Unplugging, Getting Connected

Communities of Rewilding Rewild Camps, Events & Meet-ups
#1

I feel unsure where this should go, so mods, feel free to move this.

I will soon graduate from college, but I do not possess any skills. Or, at least, I feel a little like Hesse’s Siddhartha entering the city for the first time with only the abilities to think, wait, and fast. I eager to learn – permaculture, tracking, braintanning, natural building, wild plant/herb identification, anything. I wish to avoid wage-work for so long as possible, and I’m investigating opportunities that would allow me to work and learn at the same time. Thus far, WWOOF looks like my best bet for the summer. But I wonder what others have done to get connected with others and learn skills. I suppose I’m looking for two things. For those who have learned and honed some skills, how did you first get into it, where did you go, how did you learn? How did you arrive at your present place? Second, do you know any good places to look for work/trade style apprenticeships/internships… or good WWOOF places sympathetic to “rewilding?”

thank you!
~wildeyes

#2

Since you sound like you plan to relocate, I’d say find a place to live near other people with rewilding interests or skills that you want to learn. Portland and Ashville spring to mind, if you can stomach living in a city, but I don’t have personal experience in Ashville.

Keep your cost of living as low as possible and you’ll have the freedom to work a lot less… If you can learn a valuable skill you may get out of having a regular job but I havent made it that far yet…

For example, when I lived in Portland I found a friend willing to rent me her basement for 250 bucks a month and i lived 2 blocks from Urban Scout and like 8 blocks from Kiliii (of dancing hawk native lifeways). I worked 4 days a month at the Saturday farmers market, and got almost all my food for 5 months either free from the market, from dumpsters, roadkill, or five finger discounts.

I learned more rewilding skills during my year in Portland than any other time in my life so far, thanks to my awesome friends who live there. But I really fucking hate city living.

I also have thought about WWOOFing. I’d like to hear anyones experiences if they’ve done it before.

This year I plan to hike the Appalalchian trail, Georgia to Maine, and then I’ll probably find myself in your boat again, wondering where the hell I should go next.

#3

scavenger,

thanks for the note. i’ve definitely considered moving to asheville. i already live in north carolina, so it’s not a great leap for me, but i’m also hesitant about asheville – every time i’ve visited in the past few years i’ve felt out of place and not very welcome. but maybe that’s the nature of all cities. there seems to be a lot of rewilding activity in portland, so i’ve been thinking about relocating there for a bit after the summer. i checked out the dancing hawk stuff, and the internships they have sound pretty cool. does anyone have experience with that?

~wildeyes