The Rural Voice, 2001-07, Page 12BARN
RENOVATIONS
• Renovations to farm
buildings
• Concrete Work
• Manure Tanks
• Using a Bobcat Skid Steer
w/hydraulic hammer,
bucket, six -way blade &
backhoe
BEUERMANN
CONSTRUCTION
R.R. #5 BRUSSELS
519-887-9598
NEW & USED
UNIVERSAL
TRACTORS
Parts & Service
• Bale Wagons
• Bale Feeders
• Cattle Crates
• Gates & Panels
BOYD FARM
SUPPLY
Agricultural Equipment
R.R. #6, Owen Sound
519-376-5880
8 THE RURAL VOICE
Jeffrey Carter
Get in touch with your food
I've talked about the "simple
living" concept in previous columns
I've written. It's one of the topics I
turn to when I'm having trouble
generating a pitchfork of indignation
to splatter across my computer
screen.
Simple living
involves such
concepts as the
"pay -as -we -go"
philosophy.
That's what's
bought our
vehicles over the
years and by
buying a modest
home, we were
able pay down
the mortgage
quickly in order
to move up to
something a little bigger.
My wife and I have also found it's
not necessary — and doesn't even
make sense — that we both work full
time. We added up the costs of baby-
sitting, restaurant meals, and other
expenses associated with two -income
families and took into account the
savings that would be involved if
Marie were to stay at home. It turned
out to be an even trade-off and with
Marie finding
some freelance writing work, we
ended up being ahead.
We've also taken the time to look
after a vegetable garden and we
preserve what we grow. It's a money
saver and something we enjoy doing
anyway.
So far, the simple living strategy
seems to be working. Marie is now
employed as the part-time co-
ordinator of the Catholic Rural Life
Conference, Diocese of London, and
there's room for me to work full time
from our home as well.
Our garden has grown. There are
around 20 different vegetables, five
small fruits, and a wide assortment of
herbs. Marie and I can pop out for 15
minutes or half an hour each day to
pull a few weeds, pick what's ready
for supper, or simply breathe the air.
There's merit in
from scratch'
lifestyle
For Marie and me, it wasn't a big
effort to pursue what some might
consider to be "simple living"
lifestyle. We were both raised on
farms where the "pay-as-you-go"
philosophy was drilled into us and
where gardening was part of the
routine.
However, I'm becoming
increasingly aware we're in the
minority. Folks raised in the culture
of instant gratification may have less
patience and often do not know what
to do with a potato, let alone an egg
plant or peas that come in a shell.
What's simple for us, can be a heck
of a lot more complicated for others.
I do not suggest everyone should
follow our path. I do, however,
suggest people at least become aware
of the options. Sure, there's
something to be said about our
"culture of convenience" but there's
merit with a "from -scratch" lifestyle
as well.
Food is an excellent starting point
if you want to "simplify" your life.
With the right choices, it can bring
you closer to the natural world and
closer to each other. A burger shoved
in our face is one thing. A careful
consideration of the things in that
burger and the many people involved
in the process is something quite
different.0
Jeffrey Carter is a freelance
journalist based in Dresden, Ontario.
Letters may be sent to P.O. Box
1207, Dresden, Ontario, NOP IMO or
to this magazine.
MORRIS SACHS
SILO
CONSTRUCTION
SILO ACCESSORIES
SILOS DISMANTLED,
REBUILT AND REPAIRS
R.R. #1
Elmwood, Ont.
363-3900 NOG 1S0