by SilentRunning » Sun 30 Jan 2011, 18:55:11
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('mos6507', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('SilentRunning', '
')I've been having a good time with my daughter going over my land and planning what to plant and where. We are going to be putting in an orchard in the spring. I have also been surveying our woodlands, and figuring out what to harvest in order to encourage long term sustainable maple sugar production as well as a revitalized old growth forest. It gives me a good feeling that I am starting something that will very likely benefit my children and future generations - and that both my kids are interested in seeing it succeed.
Yes, but the doomer in me says "best laid plans of mice and men often go astray".
It's easy to say you'll impress the same value system on your kids that you have, but it's the nature of kids growing up to rebel. You know, one generation is a strict catholic, the next is a stripper, the one after that is a strict catholic. You do the opposite for the sake of being different.
That's why I say the human element is the weakest link. If we were all 2,000 year old elves tending to Rivendell, that's one thing, but keeping a family food forest going generation after generation, especially into the chaotic future we're facing in the 21st century and beyond, well, that's gonna be really hard.
Considering the way my daughter is growing up, I can't even count on her to continue whatever I start. These things just are not directly in your control.
MY kids are in their mid 20s and we've been through the normal teen rebellion phase. I was deeply impressed with my daughter when she started her own garden on a plot of land owned by a friend. I had not even talked to her about peak oil and my own plans - but after I saw that she was prepping on her own, we had some great conversations.
I understand that times may be very hard ahead - but without some sort of long term vision I don't see any chance for success.