A city girl's explorations into sustainable living

Recently I found myself unemployed, pondering what I should do with my life next. All the career books say, do what you love. Find your passion. Follow your bliss. As if there is an answer -- a solution that will allow you to make money doing what you were meant to do. Help the world, help yourself, and make money!

For me, it's not so easy. I'm interested in a lot of things, but nothing that I am willing to invest in enough to turn it into a career.

I'm what Barbara Sher calls a "scanner," or what Margaret Lobenstine calls "the Renaissance Soul." At least that's what these self-help books for the career-stunted tell me.

What I tell myself is that I'm a learner. And what I want to learn about right now is sustainable living. I have a feeling it's what I'm supposed to be doing -- even if it doesn't pay. Even if it COSTS money to do.

I am meant to be a student right now, exploring peak oil, the economic crisis, climate change, sustainable agriculture, community building, permaculture, natural capitalism, Transition Towns, rural sociology, and my own spiritual growth. I honestly don't know where it will lead, or what it will amount to, but I invite you to share my journey.

Monday, July 12, 2010

Moving to Fergus Falls

It's official! I am registered as a student at M State Community and Technical College in the Sustainable Food Production program. Classes start August 26th. I just went to Fergus Falls today and applied for an apartment.... one of several I had toured.

The apartment I chose is in the city of Fergus Falls. The other one I considered, which was more spacious and beautiful (and more expensive), was 6 miles outside the city. When I went to tour it, I passed by many farms and corn fields... and I felt lonely. I felt like I was in the middle of nowhere. I imagined myself coming back to the apartment in the dark, feeling sad and isolated. So I chose the city apartment with a balcony right above a busy street.

The irony was not lost on me that I chose not to live in the country -- because I felt the farmland surroundings would be lonely -- while enrolled in a program that's supposed to teach me how to farm.
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