Concerned citizens teach lost art of living off the land

Not that long ago people lived close to the land and had the skills to be self-sufficient.

The Michigan Land Trustees and Transition Van Buren/Allegan want to make sure people can live that way again.

The two groups work together to educate people about changing economics around the world that could bring back the need to understand how to consume less energy and to support oneself off the land.

The groups hope to raise understanding of the issues of peak oil — the point at which oil production begins to go down, oil prices go up steeply and the worldwide demand for oil outpaces its production by a significant margin — and climate change.

As part of their educational efforts the groups offer workshops in what they call “reskilling” — bringing back skills that grandparents took for granted but which have been all but lost by most.

In the Bangor area a “reskilling” day will take place Saturday, Oct. 9, beginning at Sunflower Farm,  25485 C.R. 681. The day begins at 1:30 p.m. with an introduction to the idea of “reskilling” explained by Barbara Geisler and Maynard Kaufman. Kaufman and Geisler live in an off-the-grid home in Bangor.

From there, participants can go to one of two other neighboring farms or stay at Sunflower Farm. Cheesemaking will be introduced at the Eater’s Guild Farm Eater’s Guild Farm 26041 C.R. 681 and the value of native plants at the Towne-Martindale residence, 24760 County Road 681.

A second set of workshops beginning at 3:45 p.m. Dealing with Emergencies will be offered at Sunflower Farm, Fermentation at Eater’s Guild Farm and Permaculture Gardening will be offered at the Towne-Martindale residence.

Writer: Kathy Jennings
Source: Rita Bober, Michigan Land Trust and Transition Van Buren / Allegan