I don't think so. Of course do your own research, but from what I read it's perfectly legal in the UK and you may be able to sell it without paying tax:

• https://www.reuk.co.uk/wordpress/biomass/tax-on-biofuels/
• https://www.netregs.org.uk/environmental-topics/carbon-reduction-and-efficiency/biofuels-for-transport/producing-your-own-biodiesel/
• https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=10&t=1611692

That sounds like a good place to start. Take it one step at a time. You can even start with just an offline morning a week. You said you like reading books so that's one thing you can do in those times. I'm sure you have other hobbies or tasks you can do that don't require digital devices.

Unfortunately most intentional communities don't last very long and many are cult-like, overly collectivist or based on (what I would consider) wacky ideologies. There's a few that have lasted and seem reasonable but I haven't looked into them much yet and doubt I would be able to visit them. My ideal has some overlap with back-to-the-land movements but it goes further in that it strives to ultimately get away from the internet, cars, drugs and other modern tech. I'm not aware of any intentional communities specifically trying to do that.

Seems like a decent example of a question that people fall either side of yet isn't too politically charged

Yeah. And now we have a study when someone says "Source?"

Yes, they allow books. But unfortunately you wouldn't be able to join them unless you hold their specific religious convictions.

My hope is that intentional communities can form that support each other so that they are not subject to strong competitive pressures that practically necessitate anti-consumer practices and the use of modern technology that does more harm than good. The central principles would be belief that doing things the natural way is (almost always) best and that societal wellbeing is largely unrelated to efficiency, economics and material goods once the basic needs have been met. No other religion or beliefs would be required. Through their positive example these communities would influence the rest of the world in the right direction too so that we might not become extinct.

To this end I started https://lemmy.today/c/StopTech and https://lemmy.today/c/ParallelSocieties. I'm working on groups on other platforms as well and trying to start a community in the real world.

Yes I think you're right

I definitely think the Amish way of life is happier, healthier and more beneficial to others than American life for the past 100 years. But the way they managed that is by rejecting modern technology with very little picking and choosing like using radios but not phones or cars but not planes. I'm sure when they do pick and choose (e.g., I heard some use pesticides like Roundup) it will usually have negative consequences (see Roundup).

But unfortunately the Amish will die along with everyone else if there isn't a global stop to technological progress. Forming anti-tech communities is an important step in the right direction but awareness of the issues needs to spread to most people on the planet - and fast.

Reject modernity, embrace nature

The AI is autistic

Exactly my point.

It certainly adds convenience when you want quick answers. But the road to dystopia is convenient.