Saying the quiet part out loud

Something big has been on my mind lately.

Actually, it’s been heavy on my heart for at least ten years. It’s hard to talk about—awkward, even. The vastness of it takes my breath away.

I’m talking about collapse—the unraveling of our complex society into something simpler.

Our global industrial civilization is already in the process of collapse. Throughout history, human civilizations have always collapsed when they depleted their natural resources. Accepting that this is already happening, that I can’t stop it, and that I didn’t cause it gives me peace. It allows me to focus on living well in the here and now.

For years, I hesitated to talk about this because I didn’t want to come off as a wild-eyed conspiracy theorist. But things are changing so rapidly now that more and more people are willing to face this reality head-on in a way that wasn’t possible just a few years ago.

I’m not claiming to be an expert. I don’t know exactly what’s coming or what the future will look like. But I do know that change is accelerating—and as we deplete more resources, that change will continue.

The good news? We can learn strategies to help our communities become more resilient as the trappings of industrial life fall away.

Permaculture offers a positive, action-oriented way to approach this reality. It focuses on practical, life-affirming skills and perspectives. It provides a framework for human thriving that isn’t built on the myth of infinite growth on a finite planet.

If you feel drawn to explore this further—to start saying the quiet part about collapse out loud—I invite you to join our Permaculture at Ruby Ranch Design Certification Program.

In this course, we’ll explore collapse through the lens of community resilience and preparedness. We’ll go deep, creating space for grief and processing. You don’t have to agree on where we’re headed—or even whether industrial society is collapsing. You just have to believe that humans can work together for a better future.