Judith Schwartz and the Heart of Wildness in Regeneration

In this conversation, Dugald Hine of the Dark Mountain Project and A School Called HOME and the author of the book, At Work In The Ruins, discusses the limitations of science in addressing climate change and the need to question and reevaluate our understanding of the issue.

He emphasizes the importance of embracing vernacular knowledge and ways of knowing, as well as living in hope and embracing the home, the community. Hine also explores the need for a new narrative that goes beyond the singularization of knowledge and the supremacy of science. He discusses the concept of coming home and the work of regrowing a living culture, as well as the role of hospitality and conviviality in creating a sense of home.

Overall, the conversation highlights the importance of turning inward and embracing home as a way to navigate the challenges of climate change and create a more sustainable future.

Watch this Episode on YouTube: YouTube Link!

Takeaways

• Climate change raises questions that go beyond what science can answer, necessitating a reevaluation of our understanding of the issue.
  
  
• The singularization of knowledge and the supremacy of science limit our ability to address climate change effectively.
  
  
• Embracing vernacular knowledge and ways of knowing, as well as living in hope and embracing depth education, can provide alternative paths forward.
  
  
• Creating a sense of home and regrowing a living culture are essential for navigating the challenges of climate change and creating a sustainable future.
  
  
• Hope is not a fixed concept but rather an empty palm into which something might land.
  
  
• Embracing uncertainty and letting go of the need to know the future is essential.
  
  
• Taking responsibility for the present and future is crucial in addressing global challenges.
  
  
• Getting implicated and actively engaging with the realities and needs of the world can lead to meaningful action.

Dougald Hine is a social thinker, writer and speaker. After an early career as a BBC journalist, he cofounded organizations including the Dark Mountain Project and a school called HOME. He has collaborated with scientists, artists and activists, serving as a leader of artistic development at Riksteatern (Sweden’s national theatre) and as an associate of the Centre for Environment and Development Studies at Uppsala University. At Work in the Ruins concludes the work that began with Uncivilization: The Dark Mountain Manifesto (2009), co-written with Paul Kingsnorth, and is his second title with Chelsea Green, following the anthology Walking on Lava (2017).

Learn more about Dougald here: dougald.nu/about
Learn more about Daniel here: danielfirthgriffith.com
Join Daniel's Substack here: danielfirthgriffith.substack.com

In this conversation, Daniel Firth Griffith and Hadden Turner of Over The Field explores the themes of agrarianism, localism, and the challenges of dismantling the consumeristic system in the face of a climate emergency.

We cover topics such as the refuge of authenticity, the concept of the machine, the tension between industrialism and agrarianism, the challenge of time and scale, the delusion of modernity and consumerism, resilience in the face of a climate emergency, and the need for consumerism to die. The conversation highlights the importance of locally adapted farming practices and the role of individuals and communities in creating change, from the inside out.

The conversation explores the question of what we are trying to save in the face of the climate emergency. It delves into the importance of focusing on the local place and disentangling ourselves and our communities from the desire to be everything to everyone.

Watch this Episode on YouTube: YouTube Link!

Takeaways

• The machine refers to the mindset of totalizing efficiency and industrial farming, which is driven by the desire for mass production and consumption.
• Agrarian solutions are long-term and locally adapted, and they require a shift in human desires and a willingness to make sacrifices.
• Resilient local systems can be fostered by supporting local farmers, paying the full price for food, and living in a way that is adjacent to the consumeristic machine.
• Dismantling the consumeristic system is a complex challenge that requires a shift in societal values and a rejection of the delusion of modernity.
• While time is of the essence in addressing the climate emergency, agrarian solutions may not match the pace needed to avert the crisis, and it may be necessary to prepare for and adapt to a future of chaos and collapse. In the face of the climate emergency, it is important to question what we are trying to save.
• Focusing on the local and taking responsibility for our immediate surroundings is crucial.
• We need to disentangle ourselves from the desire to be everything to everyone.
• Personal introspection and change are necessary for addressing the challenges we face.
• Hope can be found in the local and the seeds of renewal.

