>> April 15, 2020
>> Blog Post #58
So let’s say I really do build a citadel like I said I’m dreaming of recently, where do I start?
I guess there are two main elements.
1/ convincing my better half – tough one right there
2/ figuring out a game plan for something as big as a life choice…. – yikes
Ok, so tall order….
I’ll probably have to start with the game plan first. To try and figure out whether this is attainable, achievable, by me. I’ve heard and read several times already that you should start small and grow from there, at least as far is permaculture is concerned, as that has been one of the first topics I have dived into. The comment probably carries a lot of wisdom as it has been expressed by people who have tried and seem very humble in their approach to things. It might therefore be wise to heed that advice and remember it. Especially because I have a natural tendency to go too far too quickly.
So how do you make a plan?
- You need land
- You need to gather resources
- You need to use these resources as efficiently as possible
- You need to progressively tend towards more autonomy while understanding that it takes several years to build
- You need learn new skills
- You need help along the way
- You need to survive the hardships as there will be hard times – that again seems to be a common comment of people who are willing to share some feedback on their personal experience.
I will probably split my studies along the lines of:
- Land – choosing the best possible land to establish a citadel
- Design – learning how to build a system, that is an ecosystem where things and animals (including us) live off of each other
- Food – how to grow food, how to keep food, how to transform food
- Shelter – learn how to build a house. Isn’t it kind of crazy that 99.9% of people do not know how to do this anymore?
- Energy / Resources – Water, heat, electricity obviously, but also all the resources you can accumulate freely and transform into something useful for crops or animals. There is a ton of stuff to do there and this recycling, DIYing aspect is one of the most interesting to me.
- Security – physical security, financial security, health considerations, risks, redundancies, etc. This is probably an understated theme but another one that I am very curious about
- Network, social – finally this theme. You cannot do everything yourself, obviously. I will need help and support, and this is only possible with the help of others, to build, criticize, support, buy, sell, dream, joke, … Whatever it is people do. You need people.
This all sounds so crazy.
I must say though, that someone offered his help to me yesterday. I am 100% sure he doesn’t know just how crazy I am, but I do also believe, he was serious in at least considering there was some hard work to be done and I know he’s got the mind of a builder, just like me. Never know… 🙂
