Reply #249: buy a piece of land as soon as you can [View All]

[Malva Zebrina]

and love it, work it, grow organic vegetables and learn how to preserve them for the winter. If you have a freezer that is good, and if you have to buy one, as suggested, buy one that is not a corporate shill if you can. Some people,years ago, dug root cellars and there were many ways to do so. Some simply dried products on a screen in the sun. This is simple and really satisfying living. another thing, beautiful does not mean plastered with makeup and using the most popular shampoo--get back to beautiful is you as you are naturally. Alternatives to shampoo and conditioners-learn how to cut hair-I used to use green soap as a shampoo and it was just fine. I would not go so far as to suggest making soap and herbal ointments to lubricate dry skin or weathered skin, but I have made these and it does take some intense effort, but you may be able to purchase these at a farmer's market or barter some of the vegetables you grow in exchange. Bee hives are beautiful examples of nature in action and also do not take much time to maintain. The investment initially is not much. They work for very little wages---plant a few of their favorite flowers around and they are happy. They also produce, besides honey, beeswax and that can be a wonderful base for soothing ointments. There are ways to not fall victim to the advertising that makes you think you are an ugly person if you do not buy their shampoo, face cream, eye shadow etc

Learn how to make wine--another satisfying pursuit, if you are a wine drinker. Wine can be made from so many different fruits, even the lowly dandelion and it is delicious. You can pick wild elderberries if you can identify them and they grow in your area, and make super wine out of them. Not much of an investment there either.You can do so many things with discarded or worn out clothes--but that also takes some time.

play a musical instrument even if it a harmonica and write a poem.