Doing for Ourselves

From Self-Sufficiency to Resilience

Meredith Freeman

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English

Tellwell Talent
16 September 2025

Memoirs; Biodiversity; DIY: general; The Earth: natural history general

Once upon a time the idea of self sufficiency seemed pretty straightforward. You relied on other people as little as possible, did as much as you could for yourself.

Nowadays, we know much more about how we each contribute to what has become a climate crisis. But we've come to rely so much on everything we want coming to us from somewhere else, whenever we want it, that it's hard to decide what our day-to-day lives should look like.

How will I manage water use during the summer? Should I grow my own vegetables? Should I use air conditioning? Who should I ask about solar panels for my house? Is it worth getting my washing machine fixed? What about plastic? Is knitting just a useless old-lady thing? Should I feed wild birds? Is it okay to travel overseas? Where does everything I use come from? How much can I do without? How much should I actually do for myself?

In this book, stories and reflections from one long life are used to explore questions like these. You'll find plenty of suggestions, though no clear answers-because, of course, each of us has to find our own.

However, there's no doubt about the overriding importance for us humans, in this period of the world's history, of community-and of communities, both plant and animal, and the urgency of exploring our role in them.

By: Meredith Freeman
Imprint: Tellwell Talent
Dimensions: Height: 216mm, Width: 140mm, Spine: 19mm
Weight: 386g
ISBN: 9781834185156
ISBN 10: 1834185157
Pages: 332
Publication Date: 16 September 2025
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Meredith Freeman OAM lived and worked in education in Melbourne for three decades. Since then, for another thirty years, she and her husband have lived on nine acres in country Victoria, where they founded a community not-for-profit, committed to supporting organic growers and the distribution of local food to local people.With her son Rhys, Meredith authored a book on growing Australian native food plants in South Gippsland. This was followed by A Garden of Useful Plants: Seasons in the Gippsland Hills.Meredith has a PhD in education, and a Diploma in Permaculture.