"...each world has a song that is begun with the first life on a world, a song that sounds within the world to foster life and variation. All living creatures are a part of the song which shall be sung forever, until the last star goes out… sometimes living creatures do not wish to be part of the song, they do not hear it, they rise up against it, they cry that they are larger than the song and more important than the music, and when their words drown out the song, then the world begins to die..."
(Sheri S Tepper)
"Let your boat of life be light, packed with only what you need - a homely home and simple pleasures, one or two friends, a cat, a dog, and a pipe or two, enough to eat and enough to wear" (Jerome K Jerome)
"the rule of thumb for determining whether someone or their product/ policies are sustainable, is if it involves any cost in money then it certainly isn't"
(Phil Rooksby)
"The longing for Nature, strong, silent and healthy, is the vital phenomenon of our time, and is the counterbalance to an inorganic civilisation, which we mistakenly describe as culture." (Viktor Schauberger)
“…choosing not to have whatever everyone else considers necessary, means no bills and having the freedom to live your life as you want…”
(Phil Rooksby)
hi, and welcome to our blog/ website, which exists purely because we want to share with others what we’ve learnt (over the years) about: how to live without the need to earn money, how to think for ourselves, how to become healthier, and how to act sustainably.
A quick introduction. We’re Maureen and Phil Rooksby. Both from South London originally, but moved as soon as possible to the countryside. First the lovely village of Stony Stratford in Milton Keynes (during the new city’s formative years), then on to even bigger challenges in the wilds of North Yorkshire. Except even that soon got to feel too easy. So in 2000 we sold everything, converted a battered old parcel van to live in instead, and headed to Spain. To Galicia initially (in the NW), then 2 years later travelled south through Portugal, and where for five years stayed in the most rural region, the Alentejo. All the time searching for a piece of land where we could settle and become self-sufficient. The last two years we tried to buy a lovely spot in the hills of Monchique (further down on the south coast), but it obviously wasn’t meant to be. So tried Canada next. Arriving in Vancouver in the middle of winter with no more idea what to do next or where to head. British Columbia proved to be one of the most magical places on earth. Unfortunately the Canadian immigration authority didn’t share our keenness to stay, and we had to leave. Arriving back in Spain this time, where we renewed our search, and one later found our place in Andalucía. Moving in June 2009.
finca El Pocito, Almonaster la Real, 21350, HUELVA, Spain
if you are on a similar search you might find the following priorities we used to govern our search, useful:
first – we wanted to live somewhere without debt (no mortgage to pay/ rent/ utility bills/ or any other charge on our time).
second – with our own water supply. A spring preferably (but makes it much harder to find), or (as we settled for eventually) borehole. And it has to be natural, unpolluted, as well as enough for all-year-round use, both for in the house and to water the garden.
third – the land must be well above sea-level. 600 metres being the ideal. This is because the higher you go the less extreme the weather gets (both in winter and summer), humidity is lower, pollution minimal, and there's no risk from flooding.
fourth - south-facing. Having tried all the options this is undoubtedly the best. Both for growing the widest range of crops, without the fear of frost, and a much longer season, plus maximum potential for solar/ wind power. As well as keeping the house warmer and lighter during the winter.
fifth - soil. As sandy as possible. All other types just make the job harder.
sixth - distance from neighbours. At least 200m, and in our case 2 km being the ideal. Nearest centre of population should also be no more than +/- 600 people, and the nearest city should be at least 100km away.
seventh – the nearest town and city have to be places you love visiting, this is crucial. Here we have the beautiful town in the region, Almonaster la Real, only 2 km or 45 mins walk away, providing all we could ask for in contact with the outside world. Serpa (in Portugal) is 80 mins drive and has all we could ask for in culture. And Sevilla (2 hrs drive) has the rest.
eighth - a traditional building to repair. We started out thinking the only way to have a truly functional and natural/ healthy house was to design and build it ourselves. Not any longer. That way leads only to disappointment and financial ruin. A home is an amazingly complex ideal. So much so that only with hindsight could you ever hope to think and plan for everything you’ll eventually need. You would also need all the training of an architect and civil engineer to make it happen, along with a full understanding of the planning regulations. Life is too short. The answer therefore, is to go the far easier and more satisfying route of repair. This way the build proceeds at your pace/ ability/ and funds, and at the same time you learn from the space itself what is required.
ninth – having enough land to be sustainable. More on that further on, but the rule of thumb is approximately 5 hectares of land per person, and certainly nowhere with a greater density overall.
