The Dark Mountain Project
Saturday, April 24, 2010
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.
Posted in Bealers | Comments (3)
Tags: resilience | transition
Paul Kingsnorth says:
April 24, 2010 at 2:35 pm
Hi Darren,
This is Paul Kingsnorth, one of the Dark Mountain co-founders. Thanks for mentioning this. Hope you can make it to the festival. I’ll try and explain the third part of the manifesto if you do!
I’d not come across your blog before, but it’s great. Very much chimes with our family’s ambitions in terms of smallholding etc. I was reading your entry about Old Chapel Farm and wondered if I could pick your brains about it? Do you have an email address I can get you on? If you want to contact me I’m on paul [at] paulkingsnorth [dot] net
Thanks!
Paul
Bealers says:
April 24, 2010 at 5:51 pm
Hi Paul,
Thanks very much for the comment. I’m going to really try to be at the camp but leaving my wife to handle the three kids over the weekend at a freinds’ 40th birthday-come-camping holiday may just be one straw too many.
Anyway, we’ll see.
Dave Powell says:
May 19, 2010 at 6:38 pm
Hi Darren,
Great blog! My first visit today, I too hope you will be at the festival. We are setting up a smallholding in the mountains near Barcelona.
Wales is my home Country so it´s lovely to hear and see the efforts to bring creative and interesting life in the land there. I don´t know if you have moved already but
good luck
best to you all
Dave