I live without cash – and I manage just fine | Mark Boyle

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 fire fight them, without any thought for their root cause. So I decided instead to become a social homoeopath, 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 décor. 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 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

Mark Boyle outside his off-grid caravan. Photograph: Mark Boyle Mark Boyle outside his off-grid caravan. Photograph: Mark Boyle

Mark Boyle who lives without spending any money. Here he shows you how he does it.

You need to be a member of Ashtar Command - Spiritual Community to add comments!

Join Ashtar Command - Spiritual Community

Email me when people reply –

Replies

  • GO AND BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE IN THE WORLD.....GREAT REMARK

    • yes Kalki, it was Ghandi who made that remark in the first place.

      This man is so cool to live as he does, who needs money when they can live like Mr Boyle. Love it! thanks Kalki

This reply was deleted.

Topics by Tags

Monthly Archives

Latest Activity

Eagle Has Returned left a comment on Comment Wall
1 hour ago
Roaring Lovely posted a blog post
As far as interstellar communication is concerned, telepathic information sent via electromagnetic waves is often not desirable because even sent to the nearest star, electromagnetic signal will take four years to arrive there! That is the reason…
9 hours ago
AlternateEarth left a comment on Comment Wall
"Genocide on whites doesn't count as genocide according to the Episcopal church leaders
https://www.infowars.com/posts/episcopal-church-ends-federal-migrat..."
16 hours ago
rev.joshua skirvin posted a blog post
 Blessings Beloved ones.It’s wonderful to connect with you and all who will be reading and hearing our message, thank you for this Transmission.In these challenging times that you are experiencing, it is imperative that you step into your own…
20 hours ago
rev.joshua skirvin posted a blog post
 I am KaRa, and sometimes since I have been able to be with you in this fashion, I come now at a time, special time that you are moving into. All at a phase, a new phase, new phase for us that are watching over you. As we are preparing, what are we…
21 hours ago
rev.joshua skirvin posted a blog post
 Beloved Ones,During this month, we are immersed in the earthly energy of Taurus, retrieving our connection to nature and with all that anchors us to our earthly plane. However, as balance is essential, we welcome now a full moon in Scorpio on May…
21 hours ago
rev.joshua skirvin commented on rev.joshua skirvin's blog post Ashtar: Darknet Takedown; Channel: Emmanuel and Pastora | Source.
"Your welcome SA, remember we are all one, we need positive inspiration as the cabal fails and the New Age begins. Adonai"
21 hours ago
Love & Joy posted a discussion
  Wesak Full Moon & The Golden Buddha By Patricia Cota-Robles All of the events we have experienced so far this year have greatly enhanced the blessings Humanity and the Earth are receiving today during the Wesak Festival which is taking place…
yesterday
More…

Electromagnetic Telepathy


As far as interstellar communication is concerned, telepathic information sent via electromagnetic waves is often not desirable because even sent to the nearest star, electromagnetic signal will take four years to arrive there! That is the reason…

Read more…
Views: 14
Comments: 0