downshiftme.com Podcast Feed - www.downshiftme.com

Congratulations to Andrew and Misty of Geek Farm Life for reaching 50 podcasts.

Apologies for not podcasting last week.

Snow storm outside. AJ made two snow sculptures after feeling creatively challenged.



Foot update - still sore - getting better - taking pain killers.

Wood – sweat equity in the cost - lots of labour when you carry each piece yourself. Need to cut back - not sure if the oil gauge is stuck.

AJ has been doing some impressive garden designs for his course.

It is not easy being green – or rural! Or poor. We aimed to be greener but not sure we are more green - but think we will build up to it.

Driving test - AJ passed - never had a driving licence in the UK

Need second car - global footprint has increased (in ways)
Drive further for shopping
Easier to be green in the city
Need to go further for work
BUT we will start putting things back into the earth very soon and reduce our footprint
Wood – good local wood – not used much oil for heating – well insulated

Consumerism – feel like we are consuming a lot!

Spend less – still not been easy so far

Its easier to be green if you are middle class and urban.

Work update – stopped applying for low paid jobs as I am not getting interviews or hearing from any of them. Think I may have to go it alone and be self employed if I don't get a job.

Supermarket job - have a "Customer Services Supervisor" shift, being trained in new stuff and doing the signs.

Am doing some freelance web authoring and been commissioned to design a website today. Also look after empty property. Otherwise I will need to retrain.

Ironically there are jobs being advertised in AJ's old "sphere". Must have applied for 20 jobs and heard nothing from them.

Planned on an outside podcast - but the weather is too bad.

Bad things
AJ – painful foot
Matt – how much moving you have to do with wood

Good things
AJ – being mobile - motor mobile
Matt – Nova Scotia - despite work and money - its a wonderful place

We still can't get Frappr to work on dialup