The Museum of English Rural Life
@themerl.bsky.social
The Museum of English Rural Life, University of Reading. We explore the history of the English countryside and its people. Chaotic Good.
https://merl.reading.ac.uk/
https://merl.reading.ac.uk/
Pinned
New Absolute Units is here!
Throughout history, people have pitted town & country against each other. Where does this dynamic come from? And how do we transcend it?
In this two-part episode, @georgemonbiot.bsky.social joins us to explore these questions & more.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
Throughout history, people have pitted town & country against each other. Where does this dynamic come from? And how do we transcend it?
In this two-part episode, @georgemonbiot.bsky.social joins us to explore these questions & more.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
Reposted by The Museum of English Rural Life
I am wearing a wool cardigan this morning (it's cold in Rochester, NY, too), so a little bit of both.
it's cold today in Reading so make sure to put on your big coat or animorph yourself into a pedigree sheep breed with a fleece that any worthwhile catwalk would envy
November 17, 2025 at 2:10 PM
I am wearing a wool cardigan this morning (it's cold in Rochester, NY, too), so a little bit of both.
VISITOR IN OUR GALLERIES:
it's giving... rural life
it's giving... rural life
November 17, 2025 at 2:10 PM
VISITOR IN OUR GALLERIES:
it's giving... rural life
it's giving... rural life
it's cold today in Reading so make sure to put on your big coat or animorph yourself into a pedigree sheep breed with a fleece that any worthwhile catwalk would envy
November 17, 2025 at 1:48 PM
it's cold today in Reading so make sure to put on your big coat or animorph yourself into a pedigree sheep breed with a fleece that any worthwhile catwalk would envy
Reposted by The Museum of English Rural Life
Sunday plan: trip to a yarn store this afternoon; meanwhile, knitting while listening to the MERL podcast. Perhaps some tea later.
New Absolute Units is here!
Throughout history, people have pitted town & country against each other. Where does this dynamic come from? And how do we transcend it?
In this two-part episode, @georgemonbiot.bsky.social joins us to explore these questions & more.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
Throughout history, people have pitted town & country against each other. Where does this dynamic come from? And how do we transcend it?
In this two-part episode, @georgemonbiot.bsky.social joins us to explore these questions & more.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
November 16, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Sunday plan: trip to a yarn store this afternoon; meanwhile, knitting while listening to the MERL podcast. Perhaps some tea later.
sublime
THREAD. A collection of photographs of excellent cattle I have met on walks.
You will find the captions to each photo in the alt text.
You will find the captions to each photo in the alt text.
November 17, 2025 at 9:11 AM
sublime
Reposted by The Museum of English Rural Life
Your last saved meme is your moral philosophy.
(My moral philosophy is chonk positivity, eloquently illustrated by @themerl.bsky.social )
(My moral philosophy is chonk positivity, eloquently illustrated by @themerl.bsky.social )
November 17, 2025 at 2:01 AM
Your last saved meme is your moral philosophy.
(My moral philosophy is chonk positivity, eloquently illustrated by @themerl.bsky.social )
(My moral philosophy is chonk positivity, eloquently illustrated by @themerl.bsky.social )
Reposted by The Museum of English Rural Life
Wonderful, stimulating discussion. So much we took for granted in UK agricultural tradition is dubious. Would love to bake with Kernza, but Kansas is a long way away.
New Absolute Units is here!
Throughout history, people have pitted town & country against each other. Where does this dynamic come from? And how do we transcend it?
In this two-part episode, @georgemonbiot.bsky.social joins us to explore these questions & more.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
Throughout history, people have pitted town & country against each other. Where does this dynamic come from? And how do we transcend it?
In this two-part episode, @georgemonbiot.bsky.social joins us to explore these questions & more.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
November 14, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Wonderful, stimulating discussion. So much we took for granted in UK agricultural tradition is dubious. Would love to bake with Kernza, but Kansas is a long way away.
