Over 150 years’ ago, one of England’s very greatest writers, Thomas Hardy, wrote of the destructive impact of urbanisation and industrialisation on the lives of the characters in his novels. Like other visionaries such as John Ruskin and William Morris, Hardy feared the rise of ‘the machine’. They saw that, in leaving the land, humans were straying from the lives they should be living. The consequences of losing that connection to the land would be devastating. In 1995, Theodore Kaczynski wrote ‘The Industrial Revolution and its consequences have been a disaster for the human race’. Tending the allotment may be all we have to see us through the next 150 years.
Two things make a good life, good friends and good work. I see my children in the same vein, tending and weeding, and coaxing to grow, if for a few hours from my "real" job. I know what is way more rewarding. Thank you, Morgoth, for the blessed reminder of this for me.
I wonder that the allegory of Plato's Cave seems more relevant now than at any other time. What we spend most of our time and energy on are the shadows on the wall. Less real even than the puppets casting the shadows, or the men moving them. And yet as a father I'm forced to engage with these shadows for the sake of my children's comfort and security.
What does it say about our decrepit and aged elite, who have more money than they can spend in a lifetime and yet steadfastly refuse to retire? What a sick, hollow existence to not just chase the shadows at the exclusion of all else, but to prefer to do so when you could instead easily retire and spend your days gardening, fishing, cutting wood, and baking? We are ruled by buffoons, but they are so, so evil.
Beautifully written. It's a rare thing that my mind can visualise something like your vegetable patch so clearly! If and when the time comes, it will be a giant intimidating leap for most of us. But as the saying goes, "In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king." And so it will be that if like minded communities can form, untethered from the burgeoning insanity, it will be those that can provide raw calories who will be among the high priests in the new world of the hyper real.
I have a fairly feral back yard. Blackberries, the Devil's Vine, is my bane and my never-ending task is destroying them. I tried potatoes and found the effort to not be worth the cost. The slugs were glad to eat the potato leaves though, the slimy bastards.
My parents were farmers and children of farmers, so it's in my blood a bit. There's a lot of time spent in farming, even a garden plot. My job doesn't leave me much excess time for tilling of soil, I'm afraid. I'm encouraged by your progress and appreciative of the peace it gives you. The land is reality, the madness of the apes prancing around is not. That doesn't mean the apes aren't dangerous though. Take care of yourself.
Earlier today I was driving home along a ring road at the boundary of where the city ends and the countryside begins. I was looking in disgust at 3 new 5G towers I passed that have been erected in recent weeks that to me just symbolise the coming dystopia not just in what they do, but how ugly they look.
For my entire life when at that same boundary I’ve always been drawn more to the temptations of the city over the countryside. But today for the first time I felt the urge that it’s maybe time to make the move in the opposite direction towards the lifestyle you describe in your fine article which sums up this modern day contradiction perfectly.
I think we are approaching the time where we’ll all have to pick one way of life or the other, as sooner or later the paths will diverge to the point where it won’t be possible to follow both simultaneously as each will become entirely alien to the other.
I’ve been fascinated by the concept of the Western Fellaheen since reading Spengler. The writer himself doesn’t seem to much like the idea, and becoming like the eternal Egyptian or Mesopotamian river-farmer isn’t very attractive. But, given that each culture produces its own fellaheen who keep some differences in culture and attitudes, perhaps the final men of the West might be more like Tolkien’s Hobbits. It’s hard to imagine Westerners ever losing their obsession with books, time, and quiet work. Maybe these men will survive as primitivism “thrusts up” through decaying civilization. As in Rome, the meek (genetically) will inherit the earth.
Enjoyed this Morgoth as it struck a chord with how I view a meaningful life well lived. 'Agency' is what is needed. My darling wife is the gardener in this household and she is fond of reminding me that the 'Mind of the gardener is the mind of God himself'.
Over 150 years’ ago, one of England’s very greatest writers, Thomas Hardy, wrote of the destructive impact of urbanisation and industrialisation on the lives of the characters in his novels. Like other visionaries such as John Ruskin and William Morris, Hardy feared the rise of ‘the machine’. They saw that, in leaving the land, humans were straying from the lives they should be living. The consequences of losing that connection to the land would be devastating. In 1995, Theodore Kaczynski wrote ‘The Industrial Revolution and its consequences have been a disaster for the human race’. Tending the allotment may be all we have to see us through the next 150 years.
