,RADICAL ,AGRICULTURE 

#aigb 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,MURRAY ,BOOK*9 

,TEXT 3 

  

,PHOTO BY ,SIMON ,G4,B4 ,ROB]TS1,C,C ,B,Y-,N,C-,N,D ,LIC5SE ,AGRICULTURE IS A =M ( CULTURE4 ,! CULTIVATION ( FOOD IS A SOCIAL & CULTURAL PH5OM5ON UNIQUE TO HUMANITY4 ,AMONG ANIMALS1 ANY?+ ?AT C\LD REMOTELY BE DESCRIB$ AS FOOD CULTIVATION APPE> EPHEM]ALLY1 IF AT ALL2 & EV5 AMONG HUMANS1 AGRICULTURE DEVELOP$ LITTLE MORE ?AN T5 ?\S& YE>S AGO4 ,YET1 9 AN EPO* :5 FOOD CULTIVATION IS R$UC$ TO A M]E 9DU/RIAL TE*NIQUE1 IT BECOMES ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT TO DWELL ON ! CULTURAL IMPLICATIONS ( 0MOD]N0 AGRICULTURE--TO 9DICATE !IR IMPACT NOT ONLY ON PUBLIC HEAL?1 BUT ALSO ON HUMANITY'S RELATION%IP TO NATURE & ! RELATION%IP ( HUMAN TO HUMAN4 

,! CONTRA/ BETWE5 E>LY & MOD]N AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES IS DRAMATIC4 ,9DE$1 IT W\LD BE V]Y DIFFICULT TO UND]/& ! ONE ?R\< ! VISION ( ! O!R1 TO RECOGNIZE ?AT !Y >E UNIT$ BY ANY K9D ( CULTURAL CONT9UITY4 ,NOR CAN WE ASCRIBE ?IS CONTRA/ M]ELY TO DIFF]5CES 9 TE*NOLOGY4 ,\R AGRICULTURAL EPO*--A DI/9CTLY CAPITALI/IC ONE--5VISIONS FOOD CULTIVATION AS A BUS9ESS 5T]PRISE TO BE OP]AT$ /RICTLY = ! PURPOSE ( G5]AT+ PR(IT 9 A M>KET ECONOMY4 ,FROM ?IS /&PO9T1 L& IS AN ALI5ABLE COMMODITY CALL$ 0REAL E/ATE10 SOIL A 0NATURAL RES\RCE10 & FOOD AN EX*ANGE VALUE ?AT IS B\<T & SOLD IMP]SONALLY ?R\< A M$IUM CALL$ 0MONEY40 ,AGRICULTURE1 9 EFFECT1 DIFF]S NO MORE FROM ANY BRAN* ( 9DU/RY ?AN DOES /EELMAK+ OR AUTOMOBILE PRODUCTION4 ,9 FACT1 TO ! DEGREE ?AT FOOD CULTIVATION IS AFFECT$ BY NON9DU/RIAL FACTORS SU* AS CLIMATIC & SEASONAL *ANGES1 IT LACKS ! EXACTNESS ?AT M>KS A TRULY 0RATIONAL0 & SCI5TIFICALLY MANAG$ OP]ATION4 ,&1 LE/ !SE NATURAL FACTORS ELUDE B\RGEOIS MANIPULATION1 !Y TOO >E ! OBJECTS ( SPECULATION 9 FUTURE M>KETS & BETWE5 MIDDLEM5 9 ! CIRCUIT FROM F>M TO RETAIL \TLET4 

,9 ?IS IMP]SONAL DOMA9 ( FOOD PRODUCTION1 IT IS NOT SURPRIS+ TO F9D ?AT A 0F>M]0 (T5 TURNS \T TO BE AN AIRPLANE PILOT :O DU/S CROPS ) PE/ICIDES1 A *EMI/ :O TREATS SOIL AS A LIFELESS REPOSITORY = 9ORGANIC COMP\NDS1 AN OP]ATOR ( IMM5SE AGRICULTURAL MA*9ES :O IS MORE FAMILI> ) 5G9ES ?AN BOTANY1 & P]HAPS MO/ DECISIVELY1 A F9ANCI] :OSE KN[L$GE ( L& MAY BE LESS ?AN ?AT ( AN URBAN CAB DRIV]4 ,FOOD1 9 TURN1 REA*ES ! CONSUM] 9 CONTA9]S & 9 =MS SO HI<LY MODIFI$ & D5ATUR$ AS TO BE> SCANT RESEMBLANCE TO ! ORIG9AL4 ,9 ! MOD]N1 GLI/5+ SUP]M>KET1 ! BUY] WALKS DREAMILY ?R\< A SPECTACLE ( PACKAG$ MAT]IALS 9 :I* ! PICTURES ( PLANTS1 MEAT1 & DAIRY FOODS REPLACE ! LIFE =MS FROM :I* !Y >E D]IV$4 ,! FETI% ASSUMES ! =M ( ! REAL PH5OM5ON4 ,H]E1 ! 9DIVIDUAL'S RELATION%IP TO ONE ( ! MO/ 9TIMATE ( NATURAL EXP]I5CES--! NUTRIM5TS 9DISP5SABLE TO LIFE--IS DIVORC$ FROM ITS ROOTS 9 ! TOTALITY ( NATURE4 ,VEGETABLES1 FRUIT1 C]EALS1 DAIRY FOODS & MEAT LOSE !IR ID5TITY AS ORGANIC REALITIES & (T5 ACQUIRE ! NAME ( ! CORPORATE 5T]PRISE ?AT PRODUCES !M4 ,! 0,BIG ,MAC0 & ! 0,SWIFT ,SAUSAGE0 NO LONG] CONVEY EV5 ! FA9TE/ NOTION ?AT A LIV+ CREATURE WAS PA9FULLY BUT*]$ TO PROVIDE ! CONSUM] ) ?AT FOOD4 

