some space...

What are the necessities for creating a closer and more intimate relationship with nature? A walk or hike is a nice temporary escape and exchange that can last from a few minutes to months but I am interested in making a permanent change to have a relationship that is continuous and ongoing. What does that take? First and foremost for me, it means living on a piece of land that accommodates the ability to feel the weather, know the season, have your daily life be affected by your natural surroundings and more importantly, see the hopefully positive effect you have on those same surroundings. I can only speak for myself but I just need space big enough to feed my family, have some privacy, and be able to stand outdoors and not have the sound of society interfering with what all of the other inhabitants of the world have to say. I have never liked the idea of land being something that you have to buy or own. How does one own a piece of land? I have always felt that, if anything, the land owned us... but I digress. Unfortunately, the days of homesteading are over and squatting is not an option here in the states. Depending on what your needs are, a reasonable piece of land where I live doesn't cost a whole lot. Not to shortchange the colossal act of buying a piece of property but I am going to skip the technicalities here and jump ahead... So you buy some land and then what? I figure at first it is a place to go camping on weekends. Perhaps you explore and experience the space for a while and see how it lives, how the seasons come an go there, where the sunny spots are, and so on. I think a responsible tenant of the land should live with the land for a little bit and get to know it. Only then would you know where your place is in its space. And thus, the relationship begins...

Community

The basic idea and motivation behind this space is to learn. By our sharing ideas and thoughts about living a life more connected to our natural surroundings i hope to learn and I hope to help others learn. There is a huge community of people out there that are interested in the same basic idea. I really want us to connect and share. The reasons for living closer to nature and the degree to which you do it are too numerous to count. Some people are wanting to live more in harmony with the land to be closer to a Creator, some are doing it as preparation for the end of society. Some people are just searching for a simpler way of living, the reasons are as varied as the people that live this way. I have learned so much practical information from both hardcore survivalists and gritty homesteaders alike and although the philosophy and motivation behind their actions may differ, the information is almost identical. It is all very useful and this is where I am going to bring it all together and organize it both for myself and hopefully for others. My bookmark menus are full and it is time to organize and clean house.