Reposted by The Museum of English Rural Life
I live near the MERL and it is a huge hit with everyone I have taken to it, which is everyone that has ever come to spend the day with me
we don't have a Christmas advert but we *do* have an online shop with mugs, t-shirts and more that will dramatically heighten the rural representation within your personal wardrobe and kitchen cupboards
explore: merl-shop.co.uk
explore: merl-shop.co.uk
November 14, 2025 at 11:08 PM
I live near the MERL and it is a huge hit with everyone I have taken to it, which is everyone that has ever come to spend the day with me
Reposted by The Museum of English Rural Life
@themerl.bsky.social had me at "dramatically heighten the rural representation within your personal wardrobe and kitchen cupboards"
we don't have a Christmas advert but we *do* have an online shop with mugs, t-shirts and more that will dramatically heighten the rural representation within your personal wardrobe and kitchen cupboards
explore: merl-shop.co.uk
explore: merl-shop.co.uk
November 14, 2025 at 5:19 PM
@themerl.bsky.social had me at "dramatically heighten the rural representation within your personal wardrobe and kitchen cupboards"
Reposted by The Museum of English Rural Life
Reposted by The Museum of English Rural Life
They always have fun, beautiful stuff!
we don't have a Christmas advert but we *do* have an online shop with mugs, t-shirts and more that will dramatically heighten the rural representation within your personal wardrobe and kitchen cupboards
explore: merl-shop.co.uk
explore: merl-shop.co.uk
November 14, 2025 at 4:23 PM
They always have fun, beautiful stuff!
Reposted by The Museum of English Rural Life
CHICKENPANTS
we don't have a Christmas advert but we *do* have an online shop with mugs, t-shirts and more that will dramatically heighten the rural representation within your personal wardrobe and kitchen cupboards
explore: merl-shop.co.uk
explore: merl-shop.co.uk
November 14, 2025 at 3:54 PM
CHICKENPANTS
Reposted by The Museum of English Rural Life
someone please fix international shipping prices so I can add a MERL coffee mug to my collection, TIA
we don't have a Christmas advert but we *do* have an online shop with mugs, t-shirts and more that will dramatically heighten the rural representation within your personal wardrobe and kitchen cupboards
explore: merl-shop.co.uk
explore: merl-shop.co.uk
November 14, 2025 at 3:47 PM
someone please fix international shipping prices so I can add a MERL coffee mug to my collection, TIA
Reposted by The Museum of English Rural Life
On my Christmas list every year …
we don't have a Christmas advert but we *do* have an online shop with mugs, t-shirts and more that will dramatically heighten the rural representation within your personal wardrobe and kitchen cupboards
explore: merl-shop.co.uk
explore: merl-shop.co.uk
November 14, 2025 at 3:28 PM
On my Christmas list every year …
thank you Professor Goose
I don’t buy Christmas gifts but if you do, here are some cool ideas that also support a museum instead of a billionaire
we don't have a Christmas advert but we *do* have an online shop with mugs, t-shirts and more that will dramatically heighten the rural representation within your personal wardrobe and kitchen cupboards
explore: merl-shop.co.uk
explore: merl-shop.co.uk
November 14, 2025 at 3:20 PM
thank you Professor Goose
Reposted by The Museum of English Rural Life
My Look at this Absolute Unit mugs and coasters were a hit last year.
we don't have a Christmas advert but we *do* have an online shop with mugs, t-shirts and more that will dramatically heighten the rural representation within your personal wardrobe and kitchen cupboards
explore: merl-shop.co.uk
explore: merl-shop.co.uk
November 14, 2025 at 3:06 PM
My Look at this Absolute Unit mugs and coasters were a hit last year.
we don't have a Christmas advert but we *do* have an online shop with mugs, t-shirts and more that will dramatically heighten the rural representation within your personal wardrobe and kitchen cupboards
explore: merl-shop.co.uk
explore: merl-shop.co.uk
November 14, 2025 at 3:01 PM
we don't have a Christmas advert but we *do* have an online shop with mugs, t-shirts and more that will dramatically heighten the rural representation within your personal wardrobe and kitchen cupboards
explore: merl-shop.co.uk
explore: merl-shop.co.uk
Reposted by The Museum of English Rural Life
THREAD. A collection of photographs of excellent sheep I have met on walks.
You will find the captions to each photo in the alt text.
You will find the captions to each photo in the alt text.
November 14, 2025 at 9:48 AM
THREAD. A collection of photographs of excellent sheep I have met on walks.
You will find the captions to each photo in the alt text.
You will find the captions to each photo in the alt text.
Reposted by The Museum of English Rural Life
New Absolute Units is here!
Throughout history, people have pitted town & country against each other. Where does this dynamic come from? And how do we transcend it?
