I’m really into cooking. And gardening. And saving energy. I like to be efficient. I like to be frugal. I like the idea of using less fossil fuels. I like to know how to do things “the old fashioned way”.

This puts me in the camp of a lot of folks who like to call what they do things like “Urban Homesteading”. But there’s one big difference between me and many of those people, a gap between my desires and my abilities. I am physically unable to do many of the money and environment saving things I want to do. In fact, I have to use some combination of money, energy (electricity, usually), and the labor of others to get through some of the mundane tasks of my day, much less taking on larger projects that would do my heart and the environment good.

Just for the sake of discussion, here is a list off the top of my head of things I would do or do more of if I had the resources. Canning, preserving, fermenting, cooking with more whole foods, converting my front lawn into a gorgeous cottage garden/perennial vegetable and fruit oasis of glory, hanging my laundry out to dry, biking, baking bread (starting a sourdough culture without relying on my bread machine), hiking, foraging wild foods, and learning to knit and/or weave.

To be clear, some of the things on this list are things I could do if I had more help or got even stronger than I am now, and some are out of my reach, possibly for good.

As things stand, I get a TON of practical help that I am thankful for, whether from my housemate or my army of robot slaves (known to many of you as the bread machine, washing machine, dishwasher, dryer, etc.). The money that I use to leverage my abilities is provided by the unstinting efforts of my husband. And I look forward to building more support and community in the future. The visceral satisfaction of kneading bread dough or picking wild grapes is just as powerful when I’m not doing it all myself, it’s true.

It’s a struggle to accept the limitations of my health condition, is what it comes down to. So here’s what I have to say. Self-sufficiency is clearly a pipe dream for me. I can only achieve the life I want in community. BUT, switching my focus from the things that I need from the people around me (inevitably and often) to what I have to offer is what I want most right now.

I am calm. I am a minor organizational genius. I’ve got attention to detail, verbal expressiveness, and a really great sense of smell. (You laugh, but I like to blend essential oils, and it helps in cooking.) I have been informed that I give great hugs. I tend to be pragmatic yet upbeat. I am a morning person.I know a whole bunch of stuff about plants, especially edible ones. I can walk fair distances, as long as the terrain is smooth and the hills not too steep. I occasionally take great photos. And I make mighty fine music mixes.

Need my help or company? Just ask.

Ripening quinces on a neighbor’s bush.