opinions on self sufficiency course
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- Tom Good
- Posts: 60
- Joined: Sun Mar 15, 2009 10:26 pm
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opinions on self sufficiency course
im wondering if you could help me . i have a self sufficient farm, with everything , rain harvesting , wells , producing a wide range of vege / fruit . we have a good selection of farm animals. medicinal herbs , and a wildlife , conservation area. and we live very eco / self sufficient life. we use everything we have and nothing gets wasted and from food water energy to water and sewage processing to refuse processing we pretty much do it all . i would love to show others how we did what we did, how to scale it up or scale it down to suit their own needs. but i dont really know if there would be a market for my knowledge or if anyone would be interested if i ran courses.
so heres how you can help , (if youd be kind enough) if anyone would let me know what sort of things would interest them on a course like this and how long they would like it to be, a day ,a weekend etc, it would help me decide if its worth doing , if there would be any interest to anyone . i thought you would be best group of people to ask ,
ive spent years aquiring this knowledge , and made a few mistakes along the way , i think sharing it would be great fun and maybe people could avoid some of the pitfalls, and get to the fun bits sooner . .
i hope you will take a minute to let me know what you think, your opinion could help me decide whether to do it or not , thanks guys . have a great evening.
thanks so much elle
so heres how you can help , (if youd be kind enough) if anyone would let me know what sort of things would interest them on a course like this and how long they would like it to be, a day ,a weekend etc, it would help me decide if its worth doing , if there would be any interest to anyone . i thought you would be best group of people to ask ,
ive spent years aquiring this knowledge , and made a few mistakes along the way , i think sharing it would be great fun and maybe people could avoid some of the pitfalls, and get to the fun bits sooner . .
i hope you will take a minute to let me know what you think, your opinion could help me decide whether to do it or not , thanks guys . have a great evening.
thanks so much elle
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- A selfsufficientish Regular
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Re: opinions on self sufficiency course
id be interested..maybe you could offer a range of courses to suit the individual..for eg i can only stay a day as i have kiddies but mabe others would prefer a weekend
Re: opinions on self sufficiency course
Maybe you could start by offering guided tours and see what the levels of interest are.
When we were considering becoming SS, we reached a point where we'd read all the books, planned things financially, and it all looked good in theory. However, we wanted to see someone who'd actually achieved what we wanted and talk to him about the highs and lows. I found a place in Cambridgeshire (Simon at Guilden Gate) who was willing to just walk us around and tell us how things were done there. It was invaluable - suddenly the idea on paper became something achievable.
I think Simon had a kind of outline in his tour (i.e. house, then garden, then utilities, then income streams, etc..) but because there was just the two of us, he was quite happy for me to backtrack and ask him about stuff that he'd already covered.
When we were considering becoming SS, we reached a point where we'd read all the books, planned things financially, and it all looked good in theory. However, we wanted to see someone who'd actually achieved what we wanted and talk to him about the highs and lows. I found a place in Cambridgeshire (Simon at Guilden Gate) who was willing to just walk us around and tell us how things were done there. It was invaluable - suddenly the idea on paper became something achievable.
I think Simon had a kind of outline in his tour (i.e. house, then garden, then utilities, then income streams, etc..) but because there was just the two of us, he was quite happy for me to backtrack and ask him about stuff that he'd already covered.
Re: opinions on self sufficiency course
i would be interested in a course as well....i dont come from a farming background, yet my desire to live as self sufficiently as possible is very strong.
i am a more visual learner so while reading all the books is great(and i'm building quite a collection!), i'd love to see it in real life....to be able to ask you how you've found this or that etc.....invaluable i would think.
the guided tour idea is good to.....i'd love to do either, to see how the lifestyle works.
so big thumbs up from me.
i am a more visual learner so while reading all the books is great(and i'm building quite a collection!), i'd love to see it in real life....to be able to ask you how you've found this or that etc.....invaluable i would think.
the guided tour idea is good to.....i'd love to do either, to see how the lifestyle works.
so big thumbs up from me.
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- A selfsufficientish Regular
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Re: opinions on self sufficiency course
Where abouts are you, Ellesherwood? (please pop it in your profile, so old foggies like me don't forget!;))
It might be worth your while seeing what other people are offering along the same lines. I know CAT do various courses, but not sure if they are what you had in mind.
http://www.cat.org.uk
MW
It might be worth your while seeing what other people are offering along the same lines. I know CAT do various courses, but not sure if they are what you had in mind.
http://www.cat.org.uk
MW
If it isn't a Greyhound, it's just a dog!
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- Tom Good
- Posts: 60
- Joined: Sun Mar 15, 2009 10:26 pm
- Location: wales
Re: opinions on self sufficiency course
You guys are great, thanks for taking the time to send me your opinions which i really value . I know c.a.t well and love their work but im aiming to be more 'holistic' as their courses are very specific . i am hoping to give a good ' overview' and by what you are saying it sound like it may be a good idea . id have loved someone to let me have a mooch round when we were starting up , tell me what they did right and wrong .
huge thank you for the feedback on day versus weekend duration thats a great help. sounds like offering both would be the best bet .
keep it coming guys all feedback really is welcome , who knows, you could be helping create something that will help bring others into the fold. the more the merrier .
thanks again . keep smiling ,
huge thank you for the feedback on day versus weekend duration thats a great help. sounds like offering both would be the best bet .
keep it coming guys all feedback really is welcome , who knows, you could be helping create something that will help bring others into the fold. the more the merrier .
thanks again . keep smiling ,
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- Tom Good
- Posts: 60
- Joined: Sun Mar 15, 2009 10:26 pm
- Location: wales
Re: opinions on self sufficiency course
hello again , just writing a huge HUGE thank you to all those who responded or emailed re the courses . You gave me loads of ideas as to what youd like to see the courses contain and how long youd like them to be ..........well .......... drum roll . You Have given me the confidence to go for it and i am now running the courses . Thanks so much for all the encouragement. if anyone fancies coming on one you'd be really welcome . thanks again for setting on a path which i hope is going to prove to be a huge amount of fun and maybe give people some inspirations so they will get as much from being self sufficient as we all do . funny i remember being this excited when i took on my first allotment, little acorns and all that . thanks again folks.
- snapdragon
- A selfsufficientish Regular
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Re: opinions on self sufficiency course
I must have been having a 'senior moment' (or a computer glitch) when this was first posted 'cos I missed it altogether.
I would love to do a 'walk round' or a couple of days course - even though I'm pretty sure I'll never have the wherewithal to be completely self sufficient I'd love to see how you do it
I would love to do a 'walk round' or a couple of days course - even though I'm pretty sure I'll never have the wherewithal to be completely self sufficient I'd love to see how you do it
Say what you mean and be who you are, Those who mind don't matter, and those that matter don't mind
- Green Aura
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Re: opinions on self sufficiency course
I missed it too. I've just looked at the dates - doing my aromatology course at that time - no computer access for a full week!
Sounds excellent, I have family near Mach - next time I'm down I'll try and get over - if impromptu visits are welcome
Sounds excellent, I have family near Mach - next time I'm down I'll try and get over - if impromptu visits are welcome
Maggie
Never doubt that you can change history. You already have. Marge Piercy
Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage. Anais Nin
Never doubt that you can change history. You already have. Marge Piercy
Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage. Anais Nin
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- Tom Good
- Posts: 60
- Joined: Sun Mar 15, 2009 10:26 pm
- Location: wales
Re: opinions on self sufficiency course
great , pleased to hear others love this as much as i do . pm me your details and i'll tell you where we are . impromptu's most welcome, as long as i know the night before if thats ok with you .