Homeschooling, homesteading mom joins team

Homeschooling, homesteading mom joins team

Former city girl Patrice Lewis to offer unique commentary on weekends

Posted: May 17, 2008
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=...ew&pageId=64492



Patrice Lewis, a homeschooling mom with a unique life story and perspective on culture and politics, begins writing an exclusive weekly column today for WND dubbed "Real America."

Lewis and her husband began life together in 1990 as a typical working couple in urban California. Holding a college degree in zoology, Lewis worked at an agricultural research firm. Three years later, however, convinced that city living wasn't the way to start a family, the Lewises moved into an 1875 "shack" on four acres in semi-rural southwest Oregon.

Unable to find steady work, the Lewises began a home business, "a decision that plunged us into an almost immediate state of poverty which lasted for 10 years," Lewis says.

In 2003, after having successfully learned the ways of rural living and self-sufficiency, The Lewises and their two homeschooled daughters moved to a 40-acre spread in north Idaho, further expanding their efforts to live independently.

Said Lewis: "Over the past five years, we have worked hard to fence pastures, establish fruit trees, put in a garden and raise livestock. I make butter, ice cream, yogurt and cheese. I learn a lot from our neighbors, who are far more self-sufficient and independent than we are."

Patrice has written about rural living and other topics for Home Education Magazine, Grit, BackHome Magazine, Backwoods Home Magazine, Country Extra, as well as a continuing series in Countryside Magazine, Crafts Report Magazine and LivingOnADime.com.

Seeing that virtually all the available books on "simple living" came from a certain extreme "green" viewpoint, Lewis wrote "Life 101: 101 Lessons in Simple Living."

Explained Lewis in a recent guest column for WND:

"If your belief is that it's impossible to be environmentally conscious without supporting the extreme left, socialistic philosophy, then you're mistaken. Some of the greenest people in this country are those with a fierce love of independence and a wish to be left alone.

"Remember, greenies don't really care if you walk the walk. They only want you to talk the talk. The purpose of today's environmentalism is not to get people to live a green lifestyle; otherwise our neighbors and we would be their heroes. No, the purpose, the scheme, the agenda of the greenies is to get us all to knuckle under to socialism. Pure and simple. 'Saving the planet' is just their excuse."

Said WND commentary editor Ron Strom: "Patrice Lewis has a compelling writing style, unique experiences and a common sense that defies today's dominant narcissistic culture. WND's readers will appreciate her insights on everything from family life to politics when they visit our commentary page each weekend."