Modern life depends just a bit on machines, and particularly maybe more in recent times with the vigorous rise of electronic contraptions. 'Throw away' mindsets have mean't that 'mending' and 'making good' are less common activities , aided and abetted by the fact that many modern machines are beyond the indivduals capabilities to mend, plus others such as cars which have become too complex to continue to be able to 'home mend'.
Life on the organic eco micro-holding (small smallholding) here in the UK midlands tends to be deliberately more 'hands on' using a variety of 'intermediate technology' tools and contraptions, with just a few of the heavier tasks being mechanised, with the aim of experiencing what Kevin Mcloud from TV has called the joys and satisfactions of doing, such as creating and mending, as well as facilitating direct contact with nature. 'N''s lifestyle hinges around such activities.
Whilst 'capital' can seem to often automatically be substituted for 'labour' in the name of 'progress', that's not the case with micro-holding operations, with machines just being used for determined specific tasks such as wood sawing.
'One writer considered that because 'giantism' was rife in modern cultures, it was necessary to insist on the attributes of 'small'. Another considered that either 'heaven' or 'hell' were possibilities in terms of man's operations - and at the moment there could seem to be more than a few not necessarily experiencing too many heavenly delights - ? One society that does seem to be strong and long-term sustainable is Denmark, recently ascribed as the officially 'happiest' society in the world, and now more recently, one of the least corrupt world societies. 'Trust' and 'respect' are stated to be held as key elements in Danish society, elements/values which may not have flourished quite so well in more materialistic, competitive-geared 'giantist' cultures - ?
Lifestyles though such as the micro small micro-holding variety here may be able to offer a degree of insulation from any perceived negative effects of such cultures - ?
