Really good reads

[Lyds]

Hi everyone, I hope this post is in the right place. I have been reading a book by H. J. Massingham called "The Wisdom of the Fields" written in 1945 and all about the land and the cycle of seed, plant, harvest, and back into the land. It's a great read and I've been really cheered to read such sense. Why nobody took any notice of him in' 45 is a mystery - such good sense. Have found another of his books on ebay - great.

Any one else read this fellow?

[Andy Hamilton]

does sound interesting. I would have thought that in 1945 there were many like him around with the dig for victory stuff in full swing.

It sounds like we would refer to it as permiculture these days am I right?

[Wombat]

Haven't seen that one, have you read " While Following the Plough" - John Stewart Collis?

Nev

[Lyds]

Hi! John Stewart Collis is en excellent author, have you read 'The worm forgives the plough'?
Also try, Flora Thompson - Lark Rise to Candleford and Ronald Blythe - Akenfield.
Do lets post any good agricultural reads here, please.....

Andy, H. J. Massingham was not really a dig for victory type, he was far more concerned with the future of the land and the government encouragement of artificial fertiliser. He tried to encourage mixed farming and the idea that this country could very well feed itself and not rely on imported food. What would he think if he could see England today?

[Andy Hamilton]

What would he think if he could see England today?

well lets hope we can carry on helping achieve his view of england for tommorow.

[Magpie]

My favourite reads lately have been some old '70's issues of the American "Mother Earth News" magazines, and the similarly aged New Zealand Whole Earth Catalogue. Seems the issues haven't changed much in 30-odd years,environmentally, but they do have some fantastic articles.

[Wombat]

G'day Lyds,

Saw "the worm forgives the plough" the other day, but didn't buy it, probably should have . Some of the old '70s stuff was good, another one to look out for is "Radical Technology" ex UK and still as relevent today as when it was written. In some ways we are better off but in others we haven't moved! I think the authors would have thoroughly approved of the internet though!

Nev