This is the bible by which we run our allotment-style vegetable beds. It’s not the only gardening book you’ll ever need – it assumes you have basic gardening knowledge already, or are getting it from another book. Where this book shines is in it’s explanation of Biointensive gardening practices. Unlike some “pretty” gardening books it [...]
Archive for the ‘Motivation’ Category
21 Jan
Book review – Jared Diamond’s Collapse
I’ve had a few questions at talks I give about what books I’d recommend, and I’ve given out a few names depending on the topic. I realised though that I haven’t put anything about our growing library on the blog, so I’ll try and rectify that over the coming year (no promises!) I thought I’d [...]
6 Aug
The secret of happiness
Now that’s a pompous title to a post. I doubt anyone can ever really claim to have found the one secret to happiness, however there was a nice article on happiness over at Mother Jones today. I particularly liked the “10 techniques to help you get happier”: Meet up with a friend that you haven’t seen [...]
22 Jun
Interesting Post-Peak article
http://www.bohemian.com/bohemian/06.17.09/feature-0924.html An interesting article that canvasses a wide range of post-peak views, from Transition USA to Life after the Oil Crash. Amidst all the gloom this quot amde me laugh: These people must reprioritize their value systems now and quit “waddling through Wal-Mart.” I can see myself in that mirror – it’s time to really [...]
23 Apr
Understanding Peak Oil video presentation
Just another quickie – a really good video from Post-Peak Living. This is a great introduction to peak oil, so if you know someone who doesn’t yet understand the issues, send them this link. It’s U.S. based, but is still good – I liked a couple of the points particularly: People lived well before oil, [...]
17 Feb
A dark post-economic-crash moment
Dmitry Orlov is at his cheery best again, writing an article called “Social Collapse Best Practices“. In it he describes the grim future awaiting America if Obama’s administration continmue to try and resuscitate Business as Usual. What should their realistic new objectives be? Well, here they are: food, shelter, transportation, and security. Their task is [...]
29 Dec
What is the Good Life?
In the middle of this dire economic crash, with peak-oil and climate change suggesting that the “best” is now behind us and that a long, slow (or short, quick) decline is what we face, a wonderful movement is being reborn. It shoots can be seen everywhere – in the flowering of Transition Towns across Britain, in [...]
28 Dec
Aims and Achievements
I’d been planning to put together a list of aims and achievements since I talked about it back in August. In the great pause between Christmas and New Year it seems appropriate to finally get around to it! So here is my quick brain dump. I’ll expand on this as I achieve some of them: [...]
13 Oct
Life in a post-economic-crash world
Charlie Brooker’s view of life in a post-crash world, from today’s Guardian: All of it was a dream. All that crap we bought, all the bottled water and Blu-Ray players and designer shoes and iPod Shuffles and patio heaters; all the jobs we had; all the catchphrases we memorised and the stupid things we thought. [...]
25 Sep
Background: The End of Suburbia Video
A great video introduction to the post peak-oil future facing America. A little out of date now (as everything is, with this speed of change), but a really good look at the future that faces the American Dream. This is just the cut down version – the full version is available from www.endofsuburbia.com. Watch it, [...]
