The Local Food Revolution

SUBHEAD: A revolution aimed at rebuilding food security and food sovereignty for all.By Michael Brownlee on 24 March 2011 in Boulder Weekly - (http://www.boulderweekly.com/article-4806-id-like-to-see-a-study-on-the-relative-cost-for-t.html)Image above: Boulder Belt Farm share. From (http://www.localharvest.org/blog/330/entry/boulder_belt_farm_share_inititiative16).Boulder, Colorado -Anyone living

The Ends of the Earth

SUBHEAD: How far will we go to secure energy? Clearly, to the ends of the Earth. And perhaps even to the end of the (living) world.By Guy McPherson on 22 March 2011 for Nature Bats Last - (http://guymcpherson.com/2011/03/the-ends-of-the-earth)Image above: "The End of the World" computer wallpaper. From (http://www.fantasy-backgrounds.com/planets/end-of-the-world).Judging from their actions, most

Limits of Incantation

SUBHEAD: As an archdruid it disappointing to see incantations used where they’re not going to accomplish anything.By John Michael Greer on 16 March 2011 for Archdruid Report - (http://thearchdruidreport.blogspot.com/2011/03/limits-of-incantation.html)Image above: "An Incantation" by John British Dixon 20 July 1773. From (http://www.tate.org.uk/britain/exhibitions/gothicnightmares/rooms/room5_

Eco-Farming Feeds the World

SUBHEAD: "Agroecology seeks to improve the sustainability of agroecosystems by mimicking nature instead of industry".By Paula Crossfield on 9 March 2011 in Huffington Post -(http://www.huffingtonpost.com/paula-crossfield/un-ecofarming-feeds-the-world_b_833340.html)Image above: Organic fruit at Kauai farmer's market. From (http://theessenceofblogging.blogspot.com/2010/12/

Miserable Means - Miserable Ends

SUBHEAD: Our remaining intellectual horsepower will be exhausted trying to revive the 'Kar Kulture'.By Steve Ludlum on 6 March 2011 in Economic Undertow - (http://economic-undertow.blogspot.com/2011/03/miserable-ends-justify-miserable-means.html)Image above: Before and After. Scene from movie "Cars". From (http://www.bloggerdad.com/how-cars-almost-ruined-the-super-bowl).I mean, who really cares

Starting Over

SUBHEAD: Moving away from civilization and toward a durable and better way of living.By Guy R. McPherson on 18 February 2011 in Nature Bats Last - (http://guymcpherson.com/2011/02/starting-over)Image above: Graffiti "Without Money We'd All Be Rich" on white brick wall. From original article.Judging from my email in-box and the occasional comment in this space, my essays have taken a surprising

Extinction Event?

SUBHEAD: We worshiped at the heavenly altar of economic growth, and triggered hell on Earth.By Guy McPherson on 7 February 2011 in Nature Bats Last(http://guymcpherson.com/2011/02/extinction-event)Image above: From (http://www.divediscover.whoi.edu/arctic/circulation.html).The Arctic is defrosting as warm Atlantic waters rush through the Fram Strait instead of skirting the southern coast of

The Economics of Happiness

SUBHEAD: It’s a comfort to watch a film that presents the sentiment that a future with less oil is preferable to a future with lots of oil.By Jennifer Prediger on 4 February 2011 for Grist - (http://www.grist.org/article/2011-02-04-a-new-documentary-about-the-real-wealth-of-nations-)Image above: Image promoting course on "The Economics of Happiness" From (http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/11

Third Time's a Charm

SUBHEAD: Price-forecasters are predicting oil at $150/barrel in 2011. That will put the final nail in the U.S. coffin.By Guy McPherson on 22 January 2011 for Nature Bats Last - (http://guymcpherson.com/2011/01/third-times-a-charm/)Image above: The last coffin nail? From (http://art-n-pics.blogspot.com/2010/11/creative-photography-typical-life-of.html).Kurt Vonnegut often described World Wars I

Onset of Catabolic Collapse

SUBHEAD: It’s possible at this point to provide a fairly exact date for the onset of catabolic collapse here in the United States of America.By John Michael Greer on 19 January 2011 in The Archdruid Report - (http://thearchdruidreport.blogspot.com/2011/01/onset-of-catabolic-collapse.html)Image above: Viaduct passes in front of the Colosseum in reconstruction of Rome as it was in 320 AD . From (