Hadden's Substack: overthefield.substack.com
Daniel's Substack: danielfirthgriffith.substack.com
Daniel's Website for Courses: Website Link

In this conversation, Rupert shares his journey of growing heritage grains and the importance of cross-pollination and adaptation in the field. He emphasizes the relationship between wheat fields and forests, highlighting the need for biodiversity and relationship.

Rupert and Daniel also discuss the impact of capitalism on farming and the search for meaning in the face of challenges. They explore the connection between death and capitalism, and the need for emergence and relationship in rewilding and baking. The conversation concludes with a reflection on the transformative power of bread making and the importance of finding meaning and relationship in farming.

Watch this Episode on YouTube: YouTube Link!

Rupert is available to support farmers, individuals and organizations with advice, mentoring and support with sourcing, growing, milling and baking with heritage grains as well as the design for regenerative cultures for organizations. He can be contacted at panisvita@protonmail.com where you can also pre-register for a copy of the 'Peasant Bakery Toolkit'.

Takeaways

• Growing heritage grains involves cross-pollination and adaptation in the field, leading to a diverse and ever-changing population of wheat varieties.
• The relationship between wheat fields and forests is important, as the presence of trees and other plants enhances biodiversity and flavor in the grains.
• The impact of capitalism on farming has led to a loss of meaning and relationship, but there is a growing movement towards regenerative practices and community building.
• Finding meaning in farming requires embracing the unknown and being open to emergence, as well as maintaining a deep relationship with the land and the process of growing food.

In this conversation, Daniel Firth Griffith and Rob Lewis discuss the climate crisis from a holistic and poetic perspective. They explore the role of poetry in understanding the climate crisis and the need for a shift in language and perspective. They also examine the influence of capitalism on climate science and solutions, as well as the importance of taking the time to address the crisis.

The conversation highlights the complexity and unifying nature of the climate crisis and emphasizes the need to talk to Earth on her terms. Rob also discusses the importance of language in our perception of the environment (or nature?) and how it can shape our relationship with nature, explaining how the term 'environment' was created to distance ourselves from nature and how Indigenous people have a more holistic way of talking about the earth. 

The conversation concludes with a poem by Lewis titled 'The Making,' which reflects on the joy of good work and the importance of staying connected to the natural world.

Takeaways

• Poetry can provide a unique perspective on the climate crisis, allowing us to see the beauty and interconnectedness of the natural world.
• The influence of capitalism on climate science and solutions can hinder holistic and sustainable approaches.
• Taking the time to understand and address the climate crisis is crucial, as rushing and prioritizing technological solutions may lead to unintended consequences.
• Language plays a significant role in shaping our understanding of the climate crisis, and it is important to use language that respects and acknowledges the Earth as a living entity. Language plays a significant role in shaping our perception of the environment. The term 'environment' was created to distance ourselves from nature, while Indigenous people have a more holistic way of talking about the earth.
• Water is essential for life and plays a central role in our climate system. The relationship between water and life is interconnected, with water creating the infrastructure for life and life creating the conditions for water.
• Plants have a crucial role in climate regulation through the process of transpiration. They release moisture to cool off and absorb heat from the atmosphere, helping to regulate temperature and remove heat from the environment.
• The complexity of life and the natural world cannot be fully understood or captured in a single moment. It requires ongoing exploration and reflection to find meaning and appreciate its beauty.
• Future conversations with Rob Lewis can be anticipated, and he can be contacted through his Substack and website for further engagement with his work.

