Gently - without harshness; having to do with a family of proper upbringing; ownership of land

Georgic - from the latin geo: earth. from the latin ergo: to work.

Gently Georgic - Our family striving to derive a proper upbringing by spending time with our hands in the dirt.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Biology 332: Trapping

The boys have been setting traps all winter, and they finally snared a coyote.  After, about six hours of skinning and fleshing they now have a second hide to match the one they got last year.  They have had a few good mentors around our area that have helped them to learn trapping technique.  It actually takes quite a bit of thought and skill to be successful in obtaining the desired prize.

 From the book, A Thomas Jefferson Education by Oliver Demille:

"The professor or expert tells the students what they need to know, invites or compels them to conform to certain ideas and standards, and grades or otherwise rewards or punishes them for their various levels of conformity. In contrast, the *mentor *finds out the student's goals,
interests, talents, weaknesses, strengths, and purpose, and then helps
him develop his genius and prepare him for his unique mission."

Do you think somehow all this outdoor and trapping experience is part of their "unique genius"?

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Hearthside

Being Gently Georgic means:  Even though I fortunately do not HAVE TO at this time,  I am prepared, with the tools I own, the knowledge I have acquired, and the Grace of the Lord to care for my family in any circumstance.  I can heat my home, prepare my meals, and dry wet laundry without reliance on a large complicated system outside of my control (electrical service).  And fortunatly, I can mostly just enjoy the beauty and charm and warmth of my home's stove. 

Would a wood burning stove be the best investment your family could make.  There are so many options.  A modern free standing stove can supply  heat and a cooked meal even in times that the power is out.  And a couple cords of wood is easier to store than the fuel it takes to run a generator for the same amount of time.  It takes a little more effort, but it is a real effort, with tangible benefits.  It's Georgic.
(We are looking to update the current stove we have.  My desire is to build an open fire place like the one shown above (picture from Mt. Vernon), and then to insert a soapstone stove like the one's featured at Lehmans.com.)

Let these beautiful pictures inspire you to become a little more Georgic.