Have you already read the first part of this comic? (The part of my no buy challenge that goes from January to February!)
So March was by far the hardest month, because I collect indie queer zines and I love supporting other artists. But I survived! Here’s a comic from March so you know what I mean.
So here’s the thing, I think I have a very bad case of hunter-gatherer brain. That is a totally legit (not legit) medical condition that makes me want to hunt for stuff and gather it around me. Shopping is a good medicine for this, but it’s very expensive and unsustainable. So I have resorted to other solutions, such as dumpster diving!
And now you must be thinking, what about April?
Here’s a fun fact, I’m actually writing this blog post right after finishing the last part of the sociology entrance exam course! Now I just have to wait to get the last grades and see if I can get in to the final exam. And if I nail that… Turku University, here I come! Let’s keep our fingers crossed. (Though I am slightly worried what starting in a University would do to my no buy year… there’s an awfully lot of buying involved in education!)
Today is already the 19th of May, so this month will end soon! I draw the previous month’s comic during the first 10 days if the next month, meaning, the comic about May will probably be ready some time around 10th of June. But if you absolutely can’t wait, here’s some spoilers.
I have finally been able to start gardening! That is very helpful in not buying stuff, because you have your hands full! The garden plot I have isn’t just mine, it belongs to a small nonprofit organization called Maan Satama ry. We have bought one thing for the plot, but I’ll tell more about that in the next comic. (I have to also mention, that I’m the chairman of Finnish Comics Society, which is an organization that employs several people and they all probably buy a ton of stuff for the organization all the time. Does that count as my consuming? I’d say no.)
I have also been able to start foraging for wild plants! I mentioned my hunter-gatherer brain. Foraging for wild plants is like the best therapy for that condition! I absolutely love roaming around trying to find more and more edible plants. Also, here’s my tip for people who haven’t tried foraging but would like to try. Pick one plant that you find easy to recognize (and that is edible) and just go search for that. When you are so used to it that you can recognize it in your sleep, choose another one to add to your repertoire. In my first year of foraging I basically just picked stinging nettle and common yarrow. Next year I added in more plants! Now I forage quite a lot of different species, but I still try out new plants. Many of them taste like crap though, so I don’t continue with them.
But foraging! How’s that for no buy challenge! You can even supplement some of the food you’d have to buy with free things!
Edit: Here’s a link to the next post in this series for easier viewing. Read part 3 here!