Yesterday Andy from http://www.portugalsmallholding.org/ bought the printed version of Famine in the West. He is interested in low-impact living, and since May has been living on a 2 hectare smallholding in central Portugal. He told Peakfood:
“We are very aware of prices increasing and the instability of world food
etc… that’s one reason why we are here, with our own reliable water
supply, and plans to upgrade our food production capabilities this
winter/spring as well as starting to offer inexpensive courses in
self-suficiency and permaculture type things… to try to help some people
in the coming multi-crisises…“I have been personally struggling with my family’s struggle in the
economic system… they all seem to be working every hour and still living
on their credit cards… as you say, most people have no idea what is
happening, and more and more are heading our way to set up smallholdings,
learn skills etc… part of me is hopeful that peak oil will slow down
some of the environmental destruction that is being committed in the name
of profits, but also aware that it could go the other way, with so many
people so addicted to the soma of our culture, huge amounts of damage can
and probably will be done in an attempt to survive, as in deforestation in
poorer parts of the world by people seeking firewood…
we have so much education to do… we have so much of society in a
cul-de-sac with no easy way out…