New Yorkshire and the Water-Based Economy: Grow Food, Save Money, Build Stronger Communities
The idea behind New Yorkshire is simple: build a cleaner, greener and more resilient future by making better use of the resources we already have—water, soil, gardens, communities and local skills.
The Circleism vision shown in the image encourages people to grow some of their own food, collect rainwater where appropriate, reduce waste and keep more money circulating within local communities. You don’t need acres of land to participate. Potatoes, tomatoes, chillies, strawberries, herbs and salad crops can all be grown in gardens, containers, balconies or small greenhouses.
Moving towards a “water-based economy”
A water-based economy doesn’t literally mean replacing money or conventional energy with water. It is a way of describing a society that places greater value on renewable natural resources and local resilience rather than depending unnecessarily on finite resources.
Growing food at home is one practical example. Rainwater collected in a water butt can be used for garden irrigation, reducing demand for treated mains water. Locally produced food can also reduce some transport and packaging requirements.
The message is: grow food, use resources carefully, save money where possible and strengthen your community.
A bigger New Yorkshire
The New Yorkshire depicted in the image is deliberately much larger than the historic county. It represents an imagined Circleism region stretching across much of Great Britain—a symbolic vision rather than an actual political boundary.
Any real alteration to the UK’s national borders, constitutional arrangements or sovereignty would, of course, require democratic and legal processes.
What about Northern Ireland?
One provocative idea within this proposed New Yorkshire vision could be to propose transferring Northern Ireland to a united Ireland in return for an agreed financial settlement—sometimes loosely described as “selling Northern Ireland to Ireland.”
In reality, Northern Ireland isn’t property that the British government can simply sell. Its constitutional status is governed by democratic principles, including the principle of consent established by the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement. A united Ireland would therefore depend on the democratic wishes of people in Northern Ireland and the relevant constitutional processes, rather than a commercial transaction.
Within the New Yorkshire story, however, the concept can be used as a thought experiment: could constitutional change reduce long-term government expenditure and allow resources to be redirected towards housing, renewable energy, water infrastructure, food production and communities? Any serious proposal would need to account for the rights, identities and wishes of the people who actually live there.
Grow a better future together
New Yorkshire ultimately doesn’t have to be about drawing lines on a map. Its strongest ideas can start at home.
Grow a few vegetables. Collect rainwater responsibly. Plant flowers for bees and other pollinators. Buy locally when it makes sense. Reduce unnecessary consumption. Help neighbours grow food. Encourage communities to become more resilient.
That is the practical heart of the message:
Love • Soil • Food • Homes • Community • A Water-Based Economy
You don’t need to wait for a new country or a new economic system to begin. Plant something today and see what grows.
