What strikes you about their movie?
What strikes me about this movie was their huge dramatic change. I couldn't believe that they made such a huge change to their backyard. Their home went from nothing but dry dirt, to a complete green home! When I saw all the flowers, fruit and plants I noticed the complete beauty of their home. We live in such a beautiful world, but we are letting it fall into dry ugly place when its so easy to make a change.
What do you think the Dervaes’ family Needs vs. Wants sheet would look like? Why?
I think that what they have is mainly wants. They want to have a green garden and organic food to live. They also want to have solar panels and to use appliances that don't need much energy to use. Such as their blender that works by spinning a lever. But compared to our wants, their total cost will be a lot cheaper. Besides paying for the solar panels, the cost for food will be immensely cheaper. Not to mention, they would be incredibly healthy from the organic foods they are eating. So to repeat what I said earlier, its their choice to live like they do so that falls under wants, but their wants will be a lot lower price.
How does the Dervaes family fit into what we are studying in My Ishmael?
In "My Ishmael", Ishmael is constantly lecturing Julie about life and what has happened. He talks about agriculture, locking away food along with how people think our way of living is the only way and the right way. The Dervaes show that they can live sustainably differently than most people. How many people have almost every square inch of their property as a garden/farm. Not many at all. They give a perfect example that we can live differently and still be sustainable.
Overall, what are your thoughts on the way this family lives and works?
I absolutely loved the video. They inspired me to make my own garden and make my own food. I really want to grow an apple tree and grow peppers in my backyard. I have a very good experience will store bought and freshly organic foods. Every year in October, I go and work at Calico Ranch in Wynola (where Julian is). Calico Ranch is an apple orchard that doesn't spray their apples with pesticides or other chemicals to make the apples grow bigger. Infact, their apples are actually really small (except for the Ida Reds which are a naturally large apple) The tastes of the apples from the orchard compared to apples from your local grocerey stores are as different as love and hate (or a fork and soup, haha) The organic apples have so much flavor and are simply heavenly. The store apples are disgusting and bland, I can barely bare to eat them anymore. So I totally agree with the Dervaes growing their own food. Its healthier and tastes A LOT better. Not to mention its cheaper and you don't have to worry about eating digusting pesticides and chemicals. They are definetly following the right path for a better life.
Do you want to live like the Dervaes? Check out this site to find out more about what they did and the steps you can take to turn your dry, itchy and not so attractive grass into a place where you can pick ripe and fresh tomatoes from everyday:
http://urbanhomestead.org/journal/2008/01/06/100-foot-diet-challenge-launch/
4 comments:
I like how you give good support for your claim on how the family is mostly wants, as apposed to how most people that I read its mostly needs.
I like how after watching the video you didn't just go back and say "hey that was cool, good for them!" you actually went out and joined in part with what they are doing and working for.
I like how......Just kidding XP I won't start my comment off like that. I think it's awesome that you have some experience at a real farm. That reminds me... I gotta give my grandma a helping hand with the garden XD.
I liked how you used the word dramatic change because most people dont realize just how different their life style was! I also think its cool how you took part in helping the cause :)
-Shaelyn (nice blog post)
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