Prophets of Doom Takeaway

SUBHEAD: Looking at more detail underlying History Channel’s “Prophets of Doom” story.By Gail Tverberg on 6 January 2011 in Our Finite World - (http://ourfiniteworld.com/2011/01/06/the-oil-employment-link-part-2-looking-at-more-detail-underlying-history-chanels-prophets-of-doom-story/#more-546)Image above: Mashup of two stills from video below, "Prophets of Doom".In Part 1, I talked about how

The Tarpaper Shack Principle

SUBHEAD: Its only useful if you can build it from readily available materials, and put it to work, while living in the an old fashioned tarpaper shack.By John Michael Greer on 5 January 2011 for ArchDruid Report - (http://thearchdruidreport.blogspot.com/2011/01/tarpaper-shack-principle.html)Image above: A tarpaper shack during winter in Nova Scotia, Canada. From (http://www.flickr.com/photos/

The Haybox Factor

SUBHEAD: Neanderthals routinely ate cooked vegetables, and cooked meat has been a hominid staple since the days of Homo erectus.By John Michael Greer on 29 December in the Archdruid Report - (http://thearchdruidreport.blogspot.com/2010/12/haybox-factor.html)Image above: A fireless cooker circa 1890 branded 'The Chatham Jewel' in an oak case. From (http://www.antiquefever.com/

3 Ways Without a Car

SUBHEAD: Three car-free ways of existence to choose from. By bus, by bike or by foot.By Jan Lundberg on 23 December 2010 for Culture Change - (http://www.culturechange.org/cms/content/view/692/1)Image above: Stock photo of night traffic over a bridge.We have the winners for our Lifestyles #1, #2 and #3 depicted for our Three Car-Free Ways of Existence. Joining Greg Jalbert's successful entries

Agriculture that Stands a Chance

SUBHEAD: Perennial polyculture and not monoculture annuals as the hard limits of post-carbon farming begin.By Dan Allen on 13 December 2010 in Energy Bulletin -(http://www.energybulletin.net/stories/2010-12-13/agriculture-stands-chance-perennial-polyculture-hard-limits-post-carbon-farming)Image above: Devastation in the Dust Bowl of 1936 in Dallas, North Dakota on May 13th. From (http://

The Future's Further Shores

SUBHEAD: If it’s too large, complex, and expensive for a basement workshop, it’s probably not going to be successful.By John Michal Greer on 8 December 2010 for ArchdruidReport - (http://thearchdruidreport.blogspot.com/2010/12/futures-further-shores.html)Image above: Peel Hill at Fenella Beach on the Isle of Man. From (http://definedlight.com/

The Future of Government

SUBHEAD: We are trapped in a very complex civilization that is rapidly losing the sources of energy and numerous other raw materials that built and maintained it.Image above: The Titanic slipping under the icy Atlantic. From (http://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-495832.0.html).By Tom Whipple on 8 December 2010 in Falls Church News-Press - (http://www.fcnp.com/commentary/national/7980-

The Road to Nowhere

SUBHEAD: Only by terminating the world’s industrial economy is there any hope for the future of our own species.Image above: Firestorm on 10/25/03 in San Bernardino, CA burned several hundred homes. From (http://www.wildlandfire.com/pics/grprix/grandprix.htm).By Guy McPherson on 1 December 2010 in Transition Voice - (http://transitionvoice.com/2010/12/the-road-to-nowhere)When I wrote about the

Gross All Over

SUBHEAD: There's a lot to feel uncomfortable about. But, what will be there when we break on through to the other side?Image above: Mashup by Juan Wilson of Thanksgiving-Football hat ad and the plasma TV alter on Turkeyday.By James Kunstler on 22 November 2010 in Kunstler.com -(http://kunstler.com/blog/2010/11/gross-all-over.html)I was kind of relieved to be leaving the country again this week

The Age of Cheap Oil is Over

SUBHEAD: There is no time for denial. Governments and communities need to start adapting now.Image above: Detail of photo of Edgemere, Queens, New York, by Nathan Kensinger. From (http://kensinger.blogspot.com/2010/09/south-edgemere-wasteland.html).By Nafeez Mosaddeq Ahmed on 12 November 2010 in New Statesman - (http://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/the-staggers/2010/11/