Lichenology – Building a Home, Building a Life
I recently came across a green blog like no other I’ve encountered thus far – it’s called Lichenology.
It’s the kind of blog that makes you wish it was available in book format. I could totally imagine curling up on the couch some rainy Saturday and reading it from cover to cover. Even in its present blog form I fall under it’s spell every time I visit, and have now spent a good chunk of time reading through various posts.
Not only does the author (Zane Parker) have a gift for the written word, but the story behind it is utterly captivating.
Lichenology chronicles the transition from maintream city life to true sustainable living on 10 acres of wild land (Vancouver Island).
Underneath the fascinating collection of ideas, philosophies and general commentary winds this tale of building a new life literally from scratch.
It actually reminds me of one of my favourite books, “Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance” – a simple yet fascinating story line in combination with truly unique, thought provoking ideas and social commentary.
Zane’s posts tend to be quite long, but if anything you are left wanting for more.
Here is an exerpt from a recent (Oct 30th) post:
Not much more than a year ago, Zena, Gen, Dan, and I collectively imagined the possibility of living away from the city, and of building our homes from earth. And now, here we are, very much in the midst of this possibility.
Some days I imagine the possibility of building furniture as a trade, or of playing the accordion this winter, of raising a lamb and killing it for meat, or of having a child. Through these imaginings, I come to terms; I make choices that steer me one way or another; I start noticing my habits again; I see more of the periphery.
I am afraid that in our society, many people feel they have no choices—they fail to imagine a different kind of life, or a different kind of world. The fatalism of our time is a lack of imagination—a lack of trust in the world of dreams and metaphors and gut feelings. How bad do things need get before we collectively imagine they could be better?
And happily, the ability and the necessity to imagine never ends. Indeed, the tendency to imagine strengthens with exercise.
Now that I am here, sitting in our home, on our land, there are a myriad of new possibilities opening—how to live in this place, how to raise a child, how to apply my time and energy? In a warm home, with food in my belly, there is room to imagine.
And I imagine getting out the chainsaw again soon, rebuilding the stacked walls of our kitchen for next year.
If you have not already done so, I HIGHLY recommend you check out Lichenology!
Technorati Tags: lichenology, green blogs, sustainable living, pioneers, green building, permaculture, social commentary, Zane Parker
Written by Bentley on November 8th, 2006 with no comments.
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