One of the big topics for several years now has been “fossil fuel”. How long until we run out? How expensive will it get? Blah blah, etc.
I’m not going to get into the debate over whether we will ever run out or if oil is actually the remains of ancient life forms. You can find plenty on that elsewhere.
I want to take a minute and discuss a perfectly viable alternative energy source, which can be used for many of the things we use petroleum for. It’s called manpower.
Yes, I know it sounds crazy. I was just listening to one of my co-workers talk about the new Hurricane leaf blower he just bought. He paid a few hundred for it, plus oil and gas to use it, so he doesn’t have to rake leaves on his 2 acres. Mistress and I grab rakes and rake the fucking leaves. It’s a good workout, it’s fun, and then we drink while we burn all the piles. Rakes are about 20 bucks each. I think I came out on the winning end of this deal.
Several of my friends are always asking when I’m going to buy a tractor. Why would I need one, I ask them. They tell me I can’t manage several acres of property, not to mention grow a garden, without a tractor. How will I break up the land for my garden?
With a bloody shovel, that’s how. I dug 4 rows, 40 feet long and 2 feet deep into my hard ass clay ground. Then I filled them with manure, topsoil, and some of the clay I removed. Instant crop rows. No engine noise, no nasty fumes, no oil or gas to buy. Just a blister or two and a nice tan.
How can I deal with all that grass without a tractor? As I’ve said before…a reel mower, machetes, and a scythe. It takes more time, but it’s much more rewarding. If I didn’t live 30 miles from my job, I would ride a bicycle to work. Unfortunately, that would really cut into my sleep time. Especially when I work 16 hour shifts.
Manpower. Our most easily renewable resource. Run out of energy? Eat something. Food is cheap. We don’t have a chainsaw, but we still cut firewood and take down trees. We have an axe, a splitting maul, and hand saws. That’s all you need. Imagine the money saved in blades, oil, and gas. Plus the initial cost of a chainsaw.
Try going a few weeks without all these fuel consuming machines. Life is much more enjoyable, and much more affordable, when you consume less electricity, water and petroleum. And your clothes last longer when you wash and dry them by hand. Avoid all the stretching that always occurs around the necks of shirts and the elastic bands of briefs.
Just think about what you consume. Consider ways to cut back. If you can significantly reduce your electricity use, you can transfer over to solar or wind power with much less cost. Always look at ways your life could be streamlined. Those are my words of wisdom for today.
-Dr. Illusion
I agree with you on this brother, I just sold a bulldozer and an excavator because I couldn’t justify the costs associated with fueling them and the insurance on them. I did keep my Ford 500 tractor though but I’m thinking of getting rid of that too with all it’s implements. People don’t realize how easy it is to feed a small group of people and keep up the maintenance on their land if they’ll just get out of the seat of their motorized monsters and do it themselves with their own hands. The Amish have us beat on all these fronts, they use very little mechanization and their farms are more productive and produce healthier food than the big agribusiness farms. Plus they are the fastest growing white population in this country and they live longer, have fewer health problems and report a happier life than any other demographic. Follow the Amish example in lifestyle and see your life improve exponentially.
I envy the Amish. I am doing my best to get close to their way of living. I am actually planning on building a small cabin on my property next year. Solar power just for lights, a wood burning stove that doubles as water heater, and a hand-pump well. I will drive the well myself, by hand. I would probably end up spending more time in the cabin than I do in my large modern house. It suits me better.
I like digging with a shovel – it makes me feel strong & stretches out my back muscles. I only have a 1/4 acre (lol, extra yard next door), but we manage to keep the oak leaves up, etc. I haven’t dug my garden yet because I have a bunch of large rocks to move first, but I will be doing all of that by hand, too. Oh, & a compost heap.