Self-Sufficiency in Style

November 7, 2002 10:04 AM

Self-Sufficiency in Style is possible, desirable and fun, according to Pat Gardiner, the resident theorist of Hangman's Cottage (in Hangman's Lane, just to the south of Misery Corner, somewhere in Norfolk, England). His amusing monthly diary (Killing for Food and Pleasure is the title of October's entry) and unconventional advice (His advice on inheritance is: don't leave your children anything) are quite addictive. And his essential message doesn't even mention hippies : Self-sufficiency need not be all crankiness and mud, manure, muck and mystery. It may be a return to a frontier spirit for an American, or a yearning for a lost rural idyll for an Englishman.
posted by Carlos Quevedo (4 comments total)

Cool stuff. He mentions 2 things I do allready. Make ice cream and buy meat locally. In both cases I know exactly what Im getting/makeing. The ice cream I make with organic milk and reduced sugar and no chemicals and the beef has less fat than store bought chicken and grass fed no chemicals or hormones. Im looking for a source for Raw Milk (straight from teet) but its highly illegal in MD a controlled substance worse than drugs in its enforcement.
posted by stbalbach at 10:16 AM on November 7, 2002

I like Mr. Gardiner's perspective. Growing your own makes sense even if you're not into organics, tofu, dirt. Back to the land: it's not just for hippies any more.

stbalbach -

Have a look at your local chapter of the Weston A. Price Foundation. In our area the chapter is called the Healthy Traditions Network. Of general interest might be Real Milk.
posted by BinGregory at 11:08 AM on November 7, 2002

very cool stuff! stbalbach, i think you should just raise a cow in your house or apartment.
posted by condour75 at 2:34 AM on November 8, 2002

I like his ideas on inheritance - enjoy your life while you have it, because no-one will thank you for leaving them a few bucks if you acted like a miserable bastard all your life.
posted by dg at 6:02 AM on November 8, 2002