Mark Boyle outside his off-grid caravan. Photograph: Mark Boyle
Armed with a caravan, solar laptop and toothpaste made from washed-up cuttlefish bones, Mark Boyle gave up using cash
In six years of studying economics, not once did I hear the word "ecology". So if it hadn't have been for the chance purchase of a video called Gandhi in the final term of my degree, I'd probably have ended up earning a fine living in a very respectable job persuading Indian farmers to go GM, or something useful like that. The little chap in the loincloth taught me one huge lesson – to be the change I wanted to see in the world. Trouble was, I had no idea back then what that change was.
After managing a couple of organic food companies made me realise that even "ethical business" would never be quite enough, an afternoon's philosophising with a mate changed everything. We were looking at the world's issues – environmental destruction, sweatshops, factory farms, wars over resources – and wondering which of them we should dedicate our lives to. But I realised that I was looking at the world in the same way a western medical practitioner looks at a patient, seeing symptoms and wondering how to firefight them, without any thought for their root cause. So I decided instead to become a social homeopath, a pro-activist, and to investigate the root cause of these symptoms.
One of the critical causes of those symptoms is the fact we no longer have to see the direct repercussions our purchases have on the people, environment and animals they affect. The degrees of separation between the consumer and the consumed have increased so much that we're completely unaware of the levels of destruction and suffering embodied in the stuff we buy. The tool that has enabled this separation is money.
If we grew our own food, we wouldn't waste a third of it as we do today. If we made our own tables and chairs, we wouldn't throw them out the moment we changed the interior decor. If we had to clean our own drinking water, we probably wouldn't contaminate it.
So to be the change I wanted to see in the world, it unfortunately meant I was going to have to give up cash, which I initially decided to do for a year. I got myself a caravan, parked it up on an organic farm where I was volunteering and kitted it out to be off-grid. Cooking would now be outside – rain or shine – on a rocket stove; mobile and laptop would be run off solar; I'd use wood I either coppiced or scavenged to heat my humble abode, and a compost loo for humanure.
Food was the next essential. There are four legs to the food-for-free table: foraging wild food, growing your own, bartering, and using waste grub, of which there is loads. On my first day, I fed 150 people a three-course meal with waste and foraged food. Most of the year, though, I ate my own crops.
To get around, I had a bike and trailer, and the 34-mile commute to the city doubled up as my gym subscription. For loo roll I'd relieve the local newsagents of its papers (I once wiped my arse with a story about myself); it's not double-quilted, but I quickly got used to it. For toothpaste I used washed-up cuttlefish bone with wild fennel seeds, an oddity for a vegan.
What have I learned? That friendship, not money, is real security. That most western poverty is of the spiritual kind. That independence is really interdependence. And that if you don't own a plasma screen TV, people think you're an extremist.
People often ask me what I miss about my old world of lucre and business. Stress. Traffic jams. Bank statements. Utility bills.
Well, there was the odd pint of organic ale with my mates down the local.
• Mark Boyle is the founder of The Freeconomy Community
Ms. V I admire the strength that you had to change your lifestyle around. If there were more people that understood this our Earth would be a better place. I tried to tell my family about everything I've learned in your class but they think that I'm crazy. It's true if we were to grow our own crops, and animals we would appreciate it more, but since is easy to go to a supermarket and just buy it we don't apprecate it. My family don't believe me when I tell them meat is horrible for our bodies, and what the animals we eat go through. They force me to eat, and when I don't they always tell me that I'm pale because I don't eat the protein that Meat has. I know right now I won't be able to change my lifestyle but hopefully when I'm older I could break free, be healthier. I look up to you Ms.V cause you had the strength to do what's good for you, and the environment. Thanks
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ReplyDeleteI acknowlede the way you decided to make a change in your life by sacrificing many things. Not many people think about others and don't consider making a difference. The society needs more great people like you. I really enjoyed the things we learned in class.
ReplyDeleteMark Boyle gave up the commodities that this society offers for a simple life.By going back to basics,he learned the beauty of being in tune with nature.He realised the complication that comes along with money but he didn't really miss it.It's an admirable thing to do and I'm sure it isn't easy....
ReplyDeleteThat is so true. If we did most of our work ourself we would think twice about throwing stuff out as soon as we get something new. If we grow our own food we would think twice about throwing out any left overs. we get everything so easily therfore we don't care about what happens to it.
ReplyDeleteI acknowledge all the changes youve made in your life.People in this world are so self centered and care only about themselves than about the environment or the world.We are so grateful to have what we have. We need to begin to appreciate what we have in front of us than worry about the unnecesarry things. I admire everything that you are doing..
ReplyDeleteI've always thought that people like Mark didn't really exist. It had to have taken extreme will and discipline for you to leave a life that was going to be somewhat successful by social standards to go to surviving off of mostly natural resources. I applaud you for the ability to step out of your comfort zone to explore and adapt to what's best for you. It's not always easy to do what's best.
ReplyDeleteWhat Mr. Boyle did was very admirable. The very thing that we feel we need to survive is the very same thing that makes us loose sight on what's important in life. I wish I had the strength to do what Mr. Boyle did. But unfortanely, I have the bad habit of loving to shop.
ReplyDeleteit shows that even the simplest people on earth are willing to make their own sacrifices and do something different for a change. I thought what he was done was very original and it made me realize that people can find a way to change uo their own lifestyle in a different way. by living natural i have found it to be the natural and maybe the world will become a better place if people are willing to make these sacrifices for themselves.
ReplyDeletethis story opened my eyes to a whole new world. a world where its ok not to have any money. i would have never thought that anyone could live without spending a dime. i couldnt imagine living without money. knowing that its possible is good enought for me. i respect this mans nobility and bravery for persuing a life without money.
ReplyDeletewow the deep and realistic. You are totaly right when you said in other words that we would take better care of everything if we had to work for it
ReplyDeleteI have to say that this sacrifice took much guts and maybe I think so because I fall under the category you departed from. Your point is very valid about if we grew our own food and made our own commodities, they would not be as easy to just care less for. And maybe life now in nature isn't so rich of the bs that our world possess and consume but the most important thing that you are rich of is happiness and a cleansed spirit. Glad that life style works for you!
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