I did it again and sent this to Gene. Why isn't the "Reply to:" line set
to the group? Most list programs do that.==>p
>Abandoned homesteads are less likely to exist in the East. We can move. You
>did. Would it not be more eco-sensible to reinhabit abandoned places before
>we carve new ones out of the few forests we have left?
There is a good argument for reclaiming an old homestead, in fact a number
of good arguments, from the standpoint of starting with something is
usually easier and cheaper than starting from scratch. I'm not convinced
though that the impact on the environment is any better. There are a
number of people looking for rural land that do want big yards and will
have them no matter what. By judiciously carving out a new homesite with
some awareness to the ecology, one might be leaving the old homestead's
weedy pastures to the person who would have clearcut the forest.
The land is for sale. Sooner or later somebody is going to buy it. Small
tracts aren't good for much else other than building a home. Will any
member of this list be likely to do it worse than the next people the RE
agent shows it to? Assuming that if it isn't bought now it's likely to
stay like it is for long seems unfounded in reality to me.
Ecovillages seem fraught with danger to me, unless it is very clearly
spelled out how to break it up if the need arises. Look at the divorce
rate in this country and tell me any living with common property situation
would be more stable. I'd also suspect that unless you are talking about a
commune, for the sharing of communal property to be �fair' there would have
to be a ton of rules and restrictions spelled out first, or
misunderstandings would be common.
BTW: I don't get (or at least rarely get) chiggers and ticks in my more
mature woods. I have them by the ton in the places that are open enough
for grass to grow. Granted it's not mowed grass, and it would take 40
years to get a woods relatively free of undergrowth. Noting that I rarely
have to pick a tick off of me that wasn't under clothing made me do a 180
degree turn from all of the advise on how to dress in tick country and I
rarely get ticks on me now. Chiggers do get into my sandals though.
==>paul