,?IS D5ATUR$ \TLOOK /&S %>PLY AT ODDS ) AN E>LI] ANIMI/IC S5SIBILITY ?AT VIEW$ L& AS AN 9ALI5ABLE1 ALMO/ SACR$ DOMA91 FOOD CULTIVATION AS A SPIRITUAL ACTIVITY1 & FOOD CONSUMPTION AS A HALL[$ SOCIAL RITUAL4 ,! ,CAYUSES ( ! ,NOR?WE/ W]E NOT UNIQUE 9 LI/5+ TO ! GR\ND1 = ! 0,GREAT ,SPIRIT10 9 ! WORDS ( A ,CAYUSE *IEF1 0,APPO9T$ ! ROOTS TO FE$ ! ,9DIANS ON40.<#a.> ,! GR\ND LIV$1 & ITS VOICE HAD TO BE HE$$4 ,9DE$1 ?IS VISION MAY HAVE BE5 A CULTURAL OB/ACLE TO ! SPREAD ( FOOD CULTIVATION2 !RE >E FEW /ATEM5TS ( ! HUNT] AGA9/ AGRICULTURE ?AT >E MORE MOV+ ?AN ,SMOHALLA'S MEMORABLE REM>KS3 0,Y\ ASK ME TO PL[ ! GR\ND4 ,%ALL ,I TAKE A KNIFE & TE> MY MO!R'S BREA/8 ,!N :5 ,I DIE %E WILL NOT TAKE ME TO H] BOSOM TO RE/40.<#b.> 

,:5 AGRICULTURE DID EM]GE1 IT CLE>LY P]PETUAT$ ! HUNT]'S ANIMI/IC S5SIBILITY4 ,! WEAL? ( MY?IC N>RATIVE ?AT SURR\NDS FOOD CULTIVATION IS TE/IMONY TO AN 5*ANT$ WORLD BRIMM+ ) LIFE1 PURPOSE & SPIRITUALITY4 ,LUDWIG ,FEU]BA*'S NOTION ( ,GOD AS ! PROJECTION ( MAN OMITS ! EXT5T TO :I* E>LY MAN IS /AMP$ BY ! IMPR9T ( ! NATURAL WORLD &1 9 ?IS S5SE1 IS AN EXT5SION OR PROJECTION ( IT4 ,TO SAY ?AT E>LY HUMANITY LIV$ 9 0P>TN]%IP0 ) ?IS WORLD T5DS TO UND]/ATE ! CASE2 HUMANITY LIV$ AS P>T ( ?IS WORLD--NOT BESIDE IT OR ABOVE IT4 

,BECAUSE ! SOIL WAS ALIVE1 9DE$ ! MO!R ( LIFE1 TO CULTIVATE IT WAS A SACR$ ACT ?AT REQUIR$ 9VOCATORY & APPEAS+ RITUALS4 ,VIRTUALLY EV]Y ASPECT ( ! AGRICULTURAL PROC$URE HAD ITS SANCTIFY+ DIM5SION1 FROM PREP>+ A TIL? TO H>VE/+ A CROP4 ,! H>VE/ ITSELF WAS BLESS$1 & TO 0BREAK BREAD0 WAS AT ONCE A DOME/IC RITUAL ?AT DAILY AFFIRM$ ! SOLID>ITY ( K9FOLK AS WELL AS AN ACT ( HOSPITABLE PACIFICATION BETWE5 ! /RANG] & ! COMMUNITY4 ,WE /ILL SEAL A B>GA9 ) A DR9K OR CELEBRATE AN IMPORTANT EV5T ) A FEA/4 ,TO FELL A TREE OR KILL AN ANIMAL REQUIR$ APPEAS+ RITES1 :I* ACKN[L$G$ ?AT LIFE 9H]$ 9 !SE BE+S & ?AT ?IS LIFE P>TOOK ( A SACR$ CON/ELLATION ( PH5OM5A4 

