I’ve been watching with a great deal of interest the build-up to the upcoming Dark Mountain Project festival Uncivilisation in Llangollen over the May bank holiday weekend.

When I first read it their project’s description it really made me sit up as I’ve not seen such a level of pragmatism, or do I mean realism, voiced in such a clear and focussed way about the subjects that have been troubling me for some time now. For example I’ve been particularly uneasy about this blog’s title and the implications of it. I’ve come to the conclusion that Self Sufficiency in itself is a myth and whilst I’ll continue to learn how to grow food, rear animals and build or mend things it’s still about a million miles away from some idealistic ideal of being able to provide for all of one’s own needs.

I found their manifesto to be particularly interesting although I’ll admit that it totally loses me in the third section when the power of writing and art is invoked. I’ve read about the power of stories in this context previously and I don’t really get it, but then I’m not an artist, writer or, musician.

I’m still not sure whether I can make it to the main event yet due to a huge clash on the same weekend. To make matters worse the week leading up to it I’m on my own at the office which is when the Dark Mountain Camp is planned to be on which sounds much more up my street with its practical focus. If the planets align and I can arrange for things to be relatively quiet at the office then the plan is to just shut up shop and head up the road with some tools and firewood to see what’s occurring.

Regardless, it’s extremely heartening to see a well organised and focussed group of people discussing things in a realistic manner rather than either denying there’s a problem, or alternatively, only talking about the future with an almost religious positivity.