Saturday, April 5, 2014

   While in their third year of college Mi and Ar had put together a plan on how and where to create their Eden.They have learned much about agriculture.Where to find good soil,water and how to create and  maintain a good growing season year after year.Initially they had planned on growing what they needed to live healthy lives together.They didn't want have animals as a food source they thought it would be easier to grow fruits and vegetables.Knowing that fruits take longer to produce after the first planting.
     They found where they wanted their Eden the soil was pretty good and water was not too deep to drill for a well.Now they knew they had to earn the funds to buy the land and drill for water and what to do for electricity.They could build a windmill for the water pump and maybe solar for some electricity though they were worried about the batteries and the cost of maintaining them.Mi and Ar also knew they would have to build a pond so water would always be available in case of some unforeseen problem with the water supply.
    Another big question where would they live a trailer,a garage type building or a pole barn and what will it cost.The cost of the land is the biggest investment.The land they wanted was far enough away from the coast to be not too expensive.Ten acres seemed like a good amount of land to live off of for the two of them.The best price they could get was 750.00 dollars an acre.Remember this is the 1960's.They were getting anxious but they had a year and a half left finish their four years of college.They wanted to step outside the world and create a peaceful healthy environment for themselves and their children.They promised their parents they would at least finish the four year degrees since the parents were helping fund their education.
   By this time my mom was working at hospitals part time at night and going to school during the day.My dad was working as a bartender at night four nights a week and making some pretty good tips.All the money went into a bank account living as cheaply as possible.They figured they needed at least twenty five thousand to buy the land get a well drilled and the decide what they could afford to live in.They were thinking of making their own bricks for an adobe type home.They still needed money for the roof and for a couple of years at least enough money to live on.Because you just never know what can happen with the food supply when you are growing it.They always had a back up plan and they taught myself my sister Mai and my brother Mach to always have a back up plan.I am glad they did !
     Now for a small disclaimer; Throughout my life my parents told us stories of how they created their Eden and eventually our Eden.The may vary from what really happened but my parents never intentionally lied to us.I know they worked hard those first years because they are two tough people and have my admiration for their creation and devotion to enjoying earth's bounty.

     Awl Gnames

Friday, April 4, 2014

Hell-o I am Awl..
        It has been told to me that my life thus far has not been ordinary.I always differ with that opinion,because it is my life and is ordinary to me.So I am going to tell me story little by little and you be the judge if it is ordinary or not.

       My parents names are Mi and Ar Gnames. They chose those names because they decided they wanted a new life for themselves and their children and grandchildren. They are childhood sweethearts married by to each other by each other.
       They knew each other most of their lives but become an item as "they" say when in high school.Their parents were educated and had good jobs or their own business (Ar's father had a construction business).
       Things were beginning to change in the early sixties,there was Rock and Roll,Women's Liberation and the youth wanted a new world.My parents heard about the Hippie culture and they liked the concept or the philosophy of living off the land and sharing earth's bounty.I do want to clarify this was the Hippie culture before it become Sex,Drugs and Rock and Roll.The original Hippie culture was Peace and love for all mankind.What this original philosophy turned into always saddened my parents.My parents still today believe in Peace and Love and sharing the earths bounty. They have spent their lives doing just that..Sharing.

       My parents graduated from high school in 1966 at the top of their class.They were smart and really never did without much.They worked their summers from 12 years old on with their parents and/or at home.They were taught from as young as they can remember what it costs to live day to day.Their parents made sure they were knowledgeable of the bills that needed to be paid and the income necessary to pay those bills.When they were not in school they worked and paid their share of bills as if they were renters.Of course it wasn't always with glee they did this.There was the teenage angst,but they did learn a lot about the real cost of living.

       Mi and Ar entered college in the fall of  1966.Their parents together with themselves had saved enough money to pay for four years of college.My Mother wanted to be a Doctor eventually but started with nursing classes and the basic classes for her eventual Doctoral degree in medicine.My father wanted to be an Master Engineer with a Business degree.He thought the combination would be unbeatable.Meanwhile in the back of their minds they were thinking about living off the land and how to do so.Their both had the hobby of agriculture and read all the information they could get on the subject while still working on their chosen degree programs.Oh yes they were very busy but looking forward to their future as a free man and woman outside gates of The Establishment.