Archive for Downsizer For an ethical approach to consumption
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jema
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Have your sayThis site wants to run on behalf of its members, we have a "management" structure at the moment of people who approve articles for posting and who will "moderate" the forums should that ever be required.
By and large though we want our members (and the "management" are members to) to drive the direction the site moves in.
The field we are in, is wide and we have members whose ambition it is, is to be in a wide field  so they can grow their own ethical food.
We have others that may be interested in action to force supermarkets to provide ethical choices across all ranges, food and otherwise.
The list goes on, and if there is the interest to create sections of the site, or forums dedicated to something, then we want to hear it, and for you to contribute to it.
jema
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tahir
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Just to echo what Jema said and to emphasise that this is not meant to be competing with the River Cottage forum. It's about downsizing in every sense, adjusting your finances, setting up a small business, ethical issues etc, although food will inevitably be a part of what goes on here
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jema
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Yep, definately not competing, but different.
jema
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DarrenG
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edited by myself as treac thinks I talk utter crap when replying
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Treacodactyl
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| DarrenG wrote: | | I disagree with you jema no doubt I will get barred again for disagreeing with you, but most of you dont want to hear from people who have done it, and are actively doing it, you seem to only want to hear from people who are playing on the fringes, or listen to what ifs I know for a fact you dont wish to hear from people with actual exp of the claims you make above, we know that dont we? |
As I've said before Darren, you know this not to be true. We have only ever stopped what most people would regard as offensive and non-constructive posts, at the moment these have only been from you!
I understand some of you complaints and some people on this site are new to this way of life. However, education is better than arguing just for the sake of it.
If you like taking part on this site please respect others. If you have any specific concerns please make constructive comments or PM me.
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jema
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| DarrenG wrote: | | I disagree with you jema no doubt I will get barred again for disagreeing with you, but most of you dont want to hear from people who have done it, and are actively doing it, you seem to only want to hear from people who are playing on the fringes, or listen to what ifs I know for a fact you dont wish to hear from people with actual exp of the claims you make above, we know that dont we? |
Okay its the season of good will and all that, so we will let this play out, a site runs on people making a constructive contribution, not actively insulting other people. Even in the post quoted you are playing the game you have played all along 
We do not lightely ban people.
We do want to hear your experiences.
If you can understand this and abide by the rules, you have a second chance. If you don't respond well to this, then there will be little option but another ban We do not want this, we want people with experience who will make a positive contribution, it is in your hands.
jema
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tahir
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Echo both the above, and what's wrong with people dabbling on the fringes anyway? We're not here for the self sufficient elite, we're here for everybody whether they live on a council estate in Tower Hamlets or a 10000 acre estate in the Highlands
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DarrenG
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edited by myself as treac thinks I talk utter crap when replying
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Treacodactyl
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There may be people who use the site who are not willing to hear other views but I wouldn't say they would stay around long as one of the main points of the site is to express views and discuss them.
I've found all the people involved in setting up the site and running it more than willing to listen to other views but, importantly, they all have a varied mix of backgrounds and views which makes the site what it is.
I think all the users can make their own minds up about it as we don't force people to stay and we don't impose views on people.
With regard to your stocking densities this would make a good topic in the 'Does it Really Matter' section and I'd appreciate if you could post a topic there. I'm currently having a fair bit of trouble finding a good source of meat, as I don't tend to believe many of the labels and schemes. I've decided to stop eating most meat (for a couple of years now) until I'm in the position to buy from trustworthy sources or grow my own. I have many more comments, but these would be better added to a new topic.
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jema
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I don't have a source of real free range eggs and have as such always been in a quandry about just what eggs to buy, as eggs are something of an essential.
I do buy so called free range, but do not get any warm fuzzy feeling out of doing so, I feel more that I have just participated in another supermarket con job.
jema
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Sarah D
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| DarrenG wrote: | I didnt say that there was anything wrong with dabbling on the fringes, what I said was the likes of Sarah DO NOT want to hear from people who can do it, they only want to hear from people who only ever talk about it, instead of doing it.
BTW Sarah heres another fact check the stocking densities from the butcher where you buy your free-range eggs, and what is a definition of free-range? 500 birds on half an acre, did you know the DEFRA figures means the shed space allowed per bird is less than cages and as a small % only ever travel beyond 20' of the shed the density isnt much less.Same for free-range poultry meat ask the butcher where the supply comes from, and no I am not having a pick on you I am saying "Beware The Label" |
Well Darren, I now feel I should respond to some of your accusations, for that is how I view them.
