NoMowMay: The Puzzle of Capitalism: Can Circular Organic Gardening Unlock the Solution?
Greetings! Bonjour! 您好!
I am Gareth 王, and I am thrilled to welcome you to this edition of the newsletter, where we talk about No Mow May (yup, easy off on lawn mowing but focus on organic gardening).
In the shadows of a crumbling society, where chaos reigns and hope seems scarce, lies a hidden secret that promises a path to redemption.
Step into the enigmatic realm of circular organic gardening, where nature's whispers hold the key to a profound transformation. Can this mystical practice unlock the mysteries of capitalism and offer salvation to a world on the edge? Prepare to be captivated by the tales of circular gardens that mimic nature's intricate dance, where waste is repurposed and abundance flourishes.
Explore the intertwined threads of sustainability, equity, and wealth as they unravel before your eyes. Dare you venture into this realm of infinite possibilities? Click here to embark on an extraordinary journey, where the seeds of change await.
Don't be shy, spread the love! Please share this newsletter with others and let's inspire others to Fix one thing at a time together FixTheWorld.4Good.space !!
or on Substack as apparently many people don't have access to Linkedin!?
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In our crazy world, who cares about gardening?
Hold on tight, because this article is about to take you on a wild, hilarious journey! In a world filled with overwhelming concerns, surreal news, & mind-boggling revelation that a "certified sexual predator" ex-president running for re-election supported by his insurrection party, and even disinfectant wipes could be much more harmful than soap and water (🙄 duh!).
But fear not, my friend, because amidst this chaos, there's a valuable lesson to be learned from organic gardening. Not only can we maximize our waste and enlist billions of helpers to boost efficiency, but we might even stumble upon a business plan that can make us rich beyond our wildest dreams!
Now, I know gardening may not be your cup of tea, whether you're a novice or just a casual admirer of beautiful gardens on the news. But trust me, organic gardening has secrets to share that could save us all. So, sit back, relax, and let's embark on this extraordinary journey together. With a touch of humor and a sprinkle of insightfulness, we'll uncover the wonders of gardening and potentially discover the ultimate money-making scheme. Who knows? In this topsy-turvy world, anything is possible!
How Circular Organic Gardening Can Teach Us to Rethink Capitalism
Circular organic gardening is a way of growing food and flowers that mimics natural cycles and minimizes waste and pollution. It is based on the principles of designing out waste and pollution, keeping products and materials in use, and regenerating natural systems. It can also be seen as a form of resistance to the linear “take-make-waste” model of industrial capitalism, which depletes natural resources and generates environmental and social problems.
In this post, I will explore how circular organic gardening can offer insights, inspiration and instruction for creating a more sustainable and equitable society and economy, where no money is involved and where organic material is recycled by natural processes. At the end of the article, love to hear your thoughts of any real-life examples of how people and businesses are applying these principles in practice.
What is Circular Organic Gardening? [COG]
Circular organic gardening is a term that encompasses various methods and practices of growing plants without using synthetic chemicals or inputs.
Some of these methods include:
- Composting (especially hot): turning organic waste such as kitchen scraps, garden trimmings, leaves and paper into nutrient-rich soil amendment that can be used to improve soil health and fertility organically. I personally do 'hot composting' via Hotbin.
- Green manuring: planting cover crops such as clover, alfalfa, mustard or rye that fix nitrogen from the air and add organic matter to the soil (by turning them or chopping them) when they are dug in or left to decompose on the surface.
- Mulching: covering the soil with organic materials such as straw, (free) wood chips, cardboard or newspaper to suppress weeds, conserve moisture, moderate temperature and prevent erosion.
- No-dig gardening: avoiding tilling or digging the soil to preserve its structure and biodiversity, and instead adding layers of organic matter on top of the existing soil to create a fertile growing medium. follow Charles No-Dig Dowding
- Mandala gardening: creating circular or spiral-shaped beds that maximize space and diversity, and can be partitioned into distinct zones with different plants and functions2.
