Selfsufficientish.com

Having read, and re-read, and re-re-read Into the wild, and any other printed material about Chris McCandless, I've been hungry for more stories about escaping the world and living wild. Non-fiction, fiction, whatever. I'm sure there is enough out there, but until they make a "living off the land" shelf at my bookstore, I'm sorta lost.
Any recommendations would be appreciated.


Also: five years ago I read this great blog about a guy - with a european strange sounding name - who lived self-sufficient, ish... He had a small farm and would travel to and from the city. It was a famous blog back then, a real insiders thing, but I forgot the name of the blog... Anyone remember it by my faulty description?

Hiya, and welcome to -ish!

Can you tell us which country you are in?

ina wrote:Hiya, and welcome to -ish!

Can you tell us which country you are in?

Norway, since you ask

Ah - one of those countries I've always wanted to visit... Might be difficult with local knowledge here; I don't think there's anybody else from Norway! Can't think of any books offhand - but will keep my eyes open.

I'm just reading an interesting book that is not quite what you are looking for, but would probably be useful: Lost Crafts: rediscovering traditional skills (by Una McGovern). Lots of crafts, but not covered in detail; interesting historical snippets, and hints for further information. (I got it from the local library.) Anything from how to catch an eel to glass blowing...

Hi anrbjotk, welcome to Ish.

Probably the most famous book of this ilk is Walden by Thoreau. Written in the 19th century about his experiences living alone in a cabin for two years, two months and two days. I haven't read it but most searches will refer to it at some point.

ina wrote:Ah - one of those countries I've always wanted to visit... Might be difficult with local knowledge here; I don't think there's anybody else from Norway! Can't think of any books offhand - but will keep my eyes open.

I'm just reading an interesting book that is not quite what you are looking for, but would probably be useful: Lost Crafts: rediscovering traditional skills (by Una McGovern). Lots of crafts, but not covered in detail; interesting historical snippets, and hints for further information. (I got it from the local library.) Anything from how to catch an eel to glass blowing...

I was looking mostly for atmosphere, inspiration. Not guides or tutorials. I wanted to get a feel for the experience.

Green Aura wrote:Hi anrbjotk, welcome to Ish.

Probably the most famous book of this ilk is Walden by Thoreau. Written in the 19th century about his experiences living alone in a cabin for two years, two months and two days. I haven't read it but most searches will refer to it at some point.

Well, obviously, who hasn't read Walden?

Well, obviously, who hasn't read Walden?[/quote]


ummmmm Me

diggernotdreamer wrote: ummmmm Me

How is that possible?! I'd mail you my copy if I could afford the postage...

how is it possible, maybe because I just do it, I live my life immersed in nature, self sufficiency and resilience, I don't need to read a book about it, I just live it

diggernotdreamer wrote:Well, obviously, who hasn't read Walden?

ummmmm Me

Me too, in fact I've never heard of him.

diggernotdreamer wrote:I don't need to read a book about it, I just live it

Again, me too. It's the best way, learning from your own mistakes and enjoying (almost) every minute

The John Seymour books are worth a read. Fat of the Land and the Self Sufficiency books. Mark Boyle's book The Moneylrss Man is pretty good too.

Odsox wrote:

diggernotdreamer wrote:Well, obviously, who hasn't read Walden?

ummmmm Me

Me too, in fact I've never heard of him.

diggernotdreamer wrote:I don't need to read a book about it, I just live it

Again, me too. It's the best way, learning from your own mistakes and enjoying (almost) every minute

I'm sorry, did you just say you have never even heard of Henry David Thoreau's Walden? Is that even possible?

Thanks for the tips so far.

Let's change it to blogs then. I know it's partly an oxymoron, but there must be some blogs out there from people who either are living, or have lived in the wild. Who has grown their own food and hunted and made shelter alone in the wilderness...

I can highly recommend Alone in the wild by Dick Proenneke

There is a film about and by him as well. You can probably find it on you tube

I used to live in Norway many years ago. Beautiful country and I miss it very much

Paul

mamos wrote:I can highly recommend Alone in the wild by Dick Proenneke

There is a film about and by him as well. You can probably find it on you tube

I used to live in Norway many years ago. Beautiful country and I miss it very much

Paul

No offense to Dick, but I checked out the book and the move, and it seemed a little, well, kitchy. Books with hokey sketch drawing and silly covers writing excruciating descriptions of log building...
I was hoping for something with a little edge. Someone with radical revolutionary social ideas living with rudimentary tools and an idealistic mindset.
Sorry, I seem very picky here It's just that reading about Chris McCandless really changed my life. To hear of someone who was so determined, so almost fundamentalistic, risking everything to be at one with nature. Someone who goes off-grid not because they are life time boy scouts, but because they abhor society and civilization.
I know there are countless who have done so. At least three in norway over the last five years. Surely there are more in America.

Well, here's an idea, why don't you just get up off the sofa, go and do some really cutting edge radical wilderness living, be at one with nature (oh I have a Swedish friend who goes into the wilderness every year for a few weeks in the snow and ice and risks being eaten by bears, you could borrow his tent) and then come back and write a book all about it