I am always wanting to hear from people who are doing it, as you put it. I read about it, I watch TV/Videos, I read hundreds of books, I talk to people, I go out and meet them, and talk about it. Having said that, I am out there doing it myself. I do not buy free range eggs at all, or any eggs - that's why I keep chickens and ducks. Through my very wide reading, I am aware of the figures for shed space, etc. I find the "Beware the label" bit especially patronising, whether or not you are picking on me. I am the one in the supermarket or the butcher asking questions, demanding answers, explaining to other customers in the shops why they should choose one brand over another - that is me, there, making a fuss and standing up for what I believe to be right, ethical, fair, whatever.
Downsizing, living ethically, responsibly, eco-friendly, "green" (some of those terms are undoubtedly awful!) - call it what you will, but I have been doing it for the last 17 years of my life since I got my first house, and for a large portion of my childhood in Scotland. I have helped butcher pigs and sheep on old doors on trestle tables, caught and gutted fish, plucked chickens in my time.
As a result of listening to people who are/were doing it, I now keep my own hens and ducks, have bees, grow fruit and veg, brew beer (own hops), make wine, jam, pickles, washing powder, toothpaste, make my own cheese and butter, bake bread, educate our two children at home, play a large part in community life, knit sew and quilt until I fall asleep, sell surplus from the garden to support my hobbies, make a lot of our own clothes, buy Fairtrade when I can, buy in bulk from an ethically run company, support many many charities ranging from human rights to environmental causes, bank ethically, save with the Ecology Building Society, don't drive, don't own a car, shop at the tip................ that's just about as ethical as I can manage for now. Maybe you will now see that there is more to living ethically (for want of a better description) than killing and eating your own chickens, which I choose not to do.
I am a highly educated woman, both academically and practically, and I am extremely happy to pass on my knowledge and experience to those coming along behind me; which is why I am here on this site. If I were being brutally honest, I would have to admit I have not elarned much from this particular site as yet; however, I am happy to help out people with my knowledge and experiences as one who HAS doen these things. If ever I post a method or recipe I have not actually tried myself, then I make this quite clear in my posts.
I am building up a network of lcoal food producers that I am getting to know, and they me - several of them came to the garden when I had it open for the HDRA - they are doing it too - local food, local knowlege.
I post on various forums on the internet, including River Cottage, where I am known as Lowlander. I take no greater pleasure in passing on what I know as I see knowledge in these things as being the most important thing that we can pass down to our chidlren and others.
Whether you have three chickens in an Eglu in your back yard, two dozen in a large run in an organic garden or 300 chickens on a small farm, that is merely a question of scale, and the same ethics apply to them all; it makes no-one's knowledge less valuable.
Everyone has a valuable contribution to make, and should not be belittled, especially in a public Forum such as this, for the efforts they are making in trying to make their lives and those of those around them and the world in general a better place.
Here endeth the lesson.
May you find peace on all levels of your being.
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Mrs Fiddlesticks
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well said Sarah D. We are all at different 'stages' - not the right word but it'll do- all welcome here.
I see this site as community building of like minded folk as well as passing on info. One of the hard things about doing this - regardless of level - is that friends and relatives tend to glaze over when I start to talk of the allotment again, here others are happily on about their plots too. Shared passions - that's it for me!
I know very little compared to Sarah D, and realistically will never get up to that level, I don't have the time, space or ability. (But what I can manage is still worth doing.) I respect her knowledge.
No one is top dog here - we all have different skills and experiences that are worth sharing. Sharing the trials and tribulations of a newly learnt skill is equally important as it gives confidence to others and passes on lessons learnt.
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DarrenG
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[quote="Sarah D"]I make no secret of the fact I don't like your attitude, Darren. I buy local, free range poultry from my local butcher, when we want it.
lol and all it was about was the truth of most free-range
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uk-ken
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WOW! | Quote: | | As a result of listening to people who are/were doing it, I now keep my own hens and ducks, have bees, grow fruit and veg, brew beer (own hops), make wine, jam, pickles, washing powder, toothpaste, make my own cheese and butter, bake bread. |
JUst a quick question from a newbie......would you like to adopt me? 
Regards, Ken
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