I wonder how many of my blog readers have noticed that new badge on my opening page. I was notified on Monday that my YouTube channel was added to a list of the top 20 Sustainable Living YouTubers by
Feedspot. Pretty ironic considering that one of the main things I have learned after 11 years of The Field Lab experiment, it that it is virtually impossible for one person to live a completely sustainable life out here (or just about anywhere else) - especially if you are a meat eater. I suppose if I was a hardcore vegan - I might be able to make a go of it...but it is doubtful (and incredibly boring). I pretty much have figured out that true sustainable living is just a myth. There are lots of internet sources that promote it...but they always leave out things like gasoline for your vehicle, building materials and hardware, taxes, insurance, ect. Sure I have long had all my water and electricity needs taken care of - but food is a whole other story. One of the main reasons I haven't been growing anything in the greenhouse is because the amount of calories and nutritional value produced vs. the expense, time, and effort (and my precious rainwater) doesn't make it worthwhile - plus, I suck when it comes to
farming. From time to time I have been asked..."in all my years of living out here what have I found to be the most efficient means of sustaining myself?" My answer....Amazon Prime. 80,90,52, .14",B
14 comments:
The only place I've seen where one individual has made it on their own for any length of time is in a tropical environment. Any other environment takes a group and/or outside resources to keep from starving or freezing to death.
Native American's had sustainable living figured out thousands of years ago. It's possible, but modern man lacks the skill set and intelligence.
Generations before us (not just Native Americans) had sustainable living figured out because they had to. But they also spent every waking hour of every day doing what they had to in order to stay alive.
But they also spent every waking hour of every day doing what they had to in order to stay alive.
Very true and they did not stay alive long. (short lifespan)
Agafia comes close. (Search youtube for Agafia)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFK3DJ7Kn6s&t=2210s
Congratulations on your channel been named top 20 sustainable living YouTubers. At least you are honest and give credit where credit is due...Amazon Prime...lot :)
West Texas is not the best place to try to find a "living off the land" lifestyle. It is almost like going to Hell and setting up a snowcone factory. Lots of interest from the locals, but hard to produce the product without water. : )
Here is a man who comes as close to being self-reliant that I have ever read about. Read the book Eustace Conway "The Last American Man"
If I were to try living off the land in Texas it would be in East Texas.
Your line on Amazon Prime is one of the best I have seen in a long time. We all want and need clean air and water, so we all need to be as sustainable as we can, but most are waste creators. As we are told; we need each other, we need God, we need clean earth to live. Thanks for your efforts, your honesty and your faith.
Three Cheers For John Wells for winning the medal for Top 20 Sustainable Living. I was with my brother when he sold the tract of Terlingua Ranch - to John Wells - 11 years ago. This was some unused property that had been donated to provide funds for a lawsuit - to address property owners grievances! We eventually ran out of funds and had give up on helping property owners. But John Wells successfully built a new home - called The Field Lab. John has a great love for the wild animals & his Longhorn steer, and both feeds & provides them with life giving water - and I suppose the only ones killed by John - are the truly dangerous ones - like rattlesnakes. This desert is truly a harsh environment to live in - but John Wells has proven that he fully capable of making a success of living there. Three Cheers again!
And they had a village. And family members.
It's complicated as they say. Following John for a number of years trying to understand who he was/is and how all that might be changing as he continued through his quest and adventure.'
I've thought some of the things, he has now come out and said but I suspected he was thinking those things already... it was just a question if/when he would say them.
I do not think there is any shame in admitting those things. In fact, John wanted to encounter them personally rather than just perceive them and it's been interesting and heartwarming following his day-to-days.
I don't know where John is headed, maybe John is not sure yet but I wish him the best and will continue to follow his travels through his life. For some reason, I can no longer get notice of when he goes online on Youtube and listen to David and Sam... so I come back to the blog from time to time to see what's up.
Keep on ... keeping on...........the best to John and Sam and David.
John-
I cannot tell you how much I appreciate your honesty. I've followed your blog for a long time now, visited your place and gotten to know you through the years. It is important that you are reporting the facts accurately. There are tens of thousands of wannabes out there thinking they can go off the grid and sustain themselves. Truth is, 99% of them will fail. Your work proves that.
What you have also proven is that with a debt free lifestyle, one can get by largely on their own. I too live in a remote area and Amazon is a net win for everybody. Efficient producers make the goods, efficient carriers deliver the goods, and small acreage land owners don't
waste time and resources doing things they're not equipped to do.
Hats off to you for your research. I salute you!
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