We Shall All be Farmers

Grow your own

Sunset

We have outgrown the capacity of the Earth to sustain us, luving as we do in the Western World, particularly in America. Several substances crucial to our current way of life will be used up within a century. Some will be gone in a few years. This onrushing crisis has been brought on by growth in population combined with technological advances.

When our civilization reaches its sunset (perhaps already upon us) and enters into twilight gloaming, we will all need to lead very different lives if we are to survive.

The prudent among us will begin to lead such lives now.

In this way, they will know how to survive, when the hour comes.

And if enough of us are prudent in this way, then we can hope to delay the coming night, and perhaps lessen its darkness. Maybe we will only need to endure a long twilight of adjustment and transition.

Needs

What are the changes the wise foresee? We will surely need the basics to support life.

We need shelter from the elements

This means buildings

And clothing: gloves, shoes, hats, coats, trousers, dresses

We need water

Water to drink

Water to clean

Water to grow food

We need energy

Energy to heat our homes

Energy to grow our food

We need food

Food to eat

Food to feed our livestock and other animals

Food

Today let’s look at food.

It’s possible for every one of us, whether we live in the country, exurbs, suburbs, or city, to grow some of our own food. We should all begin to do so, if we are not already, this year — 2008.

Every home with a plot of earth should have its garden. Every house should have its potted plants and sprouting bins. Every sunny window should have its bed of seedlings or herms.

For this year, it doesn’t matter what we grow, so long as it is edible food and can lead us to grow more food next year.

In any new habit or practice such as this, we must always start small. Don’t try to do so much that you fall far short of your goals, lose heart, give up. Even a pot or two of herbs, easy to grow and maintain, is a start.

Do what is easily within your reach, do it well, grow more bold and able, and do more next season.

FARMERS

We shall all be farmers. We shall all grow and eat of our crops. This will come sooner or later to us all by force. But if we choose it before it grows to hard necessity, we will be able to meet the crisis head-on, ready for its worst.

Plan this as though it were a college career (for most of us it will be) and make up your mind to give yourself four years, five, six, to learn what skills you will need and to make your soil grow your meals.

I promise you, I will start this year.

Join me.

(Composed with pen on paper Wednesday, 23 January 2008)