Principle outcomes summarized
This output provided samples of DIY Recipes I have created or compiled on my journey to having an Urban Homestead. Homesteading is a life of self-sufficiency it isn't confined to a specific place. You can live in a city or on the countryside. It varies from agriculture, preservation of foodstuff, small-scale production of health and beauty products, cleaning solutions, clothing and food supplies. The categories I have chosen to talk about during this project output are: Arts and crafts, Food Creation, Health and Beauty products, and cleaning supplies. I will also discuss my specific goals in relation to the permaculture principles. Throughout my journey I uncovered key outcomes and learnings:
- I have learned that it took a lot of trial and error before coming up with the right product that worked for what I wanted
- I was able to connect with a bunch of Gaia associates during the creation of this output and felt very supported around the content of this output packet and this helped me move forward with my projects
- I found it challenging to video document alone with the set up that I have (phone)
- People were genuinely curious about recipes and inspired me to get my blog back up and running
The Bigger Picture
I don't think I dived into this too much but there is a bigger picture that is present and was the underlying pressure for me to create this output packet. I am constantly hearing that, 'this', is good for you and that, 'that', is bad for you but it still seems that it is ever-changing and you can't trust that a product will ever be good indefinitely. There are studies that link food coloring, corn syrup, and bleach and other unnatural ingredients to negative health effects. Those studies will also be ever-changing as science gets stronger and we understand more. It has only been a short amount of time for us to truly understand those products fully, but the Earth has been around for 4.5 billion years and it knows what it needs to be a happy and healthy planet. I know that my goal in life is to be happy and healthy, as it should be many other people's goals. To be happy and healthy, I need and want to promote my lifestyle and prevent as many of those unnatural ingredients into my life and for others. WE are an integrated part of everything and I strive to protect the environment so the correct amount of sunlight, soil, and rain can be present to grow what we need to survive. I feel like transitioning to this lifestyle of doing-it-yourself and repurposing is a process between interdependent and independent influences. It comes down to support and knowledge and that's all that I want to spread because participating in actions that are unsustainable to the planet, is just as unsustainable to myself and to others.
Next steps
I will continue to practice and make my own essential products that I use at home. I will adapt recipes where I see fit and use this output as a resource to make my products when I run out. My next goals are based off of land work and homesteading practices. I am excited to explore new ideas and start growing food! I will focus on fixing up our garden plot and incorporate a mini greenhouse as well as vertical gardening. I will start my seedlings inside starting the first week of March in preparation for the spring planting! I have also foraged a new guild buddy, Kate Marnul, and we will be having our first meeting on Thursday, March 5th. I am looking forward to connecting as she also lives in Wisconsin. I plan to ask her opinion on a few potential topics that I will go over in my next output packet. I will generate a list of questions to ask her when we meet. I am still waiting for feedback to incorporate into this output from my last output submission, once I obtain feedback I will adapt this output to show the desired changes. I have received feedback from my previous output and I made sure to not exceed the word count for this output packet. I also went through and did a spelling/grammar check of my work. I also feel though that peer reviews aren't actually helpful in order to create a better piece of work, especially if they don't have the same perspective as your advisor and what they're looking for. Needless to say I am not very happy about my last output and I am hoping this one showcases my abilities to create successful output packets.
New goals
I need to begin working on a lesson plan for presenting a Social Permaculture lesson during the 2 week extensive PDC course down in southern Wisconsin this June. I will also check in with a potential employer in 2 weeks in regards to a position I just interviewed for. I have set up a skill-flex with Ava on revamping my cover letter and writing as a metaphor. I want to learn how to pitch myself as my capstone year is going to be over and I am trying to make a new career path with my learnings at Gaia.