RT @maxdubler
I see us millennials have reinvented the back-to-the-land and commune movements popular among Boomers in the 1970s.

Let me save everyone a lot of grief.

Gardening is a fun hobby.

Subsistence farming is grueling, backbreaking labor that your grandparents worked hard to escape.

@flancian I don’t think this is the full story. Farming that’s modeled on large-scale corporate farming matches that description. Everything I’ve read says that regenerative farming is way easier. The grueling part is fighting nature, planting monocultures, depleting your soil then trying to counteract that by dumping fertilizer, etc.

Here’s an episode of How to Save a Planet that touches on the difference.

@liaizon @0x1C3B00DA @flancian there's a broad and viable space between "plant a garden in your backyard" and "live entirely off the land" that y'all seem to be ignoring.

there's no rule that says you have to grow all your own food, or give up earning money in other ways, or do the whole off-grid thing.

but farming works best when done cooperatively, and on a larger scale: https://heated.medium.com/small-family-farms-arent-the-answer-742b6684857e

@liaizon @0x1C3B00DA @flancian scoff if you like, but I live in a commune that was started by boomers in the 60s. we grow a lot of our own food. sure, it's a ton of work, but it's only done by members who enjoy it (and it earns the same hourly "wage" as all our other labor). we're not trying to grow all our food, but we have delicious fresh organic vegetables (and dairy products) to feast on year-round.

so, back to the land: not such a silly idea, actually.

@twistylittlepassages @liaizon @0x1C3B00DA sorry for the delay! I've been busy at work.

I have to clarify I wouldn't ever scoff at people seeking an alternate lifestyle that is fulfilling to them; I just thought this was an interesting take, and it seemed likely that people do sometimes jump on lifestyles that might not be sustainable -- or might be surprising when considered with their full implications.

@twistylittlepassages @liaizon @0x1C3B00DA I love the idea of self-sustaining or (more likely) mutually-sustaining communes.

I often call them Bolos, following Hans Widmer. That'd be an autonomous unit with about 300-500 people.

@flancian @liaizon @0x1C3B00DA thanx for the clarification! and you're right, ppl do often try to get back to the land & fail because they don't understand what it takes. @bhaugen has some good insights here.

interesting that people like Widmer & Skinner envisioned communes of 300-500, but it seems you need religion to get that many people on board. my (secular) commune hovers around 100, & most are smaller.

there's a searchable directory of communes etc. at: ic.org
(incomplete, of course)