Dick Proenneke - Alone in the wilderness

[Belinda Barfield]

There is apparently a move of younger couples INTO farming. For the first time in decades, they say, more and more young couples are becoming farmers.

In this area we are seeing a LOT of young families who aren't necessarily going into farming, but are interested in being self sufficient. Lots of back yard gardens, container gardening, back to the basics of making cheese and soap, etc. I'm attending the South Georgia Growing Local conference in January. Topics include include things like

Wild Fermentation
Perennial Crops for Food Security: What Grows in South Georgia
Vermiculture: What Worm Castings Can Do For You

It's being held at the Vidalia Onion and Vegetable Research Center - love Vidalia Onions.

[Zach England]

I have chickens and a every spare inch of my .09 acre lot is garden.

[Larry Edgerton]

I always had one farm or another but after a catastropic divorce I have not had a garden for about ten years. I so miss it!

Part of the new shop/home complex will be a large garden just outside my bedroom window with a greenhouse on the nord side and a cyclone/electric fence to keep out the deer/elk/rabbitts/raccoon/etc.

I have wanted this all in one situation for a long time, but it is the garden that I am most excited about.

Larry

[Peter Elliott]

I truly enjoyed Alone in the Wilderness. I think Dick did say something about the bugs at one point being horrible. It was also mentioned that he would return to see his family once in awhile.

I envy the man's will and determination.

Growing up in rural northern VT, there wasn't much other than a few churches, farms and a good distance to a real store. As a kid, it may have been more work, boring at times, etc. But when I reflect back, it taught me a lot. I don't think you have to be a farmer to experience the rural life.

[Myk Rian]

I've watched the show about dick Proenneke many times on PBS and it amazes me why someone would want to live in the wilderness....almost entirely cut-off from family and civilization.

Anti-social?

[Chuck Wintle]

Anti-social?

or tired of other human beings?

[ray hampton]

Anti-social?

he not anti-social but he did trade one social for a better social