In this two-part episode, @georgemonbiot.bsky.social joins us to explore these questions & more.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
Throughout history, people have pitted town & country against each other. Where does this dynamic come from? And how do we transcend it?
In this two-part episode, @georgemonbiot.bsky.social joins us to explore these questions & more.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
November 13, 2025 at 4:45 PM
New Absolute Units is here!
Throughout history, people have pitted town & country against each other. Where does this dynamic come from? And how do we transcend it?
In this two-part episode, @georgemonbiot.bsky.social joins us to explore these questions & more.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
Throughout history, people have pitted town & country against each other. Where does this dynamic come from? And how do we transcend it?
In this two-part episode, @georgemonbiot.bsky.social joins us to explore these questions & more.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
Reposted by The Museum of English Rural Life
Thanks to @georgemonbiot.bsky.social for a fascinating discussion about the past and future of rural life, food, and farming. Lots of links to @themerl.bsky.social. Here’s Part 1 of our conversation, expertly edited by my co-presenter @joevaughan.net.
New Absolute Units is here!
Throughout history, people have pitted town & country against each other. Where does this dynamic come from? And how do we transcend it?
In this two-part episode, @georgemonbiot.bsky.social joins us to explore these questions & more.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
Throughout history, people have pitted town & country against each other. Where does this dynamic come from? And how do we transcend it?
In this two-part episode, @georgemonbiot.bsky.social joins us to explore these questions & more.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
November 13, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Thanks to @georgemonbiot.bsky.social for a fascinating discussion about the past and future of rural life, food, and farming. Lots of links to @themerl.bsky.social. Here’s Part 1 of our conversation, expertly edited by my co-presenter @joevaughan.net.
Reposted by The Museum of English Rural Life
A MERL-Monbiot Collab!
On an issue that is relevant on this side of the pond.
On an issue that is relevant on this side of the pond.
New Absolute Units is here!
Throughout history, people have pitted town & country against each other. Where does this dynamic come from? And how do we transcend it?
In this two-part episode, @georgemonbiot.bsky.social joins us to explore these questions & more.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
Throughout history, people have pitted town & country against each other. Where does this dynamic come from? And how do we transcend it?
In this two-part episode, @georgemonbiot.bsky.social joins us to explore these questions & more.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
November 13, 2025 at 4:47 PM
A MERL-Monbiot Collab!
On an issue that is relevant on this side of the pond.
On an issue that is relevant on this side of the pond.
Reposted by The Museum of English Rural Life
getting the chance to speak with the wonderful @georgemonbiot.bsky.social has been one of the highlights of my year. I hope you enjoy this episode!
New Absolute Units is here!
Throughout history, people have pitted town & country against each other. Where does this dynamic come from? And how do we transcend it?
In this two-part episode, @georgemonbiot.bsky.social joins us to explore these questions & more.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
Throughout history, people have pitted town & country against each other. Where does this dynamic come from? And how do we transcend it?
In this two-part episode, @georgemonbiot.bsky.social joins us to explore these questions & more.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
November 13, 2025 at 4:46 PM
getting the chance to speak with the wonderful @georgemonbiot.bsky.social has been one of the highlights of my year. I hope you enjoy this episode!
New Absolute Units is here!
Throughout history, people have pitted town & country against each other. Where does this dynamic come from? And how do we transcend it?
In this two-part episode, @georgemonbiot.bsky.social joins us to explore these questions & more.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
Throughout history, people have pitted town & country against each other. Where does this dynamic come from? And how do we transcend it?
In this two-part episode, @georgemonbiot.bsky.social joins us to explore these questions & more.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
November 13, 2025 at 4:45 PM
New Absolute Units is here!
Throughout history, people have pitted town & country against each other. Where does this dynamic come from? And how do we transcend it?
In this two-part episode, @georgemonbiot.bsky.social joins us to explore these questions & more.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
Throughout history, people have pitted town & country against each other. Where does this dynamic come from? And how do we transcend it?
In this two-part episode, @georgemonbiot.bsky.social joins us to explore these questions & more.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
Reposted by The Museum of English Rural Life
I try my hardest to stop buying books but sometimes it is just too difficult.
November 10, 2025 at 7:34 AM
I try my hardest to stop buying books but sometimes it is just too difficult.
!!!
November 13, 2025 at 1:54 PM
!!!