Teach Me How To, Dougie

   This weekend I finally finished prepping and planting our little vegetable garden. We have neat little rows of potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, onions, squash, zucchini and cucumbers surrounded by chicken wire. I can hardly wait for the sprouts to start popping up, let alone the harvesting that'll come later. There's something I find very gratifying about doing something like this. I love being able to do something for myself and not needing to rely as heavily on someone else. I suppose that's the same reason why I started building furniture and doing my own automotive work. Apart from saving money, there's a deep satisfaction in knowing how to do things for yourself or your family. I'd actually love to be able to do more on my own. If I could own a couple dozen or hundred acres and live as far off the grid as possible, I'd do it in a heartbeat. There once was a time when people were largely responsible for growing and reaping/butchering their own food, sewing their own clothes, building their homes and furniture. Of course there were those people more specialized at specific jobs like blacksmiths and doctors, but  the vast majority of people had to rely on their own wits and strength. Today though we go to someone else for everything; Plumbers, electricians, landscapers, housekeepers, pool boys, interior designers, couriers, accountants, grocers, etcetera etcetera. We're forced to work outside of the home simply to maintain our homes. We work for other people in our rigourously compartmentalized jobs. "This is what I do and it's ALL that I do." How...lacking. The author Robert Heinlein once wrote:     “A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.”    They're words I've taken somewhat to heart. I'd love to see others do the same. Whenever an opportunity for learning something new presents itself, I take it. When a problem arises or a need becomes apparent, I look to see if I can take care of it on my own. And honestly, it's been amazing to find how little I need someone else to do the work for me. Do I need a teacher? Absolutely! Knowledge is rarely instinctual. However, give me a fish and I'm fed for a day. TEACH me to fish....