Sundays.: Passion runs deep

Lately, after a long day on my feet in the cafe, I have enjoyed hopping into bed (as early as possible) with a few favorite blogs open on my computer screen. Not only to research new and exciting recipes to try out the next day but also to go to bed feeling inspired and supported in my beliefs and choices.

One that truly warms my heart is Whole Ladder Love which tells the day to day dealings of a man south of Melbourne in Australia and his journey to throw away the mainstream world and live a self sustainable life, starting with food. I first read of him in a favorite NZ magazine Extra Curricular and quotes such as;

"I got really despondent living such a shallow lifestyle; working your arse off for some big cooperation, obsessing about making money for the shareholders- it was all about making money. I decided a life that involved the simpler joys felt more natural. Not having a BMW or a big house in the "right" suburb."

I was hooked and quite honestly close to shedding a tear. Its funny when you find an average ol person out there that can write exactly how you feel so strongly on so many levels.

"We’re all humans, we all face the same unavoidable fate. We all leave a mark on the world, both spiritually and physically. For some unplanned reason, my mind has changed over the last decade. I’ve been questioning why I do what I do, and how I live. The outcome is, I’ve made changes based on the beliefs I’ve formed, and thus I live a life of simplicity. I don’t do things I don’t want to do, I’m not interested in growing business and making more money, quite the opposite. I’m quite happy just being able to pay the rent and utilities and fend for myself and the kids."

"My current lifestyle doesn’t allow for idleness. I’m the busiest I’ve ever been. But I do things on my own terms, I do what I believe is right, not what’s expected of me. I don’t have an allocated lunch break, instead I’m free to eat when I’m hungry. I sleep when I’m tired, and I fill my days with tasks that need to be done, each task either contributing to food stores or homes comforts i.e. firewood collecting or cleaning. My greatest achievements are seemingly diminutive. A good crop of beans, a basket of found chestnuts and a cap filled with the first wild mushrooms of autumn. Food is such an integral part of all of our lives, and when you start to play a significant role in its preparation you can taste the result. My food is simple. It is made by hand. It’s grown. It’s hunted and it’s fished."

Many people ask me why I chose to eliminate nearly all animal products from my life and diet. Its a subject I feel very passionate about, obviously passionate enough to change a lifestyle for, but its also something that I believe, like all things, is a personal choice. I do not like to preach or force my opinions on other people, and in all honesty I often find it easier not to think too far into it all for fear of getting upset with the day to day living and consumption or the ignorance and selfish greed of humanity. I dont like to explain to people in depth my reasonings because people often like to challenge my beliefs which to an extent proves my point exactly and only frustrates and upsets me more. The fact that not only do people chose to ignore the harm they are doing but they will fight you on it for fun. " Can you really not see the damage you are doing to yourself, to your surroundings? to the world? to our future generations? and for what? because it tastes good or is easy" I think. It really saddens and scares me to be reminded of the world we are living in.

But then you come across some people like you. Some people that appreciate the process and the worth. That are not ignorant but well educated and practiced on the topic.

Rohan at Whole Ladder Love lives off the land. He grows and hunts or trades locally with like minded people for all his food and by writing about it ( on his blog and in his cook book) he survives of it. I often say to people that although I do not eat meat or animal products that have been sourced in an inhumane manner I would have no problem in catching a fish, killing it properly and cooking it up if I felt that I needed to eat it that much. I would go and kill a chicken and prepare it had I needed to eat chicken that much. But I do not believe that I do need it and so I dont. People who could not stand to kill an animal but will eat it without appreciating the life it has taken are the problem and so I find Rohans lifestyle not only ok but inspiring and commendable.

But to put the animal rights mantra on hold, the mere fact that he is living a life that he wants and believes in on his own terms is 100% admirable. AND then the fact that he is making it work and grow to inspire and educate others is just mindblowing. I can only hope that my plans for the future work out so well.

Today I settled in at a beautiful and delightfully early 6.30pm and found he has turned the horse stable into a little workshop get away for people to come out into the bush and stay with him, learn how to hunt, kill and gather the right and self sustainable way. How amazing!

So I just cant help but share and hope you do too...