Voltaire’s line from Candide: “Il faut cultiver notre jardin” (“We must cultivate our garden”) has always felt wise. But in this era of relentless digital transformation, it feels like a survival strategy.
Don't worry if you don't have a garden. A tip below that may help.
Here’s a photo of my onion patch. It’s not perfect by any means. There are weeds. And bugs, that one of my hens, Brownie, loves to eat. But this little plot keeps me grounded in a world that’s moving at breakneck speed.
Some thoughts from my veg patch:
🌱 I’m Pro-Tech. But I Still Need Dirt Under My Nails.
- I work with generative AI (yes I ran this article through it to get feedback). I’m optimistic about the future.
- But even I feel overwhelmed trying to keep up with the pace of innovation.
- Tech should serve us, not steamroll us. Growing veg is how I hit pause, recalibrate, and remind myself I’m not just an input-output machine.
🧠 AI Should Make Us More Human, Not Less
- We’ve been hectored by hustle culture and productivity gurus to work like robots.
- Ironically, as machines get better at being machines, we should reclaim our humanity.
- Gardening is deeply human: it’s slow, sensory, seasonal. If someone claims to have “disrupted” the onion, run a mile.
🏋️ Physical Health Without the Narcissism
- Gardening burns calories, builds strength, and counts as moderate-intensity exercise (CDC, 2020).
- A 2022 study in The Lancet Planetary Health found gardening reduces risk of chronic disease and improves diet quality.
- No mirrors, no gym bros. Just fresh air, functional movement, and free organic veg.
🧘 Mental Health from Mud and Birds
- Getting your hands in soil can boost serotonin - microbes in soil may act as natural antidepressants (Journal of Neuroscience, 2007).
- Gardening is meditative. You can’t scroll and sow at the same time.
- Birdsong, bees, and the rustle of leaves beat any mindfulness app.
🌍 No Garden? No Problem.
- Get a local allotment. You have a right to one if you live in England (see below).
- Look for community gardening groups – they’re growing everywhere, especially in urban areas.
- Even a balcony pot of herbs can reconnect you to the rhythm of nature.
Tech is amazing. AI is transformin geverything. But in the middle of this revolution, let’s not forget to grow
something real. To be human. I have run Digital Detoxing since 2013 to help people in organisations and business reclaim their humanity. It’s never been in more demand.
- Sometimes, the most radical thing you can do is dig a hole, plant a seed, and wait.
📜 P.S. Do You Have a Right to an Allotment in England?
Under the Small Holdings and Allotments Act 1908, if six or more local electors formally request allotments, your council is legally obliged to provide a sufficient number to meet demand.
Find out more about DIgital Detoxing