will discover tomorrow, my body, mind and soul are in complete harmony.

A Demon at the Window

One thing I did not take into consideration about moving into the country is the appearances of random four-legged creatures that are in need of a home. Of course this has already happened to us and I immediately remembered reading of a farm lady saying how people would just drop their unwanted pets off in the country and leave them.

As I worked on the computer late one night bright yellow eyes peered in the window beside me. Only the eyes were visible and it looked like a little demon watching me. His meows pleaded with me to let him in. Those who know us know that at any given time there is usually a large assortment of furry friends we share our home with. These creatures always come to us from animal shelters or friends who can no longer keep them and we are currently bursting at seams with animal friends.

This little demon is black with gold markings. I had planned to call him Demon but as he is the sweetest little thing it just seemed too unkind. I have taken to calling him Merlin. We can't let him into the house due to some of the other pets but have allowed him shelter in the barn although he seems to prefer the porch. We feed him daily and every day he tries his best to win a place in the house even going as far as befriending our two huskies Loki and Sylvia. He is the most affectionate little fellow and truly wants nothing more than to cuddle up on someone's lap.

We have looked at sending him to a shelter but they are all so full right now so he stays with us and we do the best we can. I do hope this kind of thing doesn't happen often. We would love to find him a real home so if anyone knows of a place where he would be welcome he would make a great addition to any family.

Hello

One of my professors has encouraged us to start different blogs, so here I am.

Two months ago we moved to the woods of Quebec, approximately 45 minutes outside of Gatineau. We are in a log house built in the 1840s that is on 133 acres. Those 133acres are surrounded by Gatineau Parc on one side and crown land on another. I have always been interested in sustainable living so while we are here we will experiment with different aspects of it until we are able to do it for "real"

This is where I will keep track of our daily adventures.
Warm Wishes
Denise