A (very brief) history of agriculture

This was a piece of course work from my Skills Bootcamp in Regenerative Land-Based Studies at the Apricot Centre earlier this year. It’s an attempt to map out a history of agriculture. It will have missed a very great deal, but I focussed on pivotal events and technological developments that drove population change. Comments welcome. …

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Week-ish notes 24/10/24

An open lined notebook with three pens placed diagonally across the pages. The pens are light blue, dark blue, and black, arranged from top to bottom on a white surface.

I’ve been thinking about study, particularly as I approach the halfway-through-term reading week next week. Where my global systems thinking module on Mondays takes the form of a lecture with occasional group discussions, my Friday food systems module is a seminar. The approach is different for the two. At the Monday lecture, I take a …

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Gaia

A globe resembling the planet Earth seen suspended in the air inside a cathedral.

This week was lectured by Prof. Tim Lenton, and this module keeps setting off lightbulb moments for me. How did life on earth get to be self-regulating? What is life, and what is its effect on the planet? James Lovelock had started looking at the composition of atmospheres of different planets while working at NASA. …

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Food, farming and agroecology on Bluesky

A promotional graphic for starter pack focused on "Agroecology and Food Systems" hosted on Bluesky. The design features a banner with the text "JOIN THE CONVERSATION" at the top, followed by images of several individuals framed in circular portraits. The title "Agroecology and Food Systems on Bluesky" is prominently displayed in the lower half, with a butterfly icon symbolising the Bluesky platform.

My social local is currently Bluesky. Bluesky does starter packs, ready-to-go lists of accounts to follow around a particular topic, with suggested feeds that aggregate further content. I’ve created a starter pack on agroecology and food systems that you might want to follow if you’re interested in a quick start in a new place. I …

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Virtually in Oxford

A room full of people at Oxford Town Hall

On Thursday and Friday this week I’ll be joining the Oxford Real Farming Conference, albeit virtually. Online tickets are still available. I had a great first experience of the conference last year, but I’m opting to save money and travel this time round. Last year’s conference was a great opportunity to see friends and heroes …

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