The Doug Fine TEDxTalk: The Return of the Indigenous Gene

I’m probably one of only a handful of TED fans (let alone speakers) who has slept outside with his goats to protect them from coyotes like some kind of crunchy Elmer Fudd. And that in fact is the theme of my recent TEDxABQ talkThe Return of the Indigenous Gene: Why We Need Goatherding in the Digital Age.

I was as surprised as anyone to learn this, but it turns out we don’t have to choose between a Steve Jobs and a Grizzly Adams lifestyle. The heart of the Talk (which was a delightful, slightly scary — because scriptless — experience in front of an audience of 2,000 in Albuquerque) is my belief, cultivated during the half decade since writing Farewell, My Subaru, that encouraging a sweet spot between digital age life and our indigenous selves might play a major role in saving humanity. Which is to say, while researching and writing about the sea change underway in worldwide drug policy, I’ve still been busily cultivating the carbon-neutral good life. In fact, right now I’m eating an egg one of my ducks was kind enough to give me. Well, exactly right now I’m wiping yolk off my keyboard. I’m not saying that finding the sweet spot will be easy. Just fun and important.

In other news, Too High to Fail is cruising along in paperback, my Drug Peace Bumblebee columns are now archived, and my just-finished next book, about the almost unfathomably lucrative future of industrial hemp, comes out in March — on hemp paper. It’s called Hemp Bound.

Do I sound thrilled? I am. I’ve waited two decades to make the tree-free leap. Now I finally have a legitimate answer when a sharp college student during a post-live event Q and A asks me how a sustainability journalist comes to be writing books printed on harvested forests. All it took was research in Manitoba in February. More info on this fun project to come in future dispatches, and I often announce developments first on Twitter, including the dates of my soon-to-be announced five nation European live event tour.

In other news, following a fairly intense week-long river trip on a flooded New Mexico wilderness stream (I’m waking up every morning still feeling like I’m in a current, and I’m not complaining), I’m just starting a new book, about which more soon. I’ve been having a blast doing my preliminary research — always a good sign, and easy when not taking place in Manitoba in February.

For now, I’m off to milk the goats right at moonrise. As always, thanks beyond words for giving mind and heart time to my work.

Comments

  1. Zach says:

    October 17, 2013 at 2:12 pm

    Wow, Doug, what a great read TOO HIGH TO FAIL is! I devoured this E book style via kindle and a iPad. To suggest you have a grip on emerging industry would be the understatement of the year.

    It’s refreshing to hear so many of these growers refer to themselves as farmers first, stewards of the land first, capitalists second. Who knows where this industry is going, the edible side alone is huge and the surface has only been scratched.

    One thing I would hope you could delve into further are what are the advantages of making going green, well green? For example how does plain jane hemp compare as a biomass material to switch grass or other high yield materials already in use? How about hemp’s use in various building materials? I could see a book in that already. I’ve been told, but have no verification of, that hemp fiber based cloth and or cordage is prized for its ability to not mold and rot like other natural fabrics., there’s another article!

    Good luck in the future and I’ll follow you on Twitter to see what you’re up to as well as visit your site here.

  2. OrgoCowboy says:

    October 17, 2013 at 5:58 pm

    Zach, your timing is perfect. My book about hemp, called Hemp Bound, is coming out on hemp paper in March. I’ll make sure you get advance notice (as will anyone who clicks the mailing list box on this site). Thanks and here’s to a better world in the Drug Peace Era.

  3. Helena S says:

    October 18, 2013 at 3:08 am 

    I´ve been following your work for several years and I so appreciate your message and what you do. I especially liked the TED Talk about the indigenous gene. I have felt my indigenous gene for a while now, so much so that I have returned to a rural part of my home country of Colombia, after living in the U.S. for 26 years.

  4. Scott Fritts says:

    October 18, 2013 at 3:39 pm

    Doug, I’m with you–this drug war must end. Put me on your mailing list. Thanks, Scott (81 years old)

  5. MF says:

    October 31, 2013 at 1:39 am

    Too High to Fail was in the genre of fusing humor with some very important issues that we need to face. My California garden has been praised and toured many times but it is responsible for those $200 a month and climbing to keep it irrigated.

    Your book was so good and funny I kind of carried the book around, sneaking in reads whenever possible it took two days and you left me wanting more. My regards to the Pan Sisters.

  6. OrgoCowboy says:

    October 31, 2013 at 1:46 am

    These kind comments are like an inspirational health shake. Thanks, Helena, Scott and MF.

  7. Ian Harris says:

    November 13, 2013 at 11:21 am

    Hi Doug,
    Its a strange thing when one takes up a feeling, or line of thinking, it often seems everyone else is feeling the same, thinking the same… Will be buying your book ‘Too High To fail’.
    Great Work. Much Kudos. Ian

  8. OrgoCowboy says:

    November 25, 2013 at 4:02 pm 

    Sometimes things don’t seem random, I agree, Ian. Thanks for your support.

  9. Jimmy says:

    December 2, 2013 at 12:45 am

    A friend gave my Too High To Fail. I just finished reading it and loved it. It should be required reading for any elected official at the federal level.

  10. H.W. says:

    December 8, 2013 at 8:25 pm

    Doug’s book “too high to fail” is a must read, I DO believe it can happen, the movement is happening NOW!

  11. We Won. Now Every Decision Comes Down to Climate - Doug Fine says:

    September 1, 2015 at 11:38 am 

    […] The change has already come to New Mexico. We’re getting used to millennial floods something like every other year, and a fire in 2013 caused a refugee bear to kill most of my family’s dairy providers and meditation partners: our goats. […]

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The Drug War’s Berlin Wall Is Down And So Is My Local Forest: Here’s The Connection