The paradox of the modern homesteading movement | General Homesteading Discussion | Forums

not surprised one bit tbh.

listen, we're so far removed from how life was lived in the 50's/60's, hell even the 80's, that none of this surprises me. when most grown MEN don't know how to change a tire or their cars oil yet 30 years ago EVERY guy knew how to do that kind of stuff society is in trouble.

and tending a small hipster garden in williamsburg or raising a few rabbits/chickens/pigs in the burbs isn't going to somehow make young men and women experts on the various homesteading/self-sufficient ways of life.

we've spent the better part of the last 30+ years running as fast as physically possible in the opposite direction our grandparents ran...culturally/financially/etc. a few articles on the web, posts on facebook/pinterest/tumblr aren't going to effect the cultural change necessary to reverse the trend. its going to take AT LEAST one or two generations doing the opposite to undue the damage done by the egomaniacal baby boomers and their compatriots.

honestly, i have no idea.

i think it starts at home. i was blessed to be raised by a dad that worked heavy construction his entire life, built 5 homes from the time he was 15 through his early 30s, was originally from a farm in kentucky so i was never allowed to forget my roots and as a result i'm now passing those ideals down to my sons. my dad has zero desire to send/receive emails or surf the web.

my mom was the same. her roots are tied to her immigrant grand parents that made the trip through ellis island. canning goods, mending clothes, home cooked meals 95% of the time, etc are all things i was brought up on.

now, contrast all of that with my wife that was raised completely opposite of the way i was. my mom has taught my wife, over the last 10+ years, how to cook certain meals, can goods, sew, mend minor wounds on kids, etc.

i hope to pass all of those things down to my kids and their friends.

imo it starts at home and goes from there. people that are into self-sufficiency need to understand that its okay to be proud of what you do, but not to the point that you're a completely over the top prepper. that turns off 10X as many people as being conservative in your approach.

as sad as this may sound, its going to take a national/worldwide disaster with hundreds of millions, if not billions, of casualties for people to figure out whats really important. we're all so distracted these days that i think most people have either completely forgotten or just don't know (because they were never taught) whats important. imo its family, friends and community. thats what matters.

i know a lot of baby boomers and gen x'ers like to point to the parents in the 50's/early 60's and mock and make fun because in SOME cases family life was dysfunctional and crazy, but everyone still put on the happy face when pictures were taken.

well guess what, do they really think things are better NOW? i don't. i'm not saying i think we should bring back jim crow and women making 50% for the same work, but for christs sake, should it really be a crime to collect rain water or do we really think a divorce rate over 50% is a good thing?

now i'm rambling...forgive me...lol

exactly.

i can't tell you how irate i get when i hear people talking the kardashians, American Idol, etc then want to lecture me on politics/economics/cultural differences/etc.

i think we're going to run into one of a few different scenarios in the USA, but the one i'll focus on is relavent to CA. in the event of a major earthquake similar to the one in the early 1900's in Frisco or the one in Alaska in the 1970's 90% of california is screwed. like, no food/water/medicine for a month or two screwed. thats what i "prep" for. not one person in my office on my floor of 120 is concerned AT ALL about a major quake. even after we all saw what happened in Louisana (complete lack of prep by the governor/mayors) people here still think the State/Feds will take care of them.

that scares the shit outta me. i honestly believe if we get a massive 8.0 or 9.0 we're going to see people dead/dying in the streets within a week to two weeks. thats when shit will get real and those of us that prepped even a little bit will be okay.

at the end of the day people are too comfortable. in literally every facet of their life, too comfortable. i'm not saying the web is the devil, hell i wouldn't be here talking to you without it. but sometimes its okay to do things the old fashioined way...and thats what i believe is missing from todays society. getting your hands dirty and understanding the benefit/zen/value of a days hard work at home/in the garden/garage/etc.

wow, there it is.

but sometimes its okay to do things the old fashioned way...and thats what i believe is missing from todays society. getting your hands dirty and understanding the benefit/zen/value of a days hard work at home/in the garden/garage/etc