But what do you really want out of "ish"

[Jessiebean]

See for me the word "ish" (if it is a word :D) is the key. We have dream you know the usual a few acres, old farmhouse (or manor house says my husband) with chickens, goats, cows, orchards, veges kiddies running free and helping with the tending the animals and garden but I am running a small business with my husband in the middle of a city (a small one with lots of food production all around admittedly) I have a courtyard instead of a couple of acres so being Self sufficient-ish is where we are at. Having fresh herbs in the garden and slinging a few ingredients in the breadmaker or yoghurt maker for me is more convenient that going to the supermarket- I have been going there more often lately and it is sort of a bit soul destroying! we also hate waste so mending, making do and buying second hand all go towards avoiding waste. we are teaching our little ones a bit of self reliance and they have an amazing amount of interest in the world around them because there is so often activity as opposed to passivity around the place. When we are less "ish" we get a bit grumpy too, there is something invigorating about living on the bones of your bum!

[the.fee.fairy]

hmm...I've thought about this a lot.

I wanted to be more ish because I wanted to learn skills. There are so many skills that are dying out and they just need someone to learn.

I've really enjoyed the explosion of knitters, and sewers that have come out in the last few years.

I've said before that I have a ridiculously long inside leg measurement, so my first foray into Ishness was probably making my own trousers. I got so much satisfaction from making something that fitted out of material that I liked that i ended up witha bit of a sewing machine obsession...

Now, I like the reduce reuse recycle aspect. It's impossible to me to comprehend how much people waste. I try not to waste anything, only buy what i need (excepting electronic stuff...I am a gadget geek...) I also wear my clothes until they fall apart, get mended and fall apart again. There's something infinitely more comfortable about clothing that's 5 years old rather than new from the shop!

I like knowing that I can make pretty much everything i want. It only really mattered to me when i moved here from the UK and realised that I can still eat what i like because i'm capable of making it.

[chickenchargrill]

What a lovely thread. Thanks to all.

For me, I was fortunate to be brought up Ish. We foraged, my mum taught me lots of different plants, we went to the market every Friday to get fresh fruit and veg, our Sundays were spent baking... We never had a garden big enough to plant much in, but we always planted tatties each year.

I came to the forum last year, I'm afraid I stopped coming on when things got a bit hectic at home and got out of the habit of checking up on things here. Originally, I came here because I finally got my garden that was big enough for veggies.

I'm not sure what I want to get out of being Ish. It just suits my mindset and something I've been bought up with. We've never had a bit pot of spare cash, but even when we have had a little extra, I've never been able to put myself in the same mindset as other members of my family or friends. I just don't get going out and spending hundreds on a table and chairs when you can get something for free/less than £50, for example, and repair if necessary. My shopping sprees are in charity/second hand shops or walking round the markets, like someone else said, actually interacting with people, rather than spending twice as much on something that's half as good.

[sammyh]

I agree with chickenchargrill.

I was reading lots on this site b4 I posted, as, to be honest, I wasn't sure if I was going to fit in- as I 've really no intention in being self sufficent in food,even through I do do a bit but have always been interested in shopping local and avoiding supermarkets. My ish is to do with not throwing stuff away, reusing and buying second hand. i can't believe how much stuff there is in the world. My idea of hell is going round bluewater shopping centre. I'm self employed and can easily work out how long `i have to work to buy something- makes me very tight! I aspire to a life style in some respects that I can't afford- cinema, quality food, so I scrimp in other ways by being ishy. I have also discovered that it is very calming to make your own stuff- food, clothes , growing stuff, ect- I think modern life is all sheep following rubbish and ish puts you back in control, while stepping away from the awful commercial cr*p we are supposed to all want.

I'm doing more stuff for myself and alot of it is thanks to this site