charles hugh smith-A Lazy Gardener's Garden

As a follow-up to Eric A.'s essays on becoming a producer of food rather than just a consumer, here are a few photos of our postage-stamp sized vegetable garden. The satisfaction and power gained by becoming an active producer rather than a passive consumer is one reason I say that "A healthy homecooked family meal and a home garden are revolutionary acts."

Any refusal of passive consumption--of factory food, factory education, factory "news"-- is revolutionary in the sense that self-reliance and independent thought are Kryptonite to the cartel-state debtocracy.

But enough of the meta-meanings of a garden. As I have confessed before, I am a lazy gardener, with a high tolerance for weeds and chaos and an affection for bugs and pollinating insects, hence the kale that's allowed to flower and the profusion of volunteer flowers scattered amidst the vegetables. We don't use pesticides or chemical fertilizers.

These tomato plants are from seeds sent to me several years ago by a kind reader; the cucumbers are from Everlasting Seeds (heirloom, USDA organic).

I've had to prop up the branches of the peach tree this year; I lost one old branch as the weight of the fruit broke it.

When I feel stressed from overwork I find a place to sit and observe the insects and birds that visit or inhabit the garden, which is a tiny oasis of flowering plants in a densely populated urban zone of pavement and buildings.

Things are falling apart--that is obvious. But why are they falling apart? The reasons are complex and global. Our economy and society have structural problems that cannot be solved by adding debt to debt. We are becoming poorer, not just from financial over-reach, but from fundamental forces that are not easy to identify or understand. We will cover the five core reasons why things are falling apart:

1. Debt and financialization
2. Crony capitalism and the elimination of accountability
3. Diminishing returns
4. Centralization
5. Technological, financial and demographic changes in our economy
Complex systems weakened by diminishing returns collapse under their own weight and are replaced by systems that are simpler, faster and affordable. If we cling to the old ways, our system will disintegrate. If we want sustainable prosperity rather than collapse, we must embrace a new model that is Decentralized, Adaptive, Transparent and Accountable (DATA).
We are not powerless. Not accepting responsibility and being powerless are two sides of the same coin: once we accept responsibility, we become powerful.

Kindle edition: $9.95 print edition: $24 on Amazon.com
To receive a 20% discount on the print edition: $19.20 (retail $24), follow the link, open a Createspace account and enter discount code SJRGPLAB. (This is the only way I can offer a discount.)

NOTE: gifts/contributions are acknowledged in the order received. Your name and email remain confidential and will not be given to any other individual, company or agency.

Thank you, Vince W. ($5/month), for your exceedingly generous subscription to this site -- I am greatly honored by your support and readership. Thank you, Reese G. ($5/month), for your exceptionally generous subscription to this site -- I am greatly honored by your support and readership.

"This guy is THE leading visionary on reality. He routinely discusses things which no one else has talked about, yet, turn out to be quite relevant months later."
--Walt Howard, commenting about CHS on another blog.

Or send him coins, stamps or quatloos via mail--please request P.O. Box address.
Subscribers ($5/mo) and contributors of $50 or more this year will receive a weekly email of exclusive (though not necessarily coherent) musings and amusings.
At readers' request, there is also a $10/month option.
What subscribers are saying about the Musings (Musings samples here):
The "unsubscribe" link is for when you find the usual drivel here insufferable.

Your readership is greatly appreciated with or without a donation.