• Free Resources
    • Blog
    • Webinar Replay
    • Recommended Books
    • Facebook Group
    • 7 Steps to Healthy Soils
  • Courses
    • All Courses
    • Featured Courses
    • Animal Health
    • Biodynamics
    • Compost and Compost Teas
    • Farming Systems
    • Human Health
    • Soil Health
  • My Courses
  • Members Access PRO
    • Members Perks PRO
    • Farm Tours PRO
    • Gold Nuggets PRO
    • Mastermind Replays PRO
    • Regenerative Soil Mastermind CallPRO

    Shopping Cart

    No products in the cart.

    Sign in Sign up

    Shopping Cart

    No products in the cart.

    • Log In
    • Register
    • Get Started
    • Learn About Soil
      • What’s New
      • Blog
      • Farm Tours
      • Podcast
      • Webinar Replay
    • Buy Courses
      • All Courses
      • Featured Courses
      • Short Courses

    Are You Immune to “Herd Thinking”?

    Are you one of the early adopters or what some might term ‘a renegade’ in your farming community? Do you wonder why other farmers are still farming like their fathers did? Or are you perhaps still not sure about making steps toward biological farming? Why is this so?

    This is a question that has often challenged us. But on reading a recent article realised that it has more to do with how we are wired up than anything to do with facts and figures. Have you ever heard a smoker defend their behavior by saying their grandfather smoked a pack a day … lived to the ripe old age of ninety … and was never sick a day in his life? Despite mountains of evidence that smoking kills hundreds of thousands of people each year, the fact that one single solitary person known by this individual to have survived until age 90 says smoking is harmless.

    Emotional impact beats statistical evidence every time. We are hard-wired to pay attention to things we can experience through our senses. That’s how our ancestors sensed danger and opportunity and stayed alive. In the dark and dangerous rain forests and caves of pre-history our forefathers were on constant watch for the tiniest little contrast in their surroundings that signaled potential danger. Everything was suspect until it could be compared with something known to be harmless.

    Monkey see, monkey do: Human beings are natural born imitators. Our ability to emulate others is one of our greatest strengths. Not only did mimicry facilitate learning and progress in primeval times, it allowed an individual to increase his or her odds of self-preservation in a crisis. When fleeing a predator, all members of the tribe instinctively moved to the center of the group, thereby increasing their chances of survival.

    Conformity of behavior perpetuated the species. A great many of our cultural institutions were originally designed from the ground up to impose conformity and grease the wheels of authoritarian rule. As a small child you learned to line up in single file, to dress in a certain way, to sing the same songs and say the same prayers as everybody else … and basically “go along to get along” – or suffer the consequences. All of this conditioning creates enormous pressure to follow the crowd without critically examining where the crowd might be headed. And so beliefs tend to spread like viruses among people. The probability of an idea spreading actually increases in direct proportion to the number of people infected.

    All of us have built-in biases that make us behave in predictable ways that are almost automatic. The most powerful of these biases are part of our survival program. Some of them are basic, instinctual, built right into our DNA. Others are more complex, the result of social conditioning. Most of them are counter-intuitive.

    How are your beliefs affecting your farming practices? Have you ever stopped to ask why you are doing what you are doing?

    Soil Lovers at Soil Learning Center Say:

    How much critical thought have you invested in your beliefs?

    Download PDF

    🔒 PRO Access Only

    Some content on this page is locked to members only!

    Dig Deeper and unearth your connection to the soil. Soil PRO membership is a revolutionary community that connects you with all things soil-related, from global challenges right down to the soil in your own backyard.

    Unlock the years of video archives, search the vault for "soil-utions", connect with mentors who can help you fast track and join an online community of soil loving enthusiasts on our Mastermind Calls.

    It's non-stop soil learning goodness!
    UPGRADE TO PRO NOW
    Locked

    We acknowledge First Nations owners of Country and their continuing connection to the land, waters and culture across Australia and from all over the world. As Soil Lovers we respectfully acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of all the lands on which we work and pay our respects to the Elders past present and emerging. When caring for your land take a moment in stillness to respect the wisdom your land is sharing with us.

    Facebook-f Youtube Microphone-alt

    Latest Soil Blogs

    Worms Are The Answer!

    Super nutrition for revitalised soils

    Support local while you FindGoodFood with tasty new app

    How Brix Meters work!

    Is the food that you are growing or eating bursting with nutrients?

    Why Soil Organic Matter actually matters

    Soil Matters Monthly Newsletter!

    Dig into the most up-to-date news on soil health and regenerative trends – with community tips from top experts and mentors! Sign Up Now!

    Your information is 100% secure. We will NEVER share your information with anyone.

    ©2006 - 2022 All rights reserved​.

    Made with 🤎 Created by Soil Lovers at Farming Secrets.

    Clear Clear All

    Omg... this sale is crazy!

    Days
    Hours
    Minutes
    Seconds

    hurry up and grab these deals:

    • 50% Courses
    • 30% Digital Downloads
    • 30% Memberships
    View all the deals