| Author: | Daniel Gibbins | ISBN: | 9781310437076 |
| Publisher: | Daniel Gibbins | Publication: | May 10, 2014 |
| Imprint: | Smashwords Edition | Language: | English |
| Author: | Daniel Gibbins |
| ISBN: | 9781310437076 |
| Publisher: | Daniel Gibbins |
| Publication: | May 10, 2014 |
| Imprint: | Smashwords Edition |
| Language: | English |
This is an intensely rich narrative contrasting the conceptual realities of homelessness and landlessness. It is based on true stories of homeless people I have met around the country and my own experiences of living rough in the south west of the UK.
Jeff is a homeless man living rough on the streets, sleeping in doorways and begging for food. Life is a struggle, made worse by the endless harassment he gets from the homeless patrol brought in to clean up the image of the town. One day when he finds a tent discarded beside a bin he takes the opportunity to leave town and head for the country.
His life then takes a new turn becoming an unexpected journey of self discovery and understanding of society. He questions his status and the social prejudices about homeless people and learns that he is not alone in his homelessness; in fact many birds and animals have also been dislocated as towns have encroached on their habitat. With their help he realises that he is in fact not homeless but 'Landless.'
Jeff goes walkabout and on his travels he learns to forage and survive. As he relies increasingly more on food provided by nature than from begging, he begins to discover how to live in harmony with the land. As his skills develop so does his self-esteem and Jeff realises his need and human right to have access to land.
He discovers a section of unused farmland and secretly moves in, establishes a home and starts to grow his own food, learning as he goes, finding for the first time in his life a sense of peace.
Concerned for his long term security he builds other shelters in discreet locations elsewhere in the country and plants food sources nearby to provide for him should he need to stay there. In the process of traveling and living off the land he discovers his connection with his nomadic ancestors, eventually discovering real freedom in his ability to move across the land unseen, surviving on what the land provides.
This is an intensely rich narrative contrasting the conceptual realities of homelessness and landlessness. It is based on true stories of homeless people I have met around the country and my own experiences of living rough in the south west of the UK.
Jeff is a homeless man living rough on the streets, sleeping in doorways and begging for food. Life is a struggle, made worse by the endless harassment he gets from the homeless patrol brought in to clean up the image of the town. One day when he finds a tent discarded beside a bin he takes the opportunity to leave town and head for the country.
His life then takes a new turn becoming an unexpected journey of self discovery and understanding of society. He questions his status and the social prejudices about homeless people and learns that he is not alone in his homelessness; in fact many birds and animals have also been dislocated as towns have encroached on their habitat. With their help he realises that he is in fact not homeless but 'Landless.'
Jeff goes walkabout and on his travels he learns to forage and survive. As he relies increasingly more on food provided by nature than from begging, he begins to discover how to live in harmony with the land. As his skills develop so does his self-esteem and Jeff realises his need and human right to have access to land.
He discovers a section of unused farmland and secretly moves in, establishes a home and starts to grow his own food, learning as he goes, finding for the first time in his life a sense of peace.
Concerned for his long term security he builds other shelters in discreet locations elsewhere in the country and plants food sources nearby to provide for him should he need to stay there. In the process of traveling and living off the land he discovers his connection with his nomadic ancestors, eventually discovering real freedom in his ability to move across the land unseen, surviving on what the land provides.
