From the category archives:

SELF-SUFFICIENCY

possum-livingI wish I could say that I had read this book way back when, and that was what inspired me to live my off grid life… but sadly I can’t say that. My earliest inspiration was the Grizzly Adams series. But if I had come across this book before now, I know it would have also been a great inspiration for me as well. This book was written in the 70s by a very smart young lady, Dolly Freed. She and her father lived in a regular house, on a large lot (by today’s standard), though small compared to homesteading standards. Neither one worked a regular job, yet they lived a full and enjoyable life.

Dolly wrote this book to document their lives and teach other people how to live a more simple life, unfettered by a 9-5 work week. I was re-inspired and excited to find this video about their life on YouTube. It’s a 3 part video, the second and third should play right after the first.

The book and video are dated, it was written and filmed in the late 70s, but I’m here to tell you that this type of life CAN still be achieved, I’m living proof of that. I was thrilled to find out that a revised version of her book is coming out, it apparently has updated info about Dolly, she is still alive and well. I will say that if you look hard enough, you can find a digital version of her original book to download (it’s out of print) , I have read this, but I look forward to getting the new and improved version coming out this January.

Even if you don’t want to go all the way and live like she did (and like I do now), it’s still good information to have, with today’s uncertainty,  unemployment and underemployment, these are good skills to have to help get you through lean times.

Here is her original book, it’s a bit pricey Possum living: How to live well without a job and with almost no money

Here is a pre-order link for the new revised book, at a much better price Possum Living: How to Live Well Without a Job and with (Almost) No Money



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Shoestring Survivalism – book review

October 20, 2009
Shoestring Survivalism – book review

This is the third book I received from Paladin Press to review. I appreciate the chance to read and review these books, I have enjoyed them immensely. This book is about survivalism on a budget. Being on a budget is a full time occupation for most of us.  With these uncertain times, it’s good to have backups, ways to get [...]

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Ellen Page on Perma-culture

October 10, 2009
Ellen Page on Perma-culture

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Tough Times Survival Guide vol 1 – book review

October 8, 2009
Tough Times Survival Guide vol 1 – book review

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October 3, 2009
Makeshift Workshop Skills for Survival and Self-Reliance book review

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Grow your own tobacco – book review

September 28, 2009
Grow your own tobacco – book review

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Chia pets or survival food

September 15, 2009
Chia pets or survival food

Remember those silly little Chia Pets? Little did we know then that those strange little seeds painted on those cheesy terracotta pots shaped like animals were actually GOOD for us… It turns out that they are, they are high in vitamins, minerals, loads of fiber and it’s a better source of omega’s than flax seeds are. This is a very [...]

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Winter’s coming, get ready now

August 24, 2009
Winter’s coming, get ready now

It’s the middle of August, smack in the middle of summer, and it’s time to start thinking about winter. Yes, the cold air is coming. I have a hard time thinking about cold weather when I’m sweating and grumbling about where the breeze went… But there are little reminders about the coming  cold, the sun is setting sooner and sooner [...]

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The new-old way to cook / book review / video

July 24, 2009
The new-old way to cook / book review / video

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