Just a couple of folks trying to build a life we don’t need a vacation from. Full disclosure, we’re from New York (the green part, not the city). If you feel some kind of way about that, this probably isn’t a place you want to be. Just sayin’. Our choice to settle in South Carolina is, for us, a coming home. We both lived in the south at times during our child- and young adult-hoods and both have wanted to return ever since. Sadly, it took us 40 years. Now that we’re here, it’s clear that this was the right move for us to make.
Gina’s Story
I’m a retired library clerk with a love for learning. Right now, my focus is on learning about nutrition. Throughout my life, food has always been the thing around which all other activities were planned. I grew up with Sunday suppers at Grandma’s house, the smell of fresh-baked bread, enormous potlucks and picnics, and the most sublime collection of Christmas cookies. When love equals food and food equals love, it is no surprise that we’ve become a bit fluffy.
The dark side of our food=love equation is the long-term consequences to our health. Heart disease, diabetes, chronic pain, cancer, obesity related inflammation, gastric and bowel disorders, gall bladder issues; these are just a few of the maladies that plague today’s society. I suffer from several food related disorders myself. That is what brings me here, learning how to address the epidemic of unhealthy eating that has taken over the world; at least for me and for those I love.
A year ago, I started studying for a Nutritionist Certification. I’m part of a growing population that understands where factory foods had led us. We are choosing to regain control over food and our health. I won’t lie. This is an uphill battle. Our entire economy runs on things remaining just the way they have been engineered to run, but more people everyday are returning to basics. Nature, in its miraculously interconnected grand scheme, knows what we need. The time has come to listen. I completed my Nutritionist Certification from National Association of Sports Medicine, and am now enrolled full-time at USC Sumter. This chapter has just begun. Join me.
Gary’s Story
Moving to the south was always something we both wanted. We did a lot of research and finally settled on Sumter. No place is perfect, but Sumter has everything we were looking for in what we hope is our final move. I love it here. The climate is perfect. I haven’t worn a coat in six years! There’s much less drama than we experienced in NY. We have neighbors that like us. The cost of living is much lower. We’re building a life here that we can sustain, the two of us.
I enjoy all types of gardening. We always had some kind of garden. We’ve planted vegetables, fruit trees and flowers wherever we have lived. There’s great satisfaction in growing our own food. It suits my personality to be in control of this and be self-reliant. I don’t care what others might think. We haven’t ever wanted to rely on anybody else for things, but we also know our limits. It’s not my job to supply Wal-Mart, but we shouldn’t have to rely on other countries for food when we can grow so much right here.
I’m a big fan of “YouTube University”, and I watch hours of videos on the things I want to learn how to implement. With my background in construction, I can always build what I need. Over the years, we’ve learned soapmaking, canning, dehydrating, and many other things.
I switched to Hydroponics because traditional gardening, even with raised beds, was becoming too physically demanding. Once you have your set-up, hydroponics is less physical, easier to maintain and adjust, has fewer pests, no weeds, higher yields and a longer growing season. It’s ideal for our current situation. We will still grow things like root vegetables and herbs in containers, and have a traditional garden for medicinal herbs and flowers. Our goal is to feed ourselves, so Hydroponic growing just makes more sense for most of the vegetables that we want to produce.
2020 was tough for everyone, but it really showed the limitations of relying on global food networks for our most basic needs. Moving forward in uncertain times, keeping chickens became a smart option. We’re used to caring for animals, so it’s not a stretch to add a couple more. Chickens don’t require a lot of space, attention or work, and they provide eggs, meat, and fertilizer for the gardens. It’s that much more control we can have over our food supply.
Everything works really well together. Nothing we’re doing needs constant attention or 24/7 monitoring. We can still take short excursions when we want. We have a small (but growing) network of people who are happy to help us when we need it and we are happy to help them in the same way. When it’s not fun anymore, I’ll stop doing it.