The Great Simplification with Nate Hagens

Food & Community in the Ruins: Dougald Hine, Chris Smaje, Pella Thiel | Reality Roundtable #05

Oct 15, 2023

01:28:21

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Philosopher and writer Dougald Hine, social scientist and farmer Chris Smaje, and ecologist and farmer Pella Thiel join Nate to discuss the future of food and community. They explore the importance of local food production, the relationship between community and food in a lower consumption future, and the challenges and possibilities of creating change in a flawed system. They also discuss the importance of regrowing a living culture and share resources for listeners to learn more about these issues.

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Quick takeaways

Community plays a crucial role in fostering resilience and social capital, with examples such as community-owned street markets and local initiatives emerging worldwide.

Access to land and the recognition of the status and value of small-scale farming and self-sufficiency remain challenges.

Historically, agrarian societies have shown the importance of community and collective landscape management, which is a valuable lesson for modern society as we face long-term challenges that cannot be managed individually.

Deep dives

Importance of Community and Food

The podcast discussion highlights the interrelationship between community and food in preparing for a lower consumption future. Community plays a crucial role in fostering resilience and social capital, with examples such as community-owned street markets and local initiatives emerging worldwide. The focus on food production and local agrarian systems emphasizes the feasibility of producing sufficient food locally and the need to shift away from overproduction dynamics. Building skills and reconnection with nature are vital, with initiatives like forest schools providing transformative experiences for children. Access to land and the recognition of the status and value of small-scale farming and self-sufficiency remain challenges.

The Importance of Local Food Production and Small Farm Societies

01:59

Transition movement's response ability: planting potatoes to build community and relationships

01:39

Introduction

2min

Living Differently and Promoting Localism

10min

The Importance of Local Food Production

17min

The Relationship between Community and Food in a Lower Consumption Future

24min

Challenges and Possibilities of Creating Change

12min

Creating a Living Culture

18min

Sharing More Information on Individual Work

2min

Projects and Platforms for Regrowing a Living Culture

2min

On this Reality Roundtable, philosopher and writer Dougald Hine, social scientist and farmer Chris Smaje, and ecologist and farmer Pella Thiel join Nate to discuss the future of food and community. Our disconnected relationship to agriculture and our neighbors have been shaped by a modern industrial society fueled by surplus hydrocarbon energy. What will these relationships look like in a lower energy future, where we need to once again work with each other and the land, rather than in isolation. Can we learn from history to celebrate with each other in times of abundance and find strength in community in times of need? In the present world where people are in constant search for meaning and purpose, what are strategies to find joy in simplicity and well-being through the growing and sharing of food?

About Dougald Hine

Dougald Hine is a social thinker, writer and speaker. After an early career as a BBC journalist, he co-founded organizations including the Dark Mountain Project and a school called HOME. His latest book is At Work in the Ruins: Finding Our Place in the Time of Science, Climate Change, Pandemics & All the Other Emergencies (2023). He co-hosts The Great Humbling podcast and publishes a Substack called Writing Home.

About Chris Smaje

Chris Smaje is a writer, social scientist and small-scale farmer, co-running a mixed holding in Somerset, southwest England. He's the author of A Small Farm Future (2020) and Saying NO to a Farm-Free Future (2023), both published by Chelsea Green. He blogs at and is contactable via www.chrissmaje.com.

About Pella Thiel

Pella Thiel is a maverick ecologist, part-time farmer, full-time activist and teacher in ecopsychology. She is the co-founder of swedish hubs of international networks like Swedish Transition Network and End Ecocide Sweden and a knowledge expert in the UN Harmony with Nature programme. Pella was awarded the swedish Martin Luther King Award in 2023 and the Environmental Hero of the year 2019.

Watch on YouTube

https://youtu.be/NVeCw-Ljenk

Show Notes & Links to Learn More: https://www.thegreatsimplification.com/episode/rr05-hine-smaje-thiel

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The Great Simplification with Nate Hagens

Food & Community in the Ruins: Dougald Hine, Chris Smaje, Pella Thiel | Reality Roundtable #05