Looking Towards the Future
Sharon February 23rd, 2010
It is so good to be back! I missed this site - I love my new digs over at science blogs, but there’s something wonderfully comfortable and familiar about being here - it seems weird to say that a place on the internet can feel like home, but it is true.
When I first shifted over to science blogs, I wasn’t sure whether I would stay. I’m still ambivalent about using a commercial site - I don’t like the ads any more than my readers. But I can’t argue with the fact that my material is simply getting a wider audience - yes, a more critical one, and the site is perhaps more contentious, but that’s good too. Ideas need to be criticized. And the reality of our ecological and economic predicament is sufficiently tough that they need all the exposure they can get. So at least for now, I’m staying.
Which leaves me with the question of how to use this site - because I don’t have any desire to give it up. Moreover, as soon as I finish the Adapting-In-Place book (which now has an official title: _Making Home_, and a cover that I’m not yet allowed to show you but which is just as stunning as the Independence Day cover!), I’m going to be making some big changes in my online (and home life), the changes detailed here in my post “Gleanings Farm Rides Again”. The gist of it is that I haven’t been happy spending so much time in front of the computer, and I really need to get off my duff and go back to being more of a farmer. I’m not leaving writing anytime soon, but I do anticipate a shift in how much time I spend in front of a screen - because it just is making me unhappy.
I’m going to keep blogging, but at a much more slower pace - the plan is for me to have two days a week devoted to writing and online teaching, and the rest of my time to be reserved for farm work, family work, community work and projects like in=person teaching and building neighborhood support networks. It will be harder for me to maintain two blogs of diffuse identity.
So my plan is this - The Chatelaine’s Key will be my farm blog. It will contain narratives about local resources, my challenges (obviously, there will be a third year of the Independence Days Challenge (more on that in a sec), but I’ve got a couple more in mind!), food storage (I’m bringing back the food storage quickies) and our farm’s life and products. I’m going to finally get a digital camera and let you see what life looks like here. The other stuff will be over at science blogs - where I’m also going to be adding some low energy life basics and bringing back the post-apocalyptic novel reading club. Hopefully the two blogs will develop something of a synergy.
Oh, and on March 1, I’m going to restart the Independence Days Challenge, as year 3 (yeah, I know, it hasn’t been quite a year yet, but close enough for jazz, and I want to start at the beginning of my hemisphere’s planting season, or close to it). The wonderful and always-participatory Rob has kindly made me a new banner for ID year 3 - and it is my favorite yet. Take a look! Thank you, Rob!!!
All these changes will take a while for me to implement - I’ve got to finish the book first. But good stuff is coming. The site is back, the book is nearly done and happy days are here again 
.
Cheers,
Sharon
- blog stuff
- Comments(16)
I love the idea of a farm blog focused on growing and animal husbandry. Could this be the blog for food prep. and recipes too?
Dandelion kimchi… hint, hint.
Yay! I’ve really missed the Friday quickies…
I like the division, it makes sense to my brain. It’s also exciting to get a deeper peak into your farming, as my own is developing!
Alexa
who spent yesterday tanning rabbit skins while watching Joel Salatin you-tube videos and is all super-motivated now!
I will read your work wherever/however you decide to present it. You’re just that good.
And I can totally dig wanting to get away from the computer and get your hands into your *real* work. Whatever works for you, Sharon, and all sorts of good vibes to your farm from me. (If I lived within range I’d have to see how much produce I could buy/barter from you. However, I’ll content myself with pictures. Please be sure to include the goats, the chickens, and the ducks. And the puppies! 
Like you’d forget any of your critters or your beautiful family.)
The only suggestion I have to make is that it would be *extremely* convenient if you could make a permanent link somewhere near the top of this blog to take us to the science blogs site. Yes, I am electronically lazy.
More like, I have waaaaay too many bookmarks, and the science blogs one that takes me right to you is way at the bottom of the list. (Yup. Lazy.) But that’s the only suggestion. To be honest, I’m a trifle relieved that you’ll be cutting back on writing some. When things get nuts here, it can be difficult to keep up with you.
Just a suggestion, Sharon: If I were browzing a bookstore, whether real or virtual, and I saw a title like “Making Home”, I would pass it by because I already have several books like that, but I definitely would pick up and probably buy one called “Adapting in Place” because that would be something new and current, and something I would really want to learn.
FWIW
Laurie: I have discovered that if I drop the bookmark menu (alt-b on my browser), and the up arrow, it takes me to the last bookmark!
The method I actually use though is to only read sharon’s blog at scienceblogs, so that I type “sci” into my address bar and it auto-completes. whee! (“sha” effectively does the same thing.)
as long as we still can have the cool challenges….those keep me thinking & doing…
Good to see this blog functioning again!
shamba
I am so glad to see the site back up and running, as I am a very recent reader/lurker. I agree that the division makes sense, and am looking forward to following both blogs. I am particularly excited about the post-apocalyptic novel reading club! For some reason, no one in my life seems to share my affection for post-apocalyptic narratives. (I can’t imagine why…)
Yay! glad you’re back up and running here. I’m looking forward to all the farm and home stuff you’ll be devoting this blog to (and I am SO looking forward to pics of the farmstead!).
Can’t wait for the start of this year’s IDC. Last year ended up as mostly a bust due to nasty flooding and blight and hail etc etc. Looking forward to a do-over -while being exceptionally grateful that we are not yet in a place where we have to rely solely on our stores.
Sharon, you are always an inspiration (and you make me laugh too)!
-Nicole
There is a link on the sidebar to scienceblogs now - I’ll work on getting it moved up to the top.
Ponygal, the title was the subject of a lot of debate with editors - “Adapting in Place” was deemed to be kind of confusing to people - if you don’t know what you are supposed to adapt to before you pick up the book… This was a compromise title. We’ll just have to make it work
.
Sharon
Great idea to divide topics between your blogs. I will enjoy reading both, but this place will always be “home”
Can’t wait to see pics from the farm and just in time for spring!
Ah! Thank you, Sharon — I see the link now.
Slightly off topic question: how much control do authors usually have over their book titles? I know that depending on how much clout you have as a book *seller*/author you may or may not have any control over the cover art. Is it different for titles?
Enquiring minds….
So glad you are back! I really enjoy all your writing and need the motivation!
Hi Sharon, read your article on Speaking Truth to Power, very succinct and relevant. How easily it can happen that people pick up a thread and know nothing of the garment, it certainly is a balancing act. I want to compliment you on your massive heart that seeks to encompass expanding realities so gracefully, and you keep growing it. Your husband must be a solid rock that you stand on to perform these tasks. God bless you and all you desire to achieve. love marian
Hi Sharon, I don’t know what it is but this site is friendlier. I feel more comfortable posting remarks over here and feel at home. It is strange, isn’t it.
This blog feels more like home, like a living room. The other one seems more public, like a meeting hall. Both of them offer great discussion and resources, and I can’t figure out *why* they should feel so different. I have a suspicion familiarity has a lot to do with it.