Once referred to as "Croppiedom's King of Controversy" Michael Glickman has long occupied a central space at the heart of public comment on the crop circle phenomenon. A former architect and teacher, he is now a renowned and inspirational speaker and writer. His work on the geometry and interpretation of the crop circles has spanned over 16 years. Michael has written several regular columns on the crop circles over his career, both in print and on the internet. Wheat from the Chaff is his latest incarnation. His book, Most researchers knew that this season would be astonishing and, based on the experience of 2008, it was reasonable to expect even larger numbers of people. During last summer the fields had been crammed with visitors, sometimes in alarming numbers. In fact 2008 was the first time since the heady days of 1990 that many researchers had felt slightly uncomfortable at the sheer level of visitor numbers.
The majority of these people would be first-timers who, in all probability, had never seen a crop circle before. Indeed, it is likely that this will be, for many of them, the first time they entered an arable field. How could we expect appropriate conduct in the fields unless we supplied some guidelines?
My idea was that we would produce a small pocket-book, called Crop Circle Etiquette: a guide to visiting formations. Karen Alexander and I wrote it and Nancy Lawrence designed it. There have been, over the years, various guidelines published on websites, but nothing in print, and we worked to unify and clarify the information from each.
We were going to print 2000 copies which would be distributed at no cost to all crop circle visitors. We assumed - I now understand with inappropriate optimism - that this effort would be welcomed by the farming community who would be so delighted that they would happily contribute to the production costs in return for a better behaved and informed public.
The National Farmers Union has formed an alliance with Mutual Insurance so we set up a meeting through their two offices most affected by the circles (Marlborough & Swindon). As far as we know, this was the first time that an official approach from the crop circle community had been made to the farming community. We were aided in our efforts by Adrian Crocker who is, uniquely as a farmer, fascinated by the crop circles.
We hoped to initiate a discussion with the farmers. We we wanted to let them know that, firstly, we understood their concerns and that, secondly, we wanted to agree a practical way forward. We sincerely hoped to open a channel of communication between the two communities that could serve to create a better understanding. It might promote some positive (and mutual) actions to calm the situation generally.
After many weeks of phone calls informing farmers in the area about the meeting, a date was set. Steve, Karen, Adrian Crocker and I represented the circles and we hoped there would be at least a handful of farmers there. In the event, apart from a representative from each of the NFU/Mutual offices, only one farmer decided to attend. (This farmer, on whose land the seminal Barbury Castle Pi formation appeared last year, made it plain that he had limited time because of a golfing appointment.)
In reality, we had not expected a room full of farmers to attend. Farmers are extremely busy (as are all working people). We knew only too well the way in which the crop circles, and their investigators, are viewed by many in the farming community. We are also painfully aware of the lack of credibility our subject signals to the outside world.
However, it is fair to say that we were bitterly disappointed. We had engineered an opportunity for a meeting at which they could air, and perhaps deal with, some of their frustrations and only one farmer could find the time to attend!
Despite our disappointment, we presented the little book. It has short chapters on Paying the Farmer, Using the tramlines, Parking, Crowding, Smoking, Litter, Dogs, as well as a general section dealing with practicalities such as clothing, toilets and farm gates. For our part, we hoped it would be an approach to cooperation with the farmers and a first step towards more considerate behaviour in the fields.
Above all, we were trying to increase the revenue going to farmers by encouraging their provision of honesty boxes at the entrance to formations. The lone farmer said that they were all too busy to set up and empty the boxes. He suggested that if we were able to provide the boxes and man the formations for them, then we could have a cut of the money. We explained that we (and the crop circle visitors) were anxious to pay the farmers for the opportunity to visit their fields and to compensate them for their trouble. It seems this point was not really understood.
We know only too well how angry and frustrated the farmers tend to be when a crop circle arrives. They have neither the time nor the imagination to consider that this phenomenon could be more than vandalism. We have all - at time time or another - been on the receiving end of at their incandescent rages.
Yet here, when we approached them with several strategies to ease their position, only a single farmer could be bothered to show up. That single farmer, along with the two NFU Mutual administrators made it clear that they had no interest in supporting the Pink Book. Indeed, they also made it clear that the subject bored them. They would prefer the crop circles (and us) to go away. I have no doubt, however, that they will miss no opportunity to moan and to complain, to threaten and to perform their very own form of vandalism on the formations.
After the meeting, we regrouped, bloodied but unbowed. Adrian, a true hero, organised the manufacture of a couple of honesty boxes in his own time and at his own expense. They are painted pink to match the book! He has called many farmers this season, offering - if they did not have boxes of their own - to deliver and install one for them. Their only obligation would be to provide a padlock and collect the money each day. Some farmers decided to provide their own boxes, some accepted Adrian’s help and were grateful while a few were shockingly rude. The value of Adrian’s work is inestimable. He deserves the gratitude of all of us.
It was decided that the initial print run of the Pink Book would have to be limited. The project is already in debt. We felt that it was important that the books should be available without charge, although contributions and support would be sought at every opportunity. Ideally we hope to raise at least fifteen hundred pounds to keep the book in print.
Crop Circle Etiquette, the little pink book, will be reprinted every season, amended and updated as necessary, and it will be freely available to all crop circle visitors. It is clear that we cannot expect support from the farmers and a contribution from the local authorities is equally unlikely. We must therefore do it ourselves. I think it is an extremely worthwhile cause.
Any donation, no matter how small, will be of great help. Cheques, if any, should be made out to The Pink Book but cash in envelopes will be great!
Send to:
The Pink Book
PO Box 1188
Devizes
Wiltshire
SN10 3WF
England
We thank you in advance.
MG