- Permaculture Fruit tree guild: A fruit tree guild is one example of a permaculture technique that is based on natural ecosystems. A guild is a group of plants that support each other and a central element, such as a fruit tree. For instance, in a forest, you might find a fruit tree surrounded by other plants that provide shade, nutrients, mulch, pest control, pollination, and more. These plants form a guild that benefits the fruit tree and each other. The result is a mini-ecosystem that produces fruits and other goodies for you and your family.
Foraging is not commercially viable & bad for environment
Learn from France where there is a foraging for personal use culture but regulations, restrictions and social pressure made sure that no foraged precious food can be sold commercially with big penalties if caught are fines and imprisonment etc.
For me the lazy COG gardener? Why forage when I can grow wild garlic, fiddleheads and even dandelions in my backyard?
This year, I purchased a pink lady (Cripps Pink) & Karneval apple trees for my household. These apples thrive in sunnier climates with at least 200 days of sunshine, which the UK traditionally lacks. However, with climate change on the rise, I predict that in 10 years or shorter (given inaction of our world leaders on climate change), we might be able to enjoy a bountiful harvest of delicious pink lady & Karneval apples, provided our water supply isn't excessively contaminated by sewage from UK's water companies, but hope our pandemic level of droughts will not affect my garden too badly, see the video & interactive graph below to your part of the world:
These COG methods are not only beneficial for the environment, but also for the gardener. They can reduce labor, costs, pests and diseases, while increasing yields, quality, variety and enjoyment. My kind of 'lazy gardening', as we only 'add water' mostly from the water butt.
How Can Circular Organic Gardening [COG] Challenge Capitalism?
Capitalism is an economic system that is based on private ownership of the means of production, profit-seeking behavior, market exchange and endless growth. It has been criticized for creating social inequalities, environmental degradation, alienation and exploitation.
Capitalism has a few lessons to learn from COG:
- By reducing dependence on external inputs: COG relies on natural resources and processes that are available locally and freely, such as sunlight, rainwater, soil organisms, plant residues and seeds. It reduces the need for buying or importing synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides or seeds that are often produced by large corporations that control the global food system. It also reduces the amount of waste that is generated by packaging (Just think of 'who' in woodland forest 'fertilise' the ecosystem? it is all done naturally by fallen tree branches/ leaves, or by animals eating habits/ damage or natural lifecycle, including elephants pushing down weaker trees)
- By creating alternative values and relationships: COG fosters a different way of relating to nature, food and other people. It values quality over quantity, diversity over uniformity, cooperation over competition, and care over exploitation. It encourages a sense of connection, responsibility and stewardship for the land and its inhabitants. It also promotes social justice and solidarity by supporting local and organic farmers, sharing surplus produce and knowledge, and participating in community initiatives.
Circular Organic Gardening [COG] values quality over quantity, diversity over uniformity, cooperation over competition, and care over exploitation.
- By challenging the growth imperative: COG questions the assumption that more production and consumption are always desirable and necessary. It recognizes the limits of natural resources and the carrying capacity of the planet. It aims to reduce waste and pollution by reusing, repairing, recycling and composting materials. It also seeks to enhance well-being and happiness by focusing on sufficiency, simplicity and satisfaction. It also forces us to appreciate the crops when they are available during the seasons
Ah, the joys of fresh asparagus during the lovely months of May and June. We savour every delectable bite, but alas, we mustn't be too greedy. For the rest of the year, we must allow our asparagus plants to rest and replenish their roots, so they can grow again next year. It's like giving them a little break to recharge their batteries, so they can continue to delight us with their deliciousness. It may be a small sacrifice, but it's worth it in the end when we can enjoy another fruitful season of asparagus.How Can Circular Organic Gardening Inspire Us to Rethink Capitalism?
Rethinking Capitalism
Circular organic gardening can inspire us to rethink capitalism by offering a vision of a more sustainable and equitable society and economy, where no money is involved and where organic material is recycled by natural processes. Some of the possible implications are:
- A shift from linear to circular production and consumption systems: instead of extracting resources, producing goods, consuming them and discarding them as waste, we could design systems that keep materials in use for as long as possible, regenerate natural resources, and minimize waste and pollution. This would require a radical transformation of the current industrial system, based on renewable energy sources, eco-design principles, green technologies, collaborative consumption and zero-waste strategies.
see my Febbish challenge. Perhaps we could consider reintroducing recycled coke and other bottles into our lives (even though I no longer drink coke - I'll admit, I was once hooked on the stuff, the drink, not the drug).
