|
Years ago I wrote a book
called Self Sufficiency. As it was a great success I
followed it up with a book called The Complete Book
of Self Sufficiency. I began to advocate self
sufficiency out of concern for the environment. In
1931, when I went to agricultural college, I was
already worried about the way the world was going. I
did not like the replacement of agricultural workers
by big machines and chemicals. I did not like the
way farmers in England were plunging themselves into
debt, and becoming nothing more than the vassals of
banks and finance companies. I did not like the way
small farms were being swallowed up by big ones; and
small fields were being knocked into big ones; and
small overdrafts were being made into big ones; and
small dole queues were being made into big ones.
Also, I was not sure I liked the chemical
revolution. It did not seem to be making smaller
farmers richer, which they deserved to be. And I did
not think it was good for the soil. I think, even in
those days, I had worked out that we humans are soil
organisms. We are creatures of the soil and it
behoves us not to abuse it.
taken from
Changing Lifestyles
by John Seymour.
|
