Dateline: 28 August 2013
Vulnerability comes with centralization and complexity, and our current global economic system has never been so centralized and complex. Thus it is that Western civilization has never been more vulnerable to collapse. Any honest look at the macro economic situation that America is facing leads to only one conclusion... life as we have known it is going to change dramatically in the years ahead. The handwriting is on the wall.People who have a lot of money, and live their lives totally dependent on their financial wherewithal to buy their necessities of life, will face great hardship. At the other end of the spectrum, people who are totally dependent on government pensions, social security, or any other form of government handout, will also face great hardship. People who are totally dependent on supermarkets and restaurants to feed themselves and their families, will face great hardship. People who are in debt will face great hardship. There will be great hardship all around as the modern socio-economic support system that most modern people have grown to depend on, fails them.
This coming collapse will be the end of the world for so many modern people who live totally dependent on the industrial system.
But there will also be many people who, seeing the handwriting on the wall, endeavor to change their lifestyle, lessen their dependencies and become more self reliant. They will eliminate all debt. They will reduce their needs and wants, eschewing materialism and simplifying their lifestyle. They will move out of the urban areas, to a section of land where they can grow some of their own food, harvest water as needed, and cut firewood to heat their homes in the winter. They will invest in tools of self-reliance and home production. They will establish family economies involving everyone in the work of meeting the needs of their family. They will establish home businesses to support their way of life. They will focus on strengthening family relationships, and relationships with those in their community. They will humble themselves before God and repent of the vanity of modern life and the foolishness of modern culture. They will embrace God's grace, and His mercy, and love His law, and live accordingly. I call this way of life, "Christian agrarianism." I did not invent the term by any means, but I have adopted it and promoted it.
In the spring of 2005 I started this blog with the primary focus of sharing and promoting my Christian-agrarian beliefs. Few people back then were familiar with the word "agrarian," let alone "Christian-agrarian." I have encouraged fellow Christians who've come to these writings to reexamine the mainstream industrial worldview and their conformity to it. It is a secular, man-centered, proud, science-worshiping world view. It is not a worldview acceptable to God, and the way of life built on that worldview is not appropriate for God's people. It is also, as I've already noted, not sustainable.
My earliest writings at this blog contained foundational Christian-agrarian precepts. They provided groundwork to build on. They charted a course out of industrial dependency. They cast a vision for a lifestyle that is more in line with what God intended for His people to live.
One year after starting this blog, I took many of my early essays off the internet and compiled them into a book titled, Writings of A Deliberate Agrarian. In the book, I define Christian-agrarianism, and I promote this counter-cultural way of life.
If you are a Christian, if you are new to this blog, if my writings here resonate with you, and if you don't yet have a copy of the book, now is the time to get yourself a copy. Now is the time because I'm selling it at a special, significantly-reduced price, for a limited time, and for a special reason.
For the next week (until September 7) you can purchase a copy of Writings of a Deliberate Agrarian, using the order button below, for only $8, postage-paid. I normally sell the book for $12.95.
For every copy of the book sold between now and September 7th, I will donate $5 to support production of the independent documentary film, Beyond Off-Grid.
Back on July 2nd I blogged (HERE) about the Christian-agrarian, Beyond Off-Grid documentary project. Then, today, as I was working in my shop, I listened to the August 16 edition of Scott Terry's Christian Farm and Homestead radio program, where he speaks with Jason Matyas to get an update on the film.
I really like the message that is being communicated through this film. I have donated to the project. I hope you will donate directly to the project too. But here is an opportunity to donate in an indirect way, and get something tangible in return. I'd like to sell at least 40 books, and send at least $200 to the project.
Will you help support this idea?
(Add To Cart Button Has Been Removed)
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Update
September 7, 9:00 pm
This Fundraiser Has Ended
This Fundraiser Has Ended
Number of books sold
87 copies
(That's $435 to support the documentary project)
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Online Reader Reviews of
"Writings of a Deliberate Agrarian"
Thank you for making it easy to donate to a good cause and for the chance to get your book at a really good price.
ReplyDeleteKelly
Thank you, Kelly. Your book will mail out tomorrow. I'm shipping these copies by Media Mail (instead of the usual First Class) to save money, so the book may take up to a week to get to you.
ReplyDeleteHappy to support this worthy cause, and looking forward to reading your book as well! We thoroughly enjoy reading and learning from your blog posts -- Thank you for all that you share here. We are also anxiously awaiting those clothespins!
ReplyDeleteLoren
This is very cool, just the kind of team work we need to see happening! Thanks Herrick, this was a great idea. I encourage everyone to share this post on Facebook and Twitter if you use them. Lets get the word out!
ReplyDelete>UPDATE
ReplyDeleteAs of this moment, about 24 hours after posting the $8 book offer, I have sold 28 copies!
That's $140 (so far) that y'all have helped raise to support the Beyond Off-Grid documentary!
I'm excited to see how much money we can raise by the 7th. Spread the word. This book makes an excellent gift.
Thanks everyone.
You are 100 % right. I look around on my way to and from work and see people that are willing to pay good money (if you can call paper money good) to mow their postage stamp lawn and take care of their flowerbeds. These are the same people that pay to go to the gym to be in shape like the person mowing. they can not see that they could do things for themselves and be happier, healthier and more productive for themselves. so many people also depend on someone else to take care of them in so many ways but do not want to learn any skills let alone a trade. I just ordered yourbook and look forward to reading it. thanks---John
ReplyDeleteThanks so much! I LOVE your blog and everything I've ever read that you have written. I can barely wait to receive my copy! :)
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I'll place my order within the next few days.
ReplyDeleteThank you Herrick for all your great posts, received my books today, will give them to others to enjoy. thank you also for the notepad with books.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Pat Tolbert
Thanks for taking the initiative to raise awareness about the film and support our work, Herrick. We are very grateful for your generosity!
ReplyDeleteHello Herrick.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to buy your book, but I live in Japan. Do you ship overseas?
Regards,
Russell