Our Core Book

This is the book that got it all started for us. Remember that group that we were thinking of forming a community with, well a good friend recommended we read this book. I went and purchased it as soon as possible.

I must admit. It is INVALUABLE for someone in our situation who is looking for more understanding of how to go about creating more self sustaining lifestyle. We hadn't even completed the whole book before we made the decision. What we had read was THAT informative and convincing that ANYONE can make these changes and achieve what the book teaches.

It goes into detail of how they left the city life for the country life. It was during the beginning of the depression, in economic crisis, they opted out for better living and truer freedom. But it is much different from other books of this matter, for the fact that the Nearings purpose, drive and convictions are extremely firm and intact. This aspect we greatly appreciate.

"We left the city with three objectives in mind. The first was economic. We sought to make a depression-free living, as independent as possible of the commodity and labor markets, which could not be interfered with by employers, whether businessmen, politicians or educational administrators. Our second aim was hygienic. We wanted to maintain and improve our health. We knew that the pressures of city life were exacting and we sought a simple basis of well-being where contact with the earth and home grown, organic food would play a large part. Our third objective was social and ethical. We decided to liberate and dissociate ourselves, as much as possible, from the cruder forms of exploitation: the plunder of the planet, the slavery of man and beast, the slaughter of men in war, and of animals for food."

We feel and have felt for some time the same way. We have read and keep rereading each chapter to get a better grasp of how to go about what we are doing. Because of the finite detail, we have applied so many of their personal experience to our lives. We wrote a mission statement, as you see on the side of our blog. We just finished our 8 guiding principles. They have 12. We just made ours a bit more concise.

Our plans for our garden, orchard and building are also similar. Even if we are not as exact, we can and will be applying many, many of their teachings. We do live in a warmer climate and are dealing with changes, as they lived in a very cold climate, it still can help ANYONE achieve their goals. Even if your goals are minimal or not as grand as ours, this book can still help you to apply any changes toward any goals, big or small. If it's just creating a garden, building a more energy efficient...earth friendly home, or plant a few fruit trees, you will find the answers your looking for.

"The Good Life" really is "an underground bible for the city-weary." We figure we will be reading it over and over for the rest of our lives, really. We are EXTREMELY GRATEFUL that we found it and hope we can keep applying its teachings and educational principles better and deeper each time we read it.

Abundant peace to all,

Rachel