Important Links:
Rob's Substack: theclimateaccordingtolife.substack.com
Rob's Book: thesilenceofvanishingthings.com
Daniel's Substack: danielfirthgriffith.substack.com
Upcoming Courses: danielfirthgriffith.com/collections/in-person-courses

In this episode, Daniel Griffith and Rupert Dunn discuss the inspiration of peasant baking and wilding and the impact both of these paradigms have on their lives. They explore Rupert's background and journey, including his move to Lithuania with his family. The conversation delves into the tension between wild and agricultural food production and the importance of the alchemy and transformation, the basis of relationship and food.

Daniel and Rupert also discuss the heart of the harvest and the difference between being and doing. They explore the impact of property rights on food production; the relationship between transformation and time, emphasizing the need for a holistic understanding of the world; the negative effects of maximizing production and the importance of how food is produced; and the nuances of nutrient density in meat, highlighting the impact of stress and biodiversity.

The conversation also touches on the occupation of consumerist values and the desire for freedom and choice. The difference between independence and interdependence. It concludes with the need to de-mechanize our understanding of food production and the importance of intentionality through the metaphor of the washing machine.

Rupert is available to support farmers, individuals and organizations with advice, mentoring and support with sourcing, growing, milling and baking with heritage grains as well as the design for regenerative cultures for organizations. He can be contacted at panisvita@protonmail.com where you can also pre-register for a copy of the 'Peasant Bakery Toolkit'.

Takeaways

• Peasant baking can inspire a simpler, more connected way of life.
• The alchemy and transformation of food is a meaningful and important process.
• The tension between wild and agricultural food production can be explored and understood.
• The heart of the harvest involves a deep connection to the land and the process of growing and producing food.
• The impact of property rights on food production should be considered and understood. Transformation requires time and a holistic understanding of the world.
• Maximizing production can have negative effects on nutrient density and health.
• The way food is produced impacts its nutrient density and bioavailability.
• There is a need for a shift in values and a reconnection with traditional livelihoods.
• Consumerist values and the pursuit of freedom and choice can be limiting.
• A nuanced understanding of food production and intentional decision-making is crucial. We need to change the way we live and approach the world around us.
• Understanding the nuance and complexity of nature is crucial.
• Language plays a significant role in shaping our perception of the world.
• Living in utopia requires a shift in mindset and embracing interdependency.

Daniel's Website:  www.danielfirthgriffith.com
Denuding the Illusion: danielfirthgriffith.substack.com

In this episode: Hilda Labrada Gore of Holistic Hilda and The Wise Traditions Podcast.

We discuss the importance of unity and diversity in agriculture and how curiosity and asking questions can lead to personal and professional growth. We also touch on the importance of dialogue and community, emphasizing the value of listening to different viewpoints and being open to learning from others. Alongside these larger conversation, we dive into the limitations of social media and the need for more intimate connections, reflecting on the potential impact of viewing the “climate problem” as a lack of invited dialogue, only worsened by technology’s supremacy.

The conversation concludes touches on the linguistic roots of agriculture and the idea of being versus doing. Love is highlighted as the ultimate goal in life.

Join us for this amazingly enriching conversation!

Hilda's Website: www.holistichilda.com
Awareness Book: Amazon link
Daniel's Website:  www.danielfirthgriffith.com
Denuding the Illusion: danielfirthgriffith.substack.com

Join Clara and Daniel as they discuss the linguistics behinds the "regenerative agricultural" movement. When we say "regeneration," do we mean it as a verb or an adjective? Dive in with us as we explore the ridiculously potent ramifications of your answer.

Join Denuding The illusion's Substack here!

Join Clara and Daniel as they discuss all things holistic management and the role of roots to ground us in place. We also discuss the difference between inputs and community. That is, while resilient systems require the workings of community, they may not require external and consumable inputs. Maybe.

Join Denuding The illusion's Substack here!

Join us as we read a truculent and fiesty article that Daniel wrote for Resilience.org, the Journal of the Post Carbon Initiative, about the deconstruction of the "regenerative" food system.

Read the full article here!

Join Denuding The illusion's Substack here!