Nathan
Meet Nathan, our in-house maestro of chaos and self-proclaimed expert of everything, who, in reality, knows a surprisingly small amount. He’s the financial ‘wizard’ who led us into this delightful adventure from the start. Growing up, Nathan was the quintessential dreamer, and truth be told, not much has changed since then. His dreams have only gotten bigger, alongside his gaming hours on Overwatch and his talent for procrastination.
Raised in the vibrant ’80s, Nathan was shaped by a decade that left many of us a tad too idealistic. How could you not develop a somewhat naive sense of justice and a black-and-white worldview after being weaned on a diet of ’80s cinema? It was a recipe for an idealism overdose.
Back in those days, the world was a playground where shoes were optional, and the digital age was just a speck on the horizon. Childhood was about expansive outdoor games that often ended with a scraped knee or a broken something. It was a time of unbridled optimism, where trust was abundant, except maybe for that one kid who never returned your favorite action figure.
Nathan, ever the curious soul, had a knack for dismantling anything he could get his hands on, often leading to some rather interesting outcomes, like unexpected fires or an inability to put things back together.
Childhood for Nathan was marked by epic 6-8 week wilderness trips with his family and their close-knit group of friends. These adventures were his first foray into self-reliance, where he honed his survival skills in the wild. Central to these camping expeditions was the sacred tradition of building the camp toilet – a task that became more inventive with each passing year.
At the end of each camping trip, the families would engage in a meticulous clean-up, leaving no trace behind, followed by the ceremonial burning of the dunny – a fiery symbol of a mission well accomplished.
Nathan was always generous, the kind of guy to give away his last Tim Tam without hesitation. His nonchalant attitude toward money would later lead him into the corporate world’s clutches, where his quest for financial freedom was as challenging as teaching a kangaroo to tap dance.
Fortune, however, always seemed to smile on Nathan. His childhood curiosity led him to computers at an early age, setting the stage for a career that would keep his finances afloat. Then, in a twist of fate, Nathan met his blonde-haired love at a Tupperware party, of all places. Little did she know, amidst plastic containers and sealing lids, she was about to embark on a life-changing journey with him. Nathan’s path has always been unconventional, but it’s these quirky turns that make his story all the more fascinating.
Nathan’s story takes an even more intriguing turn when we consider his passion for self-reliance, deeply rooted in his unique perspective on waste and sustainability. From a young age, Nathan was puzzled by society’s casual approach to discarding reusable goods. He couldn’t wrap his head around why items that still had life in them were so quickly deemed worthless and thrown away. This bewilderment planted the seeds for his lifelong commitment to sustainability and permaculture principles.
His fascination with permaculture became a defining aspect of his life. Nathan was particularly captivated by the idea of creating closed-loop systems, where the output from one process becomes the input for another. This approach resonated deeply with him, as he saw it as a way to mimic the efficiency and balance of natural ecosystems. Nathan spent countless hours studying and experimenting with permaculture designs, enthusiastically finding ways to interconnect different elements of his homestead. For example, he might use kitchen scraps to feed compost worms, whose castings would then enrich the soil in his vegetable garden, thereby creating a sustainable cycle of nutrients.
Nathan’s commitment to sustainability extended beyond just agriculture and into the realm of construction. He harbored a strong passion for sustainable building practices, particularly those utilizing local materials. He saw great value in sourcing materials from his immediate environment, not only to reduce the carbon footprint associated with transportation but also to maintain a harmony with the surrounding landscape. Nathan would often be found experimenting with techniques like cob building or using reclaimed wood, constantly exploring ways to create structures that were both functional and environmentally conscious. His projects were testaments to the idea that sustainable construction doesn’t just benefit the environment, but it can also lead to more aesthetically pleasing and personally meaningful living spaces.
Nathan’s journey is a testament to the idea that one person’s commitment to sustainability can manifest in many forms, from questioning societal norms about waste to implementing permaculture in everyday life, and embracing local materials in construction. His story is not just about self-reliance, but about living in a way that respects and enhances the natural world.