Living On The Earth by Alicia Bay Laurel

[Blackbird]

Anyone have/read this?

Jo just lent me her 1971 edition. Totally 'hippi-fied'.

Either the author is insane, a genius, or a pot head, I'm not sure which. Its like a handwritten journal with many pictures, from topics to chickens, gardening, composting, soap making, etc.

Some of it is completely stupid that I'm laughing my head off and some of it is extremely helpful.

 

[FarmerDenise]

I received that book for my 16th or 17th birthday. I love it. I have been spending all these years coloring the pages. I have done quite a few things from that book. It is one of the original books that got me into SS living.
I made the "seed" cookies in college, they were quite the hit with my friends. My grandmother made the dandelion wine and I was told it was very good. They didn't save any for me, even though I was the one who picked all the dandelions.
My original copy got so worn out, that I had to put it in safe keeping and now use another copy for reference.
I was a flower child - not a hippy

 

[Blackbird]

Both are awesome you know.

Heres my borrowed one, no spine on it.

 

[delia_peterson]

Awesome! I am going to have to look for a copy!

 

[big brown horse]

Oooo, I would love to look at that book! Looks like tons o' fun!

 

[dragonlaurel]

I received that book for my 16th or 17th birthday. I love it. I have been spending all these years coloring the pages. I have done quite a few things from that book. It is one of the original books that got me into SS living.
I made the "seed" cookies in college, they were quite the hit with my friends. My grandmother made the dandelion wine and I was told it was very good. They didn't save any for me, even though I was the one who picked all the dandelions.
My original copy got so worn out, that I had to put it in safe keeping and now use another copy for reference.
I was a flower child - not a hippy

Wow- somebody remembers the difference between a flower child and a hippie! My Mom almost turned into a flower child. My Uncle was a hippie.

 

[lorihadams]

that looks sooooooo cool!

 

[noobiechickenlady]

Wow- somebody remembers the difference between a flower child and a hippie! My Mom almost turned into a flower child. My Uncle was a hippie.

Somebody enlighten me, what is the difference? I always thought they were the same

That sounds like a very interesting read, Merle. I love your description of the author. I'd like to remind you though, that being insane, a genius & a pothead are not mutally exclusive, she could be all three

 

[Blackbird]

Your absolutely right T!

Probably.

According to Wikipedia, flower child is just another word for hippie, if I remember right. But then Wiki isn't always right.

From Wikipedia;

Flower child or Flower Children originated as a synonym for hippie, especially the idealistic young people who gathered in San Francisco and environs during the 1967 Summer of Love. It was the custom of "flower children" to wear and distribute flowers or floral-themed decorations to symbolize altruistic ideals of universal brotherhood, peace and love. The mass media picked up on the term and used it to refer in a broad sense to any hippie.

Idk.

 

[dragonlaurel]

My Mom was calling herself a flower child then. I remember some of the clothes . . . and the gun belt with flowers where the ammo would have been. She did some of the protests.
She was not into rock music. :/ She listened to the Carpenters, Gary Puckett, Diana Ross, Barbra Striesand, Jose Feliciano, Glen Campbell . . . She didn't get to party much because of us babies, so she did not get into the drug scene. She was in a small town too- so probably less available anyway.
She thought free love... was grounds for divorce. Small town again.

She did not try to "go back to the land", didn't do acid, didn't wear patchouli, and was too busy making a living for any communes-
which was more of a hippie thing.
Don't know how else to explain it. Hope I didn't offend anybody. I have no problem with hippies - except the patchouli. I've had friends say I was pretty close to being one. I agreed.