Selfsufficient?

[Rough Jack]

Gidday

I have just been reading a very interesting article that is linked to from another forum. I hope it's O.K. to share it on here nbecause I believe that it will be of interest to others here too.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4163982.stm


But the funny thing is, I am old but nowhere near old enough to remember the 1620's, but this:-

[[1. Know thy neighbours. Today it's possible to live alone, without knowing anyone within a 20-mile radius (the same goes for townies). That was simply not possible in the past - not only did the neighbours provide social contact, people shared labour, specialist skills and produce. "And women were judged on good neighbourliness," says historian Ruth Goodman. "If you were willing to help others - particularly during and after childbirth - then others would be more prepared to help you in times of need." ]]

Reminds me of how things were in the isolated little district of Honikiwi when I was a young joker.
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[Boots]

Ah, very cool! I love Aussie history, which is a little easier to research cos we haven't been around quite so long... and am always struck by how they really did seem to have it sorted back then. There were still dumb government directives (like clearing land to fence for rent) but on the whole our early forefathers lived simply and were much more communal than we seem to be. I like the way families and communities used to be much more solid than they are today, there was a real sense of 'co-operate or perish' I think.

Number 9 is looming again and necessary. The world now is just like one big spoiled brat. It is time to take away the priviledge that has been taken for granted, withstand the tantrum, and just get on with things, I reckon.

[pomegranate]

That is a very interesting article. We think life is tough sometimes.

[Wombat]

I wouldn't mind seeing the series!

Nev

[the.fee.fairy]

that looks good. Wish i'd seen it/will get to see it.

It all makes much more sense!