- A shift from market exchange to gift exchange: instead of buying and selling goods and services for money, we could exchange them for free or for other goods and services, based on reciprocity, generosity and mutual aid. This would require a radical transformation of the current monetary system, based on alternative currencies, bartering networks, sharing platforms, gift economies and commons-based peer production.
Utilise sharing website/apps like TrashNothing, Free cycle and Olio App (I would recommend all three!) to share your unwanted food/ items, but beware of scams! Even my spare mobile was sold by scammers, resulting in spammy SMS and signups to flirt mate or Facebook/Instagram. Luckily, it was just a spare phone. I'll write more about tips on using burner SIMs.. If you are in UK, my preference is to use a Voxi SIM (its Vodafone which is my main network for the last 30yrs) as a spare, which offers 40GB data and unlimited social media for only £12 this month. You and my adult child can receive £40 Amazon vouchers if you signup via this link.)
- A shift from individualism to collectivism: instead of pursuing self-interest, profit and accumulation, we could pursue common interest, well-being and distribution. This would require a radical transformation of the current social system, based on democratic participation, cooperative ownership, social movements, community networks and solidarity actions. In another word, searching for 'harmony' in self and society, as my last blog post covered for Asian Heritage Month.
What are Some Real-Life Examples of Circular Organic Gardening?
There are many examples of circular organic gardening around the world, ranging from small-scale backyard gardens to large-scale urban farms. Here are some examples (difficult to find, please do tell me if you know of any better examples!):
- The Incredible Edible Network (never used myself! not sure how active they are): a grassroots movement that started in Todmorden, UK in 2008 with the aim of creating “kind, confident and connected communities through the power of food”. The network consists of hundreds of groups that grow food in public spaces such as schools, hospitals, parks and streets for anyone to harvest and enjoy. The network also supports local food businesses, education projects and social enterprises.
- Local farm near you! Search for a local organic farm that uses innovative and sustainable methods to grow food for nearby markets. Many of these farms may also offer courses and workshops on circular organic gardening, permaculture, beekeeping, and other topics. If you ask the right questions, you may be surprised by how close these farms are to you. And if there are no farms nearby, consider starting a seed or plant swap group with friends and neighbors to create a new opportunity in your area.
I lied a bit as in fact there are many corporate examples and even some countries like Iceland uses geothermal energy to heat up 90% of their homes and there are many ESG vapourware that the news keep reporting, we must consider and develop 'scalable' solutions, as in the Iceland example, their population of 350,000 people is literally 0% of world's population (yes it is so small that they have an app to ensure they don't date their second cousins!), so lets cut through the news, and start your own COG journey this weekend!
Serious question to my Icelandic friends, as a past the prime 100% Chinese, does it mean I could become a 'babe' magnet in Iceland? answers below and suggestion of where I should go (if my marriage fall apart).
Conclusion
Circular organic gardening is more than just a way of growing plants without chemicals. It is also a way of thinking and acting that challenges the dominant paradigm of capitalism and offers an alternative vision of a more sustainable and equitable society and economy. By applying the principles of circular organic gardening to our own gardens and lives, we can not only enjoy the benefits of healthy food and beautiful flowers, but also contribute to the transformation of the world.
So, what is stopping you this weekend to start on this journey? don't be a COG in a machine but be a Fix agent and play a small role in fixing your world, if only for the wild insects and bee community by planting some flowers or by not mowing your lawn as part of the NOMowMay movement, as there will be many self-seeded dandilion already!
What do you think? what will you do this weekend?
Thank you for reading this post. I hope you found it insightful, inspirational, instructional, and actionable. If you did, please share it with your friends and family. If you have any feedback or questions, please leave them in the comments section below. I would love to hear from you.
Have a wonderful NO MOW May Month! 😊