Sundays at this farmish place are reserved for Scribbles -
short, random musings that collect while my mind has time to wander on
this day of (supposed) rest. Enjoy, and feel free to add your own in the
comments.
1. Dipping into both ends of the technology spectrum can give a gal quite a headache. This past Friday I spent all day loading books into my Kindle Fire. On Saturday, I spent the day hanging out with Amish folks at an auction. Those two opposites can really get a farmgirl thinking.
2. We farmish folks are in quite a pickle. We long for the simple life...in and amongst a world where technology is at every turn. If you're anything like me, you're wondering...how much is too much? How much technology do we need? How much is just fluff? What kinds of technology help us in our simple life (as much of an oxymoron as some people think that is) and what kinds just complicate things?
3. What is the simple life? Farmish people define it differently. And then other farmish people judge those definitions. It seems crazy to me that we have people who think they are better than others because of the massive amounts of technology they have. But what's even harder for me to swallow is we have just as many who think they're better because they lack that same technology.
4. Oh, a television? We don't have one of those. An e-reader? I don't use things like that.
5. I'm pretty sure that air of superiority wasn't meant to be part of the farmish simple life, but that doesn't mean it hasn't made its way in. And since I've realized its out there in regular farmish folks, I find I really have to watch myself about it. How about you?
excellent thoughts! I've run across folks who think their ways are better than other ways and they judge on technology or lack thereof. for a lot of us, thinking me here, not having i-net, sat tv and radio would mean a very lonely existence. having those things means I get to follow nice folks, like you, home -GRIN-
ReplyDeleteI agree, Thistle Cove, and thanks for your kind words. Some of the nicest people I've met have been through blogging and other online based things I do. I also know there are "old fashioned" things I've learned to do only because of the internet (I didn't know anyone in real life who knew how to do it, so Youtube became my teacher.) I think its all about how you use it. I just wish the judgementalness would die out. :)
DeleteI will butcher the quote badly but I do like the way Mr Bunker puts it in his Off Off Grid book... Basically he talks about how people judge others for not rejecting technology but to reject all technology you can't even use a handheld screwdriver! (Personally it never occurred to me that everything is a technological advancement) The simple life doesn't have to be devoid of all techno stuff, just choose what is useful to you and what makes your life abundant! Just my humble opinion! :)
ReplyDeleteI will have to check out that book, thanks for the recommendation. :) You're right that every thing we use (even the simple stuff) is some sort of technological advance. A friend reminded me once that they said a long time ago that the pencil was going to ruin the classroom (when switching from pens). Can you imagine? I just think we've morphed into some sort of reverse "keeping up with the Joneses"...where we value ourselves on how little we can live with rather than how full our houses are. :(
DeleteIt is quite a conundrum, isn't it? I know I wouldn't want to be without my computer because, like you, I've learned how to do many "old-fashioned" things that I otherwise would have never been able to learn. Also, I really enjoy "visiting" other farmish types all around the country and even around the world! :) I agree with AHH, you have to pick your own comfort level and let others do the same.
ReplyDeleteGreat post. Very thought provoking. IMHO, technology is a gift to be used, but respected. It can enhance your life. But it can also destroy it. I don't own a cell phone. But SM does. If I had a smart phone at my fingertips nothing would get done. Having the internet is a joy and a time sucking parasite. The world at my fingertips and hours go by that I can't reclaim. But I make friends and learn new things.
ReplyDeleteI think you need to embrace both. Simplicity as a foundation, technology if it benefits. Know thyself.
You could beat yourself up trying to define whats good and whats bad about technology. Find the balance and don't apologize to anyone for your life choices. @;)
This post reminded me of the activity I've been consumed with for the past hour - why can't it just be enough to have a bad bug in the garden and kill it? Why am I no longer satisfied with that until I google it and know it's common name, Latin name, species, sub species, host plants, reproductive cycle and genetic traits? LOL.....
ReplyDeleteOh I love my Internet and my small farm life. I think they can easily go hand in hand. Agree with Erin . . . I Google to learn better how, why, when and if I should kill that bug. LOL Same goes for how to deal with my chickens. It's nice to have, but then I moved to the country to also me a writer/author, and I'm loving the way the two lifestyles mesh together.
ReplyDeleteHope Clark
www.chopeclark.com
Lowcountry Bribe: A Caroina Slade Mystery
I'm so glad I found your blog today! (I think via Mama Pea's blog?)
ReplyDeleteI believe both sides can coexist beautifully (simple life and technology). As others have mentioned, YouTube can be a great teacher. Other blogs (and farmers/gardeners) give me hope that some day we'll be more self-sufficient too.
We want a simpler life and we're working towards it. But we're not going to throw out the baby with the bathwater. Helpful technology is a good thing. :)
Great post!
Great post! I find myself busy with animals, disbudding goat kids, milking, feeding someone of something, trying to accomplish all that I'm "supposed" to in a day, worried about getting the garden in...whew!...and thinking, "Is this the simple life?" Well, these things are as individual as the people living them. Who's to say what the "simple" life is? Perhaps for some it's getting rid of all the extras, shopping at the grocery, and keeping their fairly empty houses clean. There are days when that seems like a dream life these days. Other days, I'm so glad I have the life I do.
ReplyDeleteNever mind technology and whether it's good or bad, useful or not. I don't have time to contemplate using it or not using it, or even to finally get the computer in to be repaired. I'm just trying to get a bite to eat in between caring for someone or something. And ya know what? I think I'm happy this way! ...Yep...happy.
me ,I don't even own a cell phone!
ReplyDelete