With A Little Land

Having a little land is a dream to some and an accomplishment to others. Most of us who own some land know that we can grow food, hunt game, gather firewood, and even forage. While we realize that we can buy groceries and produce at the markets, we are content — even downright happy — that we can provide wonderfully fresh foods for ourselves.

Most of us who do grow our own foods also live sensibly, and within our financial means.  Many of us grow foods that can be preserved for winter meals. We also do our own repairs, our own domestic chores, our own cooking, and we roll up our sleeves and construct our own sheds and barns. Working around the house and on the land is satisfying and fulfills our philosophy of self-reliance. We know that we need to balance our work and our play with some discipline and routines. Working for ourselves we can usually set our own pace, and we are content that we are our own decision-makers.

Living on the path of self-reliance,  we know that we need to accomplish numerous tasks. And there are a variety of these tasks. We are often incorporating the skills of homemakers, cooks, gardeners, chemists, accountants, nurses, caregivers, seamstresses, and repairmen on a personal level.

The more skills that we develop for ourselves, the more independent and self-reliant we are.

Some of us have always lived frugally with a simple lifestyle. And some of us have chosen to downshift and live in a less competitive, more meaningful way. We don’t consider our simple and frugal lifestyles as merely just getting by. We believe our lives are enriched, filled with meaning and purpose. We have incorporated a form of voluntary simplicity because we have seen that the competitive and consumer-based society is empty for us.  We believe that our efforts have allowed for our continuing path of personal independence.

There has been a rebirth of self-sufficiency because many of us understand that there is more to life than chasing a paycheck or hiring someone else to raise the family. Some of us believe that our Nation is heading in the wrong direction and we are trying to do our small part to bring more value and more common sense back into our own lives. We are doing what we can to live by our principles and our value system, to ensure our own personal wealth and happiness.

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Those of us who are attentive to the news and politics are realizing our Nation is in serious trouble. Some of the people who have been living a self-reliant lifestyle have predicted this — and worse. Some believe there will be an economic collapse. Some believe a Shadow Government has been established to strike down our Constitution, fundamentally change American law, and replace it with international laws. Some of us fear more Federal restrictions of small farms and homesteading practices. Where is our Nation heading?

Some of us have been actively planning for a difficult future. Many have been expecting a National disaster of some type. Could there really be a terrorist attack again? Or a serious pandemic? Could America’s economy really collapse?

Each of these questions are frightening, but each situation could occur. Have you seriously considered what you and your family would do? Have you prepared for continued difficult economic times? Are you at all prepared if there were a National emergency? Have you made any back-up plans?

Do you wonder what would happen if our economy worsens? What if you lost your job? Have you made plans for several different scenarios, to prepare for lost wages or a job?

I believe that most common sense people have taken the time to think through, even plan, some what-ifs, but what if we are faced with difficulties that are almost outside of our control?

What if our government were to challenge our liberties and our laws were changed, preventing us from living our lifestyles? What if homesteads were reclassified and zoned as an agricultural business, then taxed because even ‘home produce’ would be considered “goods” that were created? Could you survive this change?

What if the small seed companies were driven out of business by the government and large agri-corporations? Or what will happen when seeds are corrupted by GMO crops? Could you, would you, continue to garden?

And there are the taxes….With the continued job loss, there is less tax revenues to operate locales and states. Services will be cut, more jobs will be lost, and to keep operations running somewhat, taxes will undoubtedly rise. What will happen when all of the  local, State, and Federal taxes increase to offset the tax losses from those who are no longer working? Can you afford to pay more taxes?

What will happen if a “VAT” (Value Added Tax) is implemented? Could you, as a consumer, afford to make purchases? And what about essential purchases for fuel, medicine, or foods you don’t grow?

Are you prepared to live with 30-80% less value for American-dollars if our US Dollar continues to devalue as inflation grows?

Serious questions for seriously difficult times in America. Sometimes depressing, sometimes overwhelming, but these are the serious questions we must ask ourselves to better prepare for our Nation’s tomorrow.

I often wonder where the next years will lead our Nation. I do not believe that I/we can continue looking the other way, living naively, wishing everything would return to a simpler way of life. As much as we try to embrace our own simple lifestyles, we are dealing with a runaway Federal government that will impact each and every one of us.

Many Americans are thinking hard about the fundamental changes that are taking place in our Nation. The corruption of our political system is out of control.  Americans are seeing that they may be left with little, as the power grabs continue to tax and spend with an addictive quality that is unprecedented. Poll numbers prove that Americans are growing more and more dissatisfied with our Nation’s direction.

I used to believe that with a little land and God’s grace, I could pursue the lifestyle I have chosen — to live frugally and in a self-sufficient, independent way.

I was raised to believe that my life’s choices were basic rights that I could enjoy as an American:  “Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”.

Now I wonder.