Two things make a good life, good friends and good work. I see my children in the same vein, tending and weeding, and coaxing to grow, if for a few hours from my "real" job. I know what is way more rewarding. Thank you, Morgoth, for the blessed reminder of this for me.
I wonder that the allegory of Plato's Cave seems more relevant now than at any other time. What we spend most of our time and energy on are the shadows on the wall. Less real even than the puppets casting the shadows, or the men moving them. And yet as a father I'm forced to engage with these shadows for the sake of my children's comfort and security.
What does it say about our decrepit and aged elite, who have more money than they can spend in a lifetime and yet steadfastly refuse to retire? What a sick, hollow existence to not just chase the shadows at the exclusion of all else, but to prefer to do so when you could instead easily retire and spend your days gardening, fishing, cutting wood, and baking? We are ruled by buffoons, but they are so, so evil.
"the turnips occupy the wasteland"
sums up 2023
Beautifully written. It's a rare thing that my mind can visualise something like your vegetable patch so clearly! If and when the time comes, it will be a giant intimidating leap for most of us. But as the saying goes, "In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king." And so it will be that if like minded communities can form, untethered from the burgeoning insanity, it will be those that can provide raw calories who will be among the high priests in the new world of the hyper real.
Morgoth’s Review posted a new article just as I go to sit down with a couple of Tunnocks caramel wafer bars and a brew! Legend!
I enjoyed reading this, thanks.
I have a fairly feral back yard. Blackberries, the Devil's Vine, is my bane and my never-ending task is destroying them. I tried potatoes and found the effort to not be worth the cost. The slugs were glad to eat the potato leaves though, the slimy bastards.
My parents were farmers and children of farmers, so it's in my blood a bit. There's a lot of time spent in farming, even a garden plot. My job doesn't leave me much excess time for tilling of soil, I'm afraid. I'm encouraged by your progress and appreciative of the peace it gives you. The land is reality, the madness of the apes prancing around is not. That doesn't mean the apes aren't dangerous though. Take care of yourself.
Perfection.
Earlier today I was driving home along a ring road at the boundary of where the city ends and the countryside begins. I was looking in disgust at 3 new 5G towers I passed that have been erected in recent weeks that to me just symbolise the coming dystopia not just in what they do, but how ugly they look.
For my entire life when at that same boundary I’ve always been drawn more to the temptations of the city over the countryside. But today for the first time I felt the urge that it’s maybe time to make the move in the opposite direction towards the lifestyle you describe in your fine article which sums up this modern day contradiction perfectly.
I think we are approaching the time where we’ll all have to pick one way of life or the other, as sooner or later the paths will diverge to the point where it won’t be possible to follow both simultaneously as each will become entirely alien to the other.
I’ve been fascinated by the concept of the Western Fellaheen since reading Spengler. The writer himself doesn’t seem to much like the idea, and becoming like the eternal Egyptian or Mesopotamian river-farmer isn’t very attractive. But, given that each culture produces its own fellaheen who keep some differences in culture and attitudes, perhaps the final men of the West might be more like Tolkien’s Hobbits. It’s hard to imagine Westerners ever losing their obsession with books, time, and quiet work. Maybe these men will survive as primitivism “thrusts up” through decaying civilization. As in Rome, the meek (genetically) will inherit the earth.
Definitely worth its own article.
Glad to see your garden is a success this year. Mine is a disaster. It seems just just a few weeks ago I was selecting seeds and digging rows.
What a lovely read. I almost could smell the celery!
You've a great gift for going so much into detail I could nearly imagine the way the sunlight hit your vegetables.
Thanks Morgoth we need more stuff like this 🙂
Lovely article, Morgoth.
Im just glad and so are your leeks it's incompetence and not malice :)
Organic and inorganic interesting.
Give this a read when you can morg
https://open.substack.com/pub/thecirculationofelites/p/the-biology-of-gemeinschaft?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=ga0u4
Enjoyed this Morgoth as it struck a chord with how I view a meaningful life well lived. 'Agency' is what is needed. My darling wife is the gardener in this household and she is fond of reminding me that the 'Mind of the gardener is the mind of God himself'.
Andrew Marvel's..."a green thought in a green shade" still pops into my head while in nature. It is soothing.