Going to Seed: A Counterculture Memoir

Simon Fairlie is a hippie eco-activist who dropped out of Cambridge University, hitchhiked to Istanbul, and bicycled through India. He established a commune in France and was arrested multiple times for squatting and civil disobedience. His book "Going to Seed" questions the current trajectory of Western 'progress' and offers a different course.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 272 pages
Publication date: 10 February 2022
Publisher: Chelsea Green Publishing Co

Simon Fairlie is a remarkable and unconventional environmental activist who may not be well-known. The Observer has dubbed him the "original hippie." The Idler has described him as a fascinating, humorous, and moving account of an extraordinary life lived in extraordinary times. George Monbiot has praised Going to Seed as an unforgettable firsthand account of how the hippie movement flourished in the late 1960s, appeared spent by the Thatcher-consumed 1980s, and yet became the seedbed for progressive reform that we now take for granted and continues to inspire generations of rebels and visionaries.

Simon Fairlie embarked on a new journey at a young age, rejecting the rat race and setting out to find his own path. He left Cambridge University to hitchhike to Istanbul and cycle through India. Simon founded a commune in France, was arrested multiple times for squatting and civil disobedience, and became a prominent figure in protests against the British government's road-building programs in the 1980s and later in legislative battles to help people secure access to land for low-impact, sustainable living.

Over the course of fifty years, we witness Simon's unwavering drive for self-sufficiency, freedom, authenticity, and a deep connection to the land. Simon Fairlie grew up in a middle-class household in leafy middle England. His father had planned a traditional path for him: boarding school, Oxbridge, and a career in journalism. However, everything changed when Simon's life collided with London's counterculture in the 1960s. He discovered Beat poetry, blues music, cannabis, and anti-Vietnam War protests, and he felt an overwhelming desire for freedom. Instead of following in his father's footsteps and becoming a celebrated Fleet Street journalist, Simon took a different path. He worked as a laborer, stonemason, farmer, scytheman, magazine editor, and writer.

Simon's unconventional journey led him to explore various aspects of life and culture. He lived a nomadic lifestyle, traveling and working in different places, and immersing himself in different communities. He was drawn to the simplicity and authenticity of rural life, and he dedicated himself to learning traditional skills and sustainable living practices. Simon's activism was also shaped by his experiences with social and political movements. He was a vocal opponent of the Vietnam War and the Thatcher government's policies, and he actively participated in protests and campaigns for social justice and environmental protection.

Going to Seed is a testament to Simon's extraordinary life and his unwavering commitment to social and environmental reform. It provides a detailed account of his journey, from his early days in Cambridge to his time in France, and from his involvement in the hippie movement to his battles for land rights and sustainable living. The book is filled with colorful anecdotes, personal reflections, and insights into the social and political landscape of the 1960s and 1980s.

Simon Fairlie's story is a reminder of the power of individual action and the importance of pursuing one's dreams and values. His unconventional path and his determination to live a life of authenticity and self-sufficiency have inspired generations of rebels and visionaries. Going to Seed is a valuable contribution to the literature on environmental activism and social change, and it serves as a reminder that even in the face of adversity, we can make a difference and create a better world for ourselves and future generations.

Weight: 356g
Dimension: 153 x 230 x 32 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781645020615