tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8861605.post7125798621940286169..comments2024-02-20T13:32:06.704-05:00Comments on Resource Insights: Which future should we prepare for, industrial or agrarian?Kurt Cobbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05330759091950742285noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8861605.post-55685773457149335792008-07-14T15:30:00.000-04:002008-07-14T15:30:00.000-04:00"But if human civilization devolves into a set of ..."But if human civilization devolves into a set of primarily agrarian societies, the knowledge we have gained so far about plant breeding, soil chemistry and fertility, natural pest control and myriad other things that would be useful in a post-fossil fuel agricultural regime will be critical to human survival and happiness."<BR/><BR/>Correct in theory, but the production and storage of knowledge also presupposes the existance of a highly developped industrial civilization which can afford to exempt a lot of people from hard work. There weren't many professors and students in the Middle Ages. Much as I dislike Julian Simon, he was, in a way, right about (educated) people being the "ultimate resource". An agrarian society will be deprived of that resource too.Cangrandehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15886612960494544505noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8861605.post-85624068463472333962008-07-09T22:41:00.000-04:002008-07-09T22:41:00.000-04:00I've long been pondering this topic and have begun...I've long been pondering this topic and have begun to blog upon it myself (among other issues that I feel are all connected). To keep this comment short, I will just say that I have come to the conclusion that our only real hope for survival is to NOT choose between industrial or agrarian, but to attempt to wisely integrate the two. I believe technology has reached a level where we could combine it with agrarian mindsets in order to create a network of sustainable, communal/cooperative "agri-industrial" farming communities. There is significant evidence that industrial hemp and algae could be cornerstones of such an "agr-industrial" revolution.<BR/><BR/>My blog has a post that explains this thinking in a bit more detail, and I am currently trying to create an outline in order to bring the idea to fruition. I will probably begin a blog devoted totally to this project.<BR/><BR/>On a side note, I'm quite pleased to have discovered this blog and will be returning often. I apologize for the comment which contains what might be construed as personal advertising, but I hope it is seen to be pertinent to the discussion.<BR/><BR/>On a further side note, I offer the suggestion that the energy problem IS solvable, if we choose to do so. I wonder if the fresh water problem is...<BR/><BR/>Be well all.Jerryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10354640729644229842noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8861605.post-50107521533042530142008-07-08T02:00:00.000-04:002008-07-08T02:00:00.000-04:00It's too bad his recommendation was not followed. ...It's too bad his recommendation was not followed. I myself farm organically using mostly hand tools (the only machine I have is a rotary tiller). I'm very grateful for simple metal tools like hoes and sickles. But industrial civilization has squandered staggering amounts of resources and energy, in the processing building an unsustainable system upon which everyone is dependent for just about everything. Because of our waste and extravagance, future generations will be denied even basic necessities. It's a crying shame.Rice Farmerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09172342023074235356noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8861605.post-63211468328026771742008-07-07T12:34:00.000-04:002008-07-07T12:34:00.000-04:00We have little choice but to plan for a future of ...We have little choice but to plan for a future of agriculture that is pre intercontinental transportation.<BR/><BR/>Global oil production is now declining, from 85 million barrels per day to 60 million barrels per day by 2015. At the same time demand will increase 14%. This is like a 45% drop in 7 years. No one can reverse this trend, nor can we conserve our way out of this catastrophe. Because the demand for oil is so high, it will always be higher than production; thus the depletion rate will continue until all recoverable oil is extracted. <BR/><BR/>We are facing the collapse of the highways that depend on diesel trucks for maintenance of bridges, cleaning culverts to avoid road washouts, snow plowing, roadbed and surface repair. When the highways fail, so will the power grid, as highways carry the parts, transformers, steel for pylons, and high tension cables, all from far away. With the highways out, there will be no food coming in from "outside," and without the power grid virtually nothing works, including home heating, pumping of gasoline and diesel, airports, communications, and automated systems. <BR/><BR/>This is documented in a free 48 page report that can be downloaded, website posted, distributed, and emailed: http://www.peakoilassociates.com/POAnalysis.htmlAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8861605.post-55862360261846911762008-07-07T01:01:00.000-04:002008-07-07T01:01:00.000-04:00You are one of my favorite's Kurt. I have been pr...You are one of my favorite's Kurt. <BR/><BR/>I have been preparing for some form of agrarianism for a few years now. Very odd thing to do given how I was raised. Steep learning curve but a fun adventure that's also "meaningful."<BR/><BR/>Jason B.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8861605.post-76139930764426888462008-07-06T20:38:00.000-04:002008-07-06T20:38:00.000-04:00Another great post, Kurt. Thanks for letting us kn...Another great post, Kurt. Thanks for letting us know about Brown! Amazing, the things that are over 50 years old, yet we are still unable to learn from them.Bytesmithshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05018952541985844547noreply@blogger.com