Gaby, from Departamento De Santa Cruz, in Bolivia is the lucky listener to set the first of today's questions for your co-host Stuart and William to discuss - “Does the industrial revolution show humanity is punching above its own weight within its own evolution, and causing its own demise?”

William’s there, right on this one, and he’s banging on about how the Industrial Revolution’s still going strong. “We’re basically the same as we were 20,000 years ago,” he says, but now we’ve got light bulbs and Wi-Fi. He reckons though we’re all headed for a big ol’ disaster eventually.

So, Stuart and William get into it about when this Industrial Revolution malarkey actually kicked off. Stuart feels it’s like someone hit fast-forward on the world. We’re zooming ahead quicker than we can evolve! No wonder we don’t have a clue what we’re doing half the time.

Then Stuart gets all deep and meaningful. “Look at your life,” he says. See where you’re punching above your weight, where you’re losing the plot, and where you’re actually on top of things. Once you clock onto that, you can start sorting yourself out. The real trick is knowing that you know, you know? The ultimate awareness is being aware that you are aware.

Simon, from Chiselhampton, in Oxfordshire, England, sets the second listener question - “We hear in Oxford there’s a shortage of allotments sites and space for individuals to grow their own crops, especially as new houses are built with smaller gardens. Do you think this is the case or is there plenty of space to grow?”

William notes that the concept of allotments, which gained fresh prominence during the Second World War, remains relevant today. Stuart highlights the potential for guerrilla gardening, also emphasising the plight of elderly community members who, due to physical limitations, can no longer tend to their overgrown gardens. This neglect often leads to feelings of depression and isolation.

Conversely, the younger generation frequently faces challenges such as limited garden space or poor soil quality, as modern construction often disregards the importance of fertile soil. Builders often see soil as ‘dirt’ not a living ecosystem. Some youngsters may not have access to a garden at all. Stuart advocates for a community-oriented approach, suggesting that individuals reach out to their neighbours. By offering to cultivate vegetables in their gardens, which can help maintain the space and provide companionship to the garden owners. While there is a shortage of official allotment spaces, there is no lack of potential gardening areas within most communities if we reimagine the whole concept.

What do you make of this discussion? Do you have a question that you'd like us to discuss? Let us know by sending an email to ⁠thepeoplescountryside@gmail.com

This podcast's overall themes are nature, philosophy, climate, the human condition, sustainability, and social justice.

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