,NAIVE AS ! MY?S & MANY ( !SE PRACTICES MAY SEEM TO ! MOD]N M9D1 !Y REFLECT A TRU? AB\T ! AGRICULTURAL SITUATION4 ,AFT] HAV+ LO/ CONTACT ) ?IS 0PRESCI5TIFIC0 S5SIBILITY--AT GREAT CO/ TO ! F]TILITY ( ! L& & TO ITS ECOLOGICAL BALANCE--WE N[ KN[ ?AT SOIL IS V]Y MU* ALIVE2 ?AT IT HAS ITS HEAL?1 ITS DYNAMIC EQUILIBRIUM1 & A COMPLEXITY COMP>ABLE TO ?AT ( ANY LIV+ COMMUNITY4 ,NOT ?AT ! DETAILS ?AT 5T] 9TO ?IS KN[L$GE >E NEW2 RA!R1 WE >E AW>E ( !M 9 A NEW & HOLI/IC WAY4 ,AS REC5TLY AS ! E>LY #a#i#fS1 ,AM]ICAN AGRONOMY G5]ALLY VIEW$ SOIL AS A M$IUM 9 :I* LIV+ ORGANISMS W]E L>GELY EXTRANE\S TO ! *EMICAL MANAGEM5T ( FOOD CULTIVATION4 ,HAV+ SATURAT$ ! SOIL ) NITRATES1 9SECTICIDES1 H]BICIDES1 & AN APPALL+ V>IETY ( TOXIC COMP\NDS1 WE HAVE BECOME ! VICTIMS ( A NEW TYPE ( POLLUTION ?AT C\LD WELL BE CALL$ 0SOIL POLLUTION40 ,!SE TOX9S >E ! HIDD5 ADDITIVES TO ! D9N] TABLE1 ! UNSE5 SPECT]S ?AT RETURN TO US AS ! RESIDUAL PRODUCTS ( \R EXPLOITATIVE ATTITUDE T[>D ! NATURAL WORLD4 ,NO LESS SIGNIFICANTLY1 WE HAVE GRAVELY DAMAG$ SOIL 9 VA/ >EAS ( ! E>? & R$UC$ IT TO ! SIMPLIFI$ IMAGE ( ! MOD]N SCI5TIFIC VIEWPO9T4 ,! ANIMAL & PLANT LIFE SO ESS5TIAL TO ! DEVELOPM5T ( A NUTRITIVE1 FRIABLE SOIL IS DIM9I%$1 & 9 MANY PLACES APPROA*ES ! /]ILITY ( IMPOV]I%$1 DES]TLIKE S&4 

,BY CONTRA/1 E>LY AGRICULTURE1 DESPITE ITS IMAG9>Y ASPECTS1 DEF9$ HUMANITY'S RELATION%IP TO NATURE )9 S\ND ECOLOGICAL P>AMET]S4 ,AS ,$W>D ,HYAMS OBS]VES1 ! ATTITUDE ( PEOPLE & !IR CULTURE IS AS MU* A P>T ( !IR TE*NICAL EQUIPM5T AS >E ! IMPLEM5TS !Y EMPLOY4 ,IF ! 0AX WAS ONLY ! PHYSICAL TOOL :I* ANCI5T MAN US$ TO CUT D[N TREES0 & ! 09TELLECTUAL TOOL 5ABL$ HIM TO SW+ HIS AX0 EFFECTIVELY1 0:AT ( ! SPIRITUAL TOOL80 ,?IS 0TOOL0 IS ! 0MEMB] ( ! TR9ITY ( TOOLS :I* 5ABLES PEOPLE TO CONTROL & *ECK !IR ACTIONS BY REF]5CE TO ! 'FEEL+' :I* !Y POSSESS = ! CONSEQU5CES ( ! *ANGES !Y MAKE 9 !IR 5VIRONM5TS40 ,ACCORD+LY1 TREE-FELL+ W\LD HAVE BE5 LIMIT$ BY !IR /ATE ( M9D AS E>LY PEOPLE 0BELIEV$ ?AT TREES HAD S\LS & W]E WOR%IPFUL1 & !Y ASSOCIAT$ C]TA9 GODS ) C]TA9 TREES4 ,OSIRIS ) ACACIA2 ,APOLLO ) OAK & APPLE4 ,! TEMPLES ( MANY PRIMITIVE PEOPLES W]E GROVES44440 ,IF ! MY?ICAL ASPECTS ( ?IS M5TALITY >E EVID5T 5\<1 ! FACT REMA9S ?AT ! M5TALITY AS SU* 0WAS IMM5SELY VALUABLE TO ! SOIL COMMUNITY & !RE=E1 9 ! LONG RUN1 TO MAN4 ,IT MEANT ?AT NO TREES W\LD BE WANTONLY FELL$1 BUT ONLY :5 IT WAS ABSOLUTELY NECESS>Y1 & !N TO ! ACCOMPANIM5T ( PROPRITIATORY RITES :I*1 IF !Y DID NO?+ ELSE1 S]V$ CON/ANTLY TO REM9D TREE-FELL]S ?AT !Y W]E DO+ DANG]\S & IMPORTANT WORK44440.<#c.> ,ONE MAY ADD ?AT1 IF CULTURE BE REG>D$ AS A 0TOOL10 A M]E %IFT 9 EMPHASIS W\LD EASILY MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO REG>D TOOLS AS ( CULTURE4 ,?IS DIFF]5T EMPHASIS COMES CLOS] TO :AT ,HYAMS IS TRY+ TO SAY ?AN DOES HIS [N =MULATION4 ,9 FACT1 :AT UNIQUELY M>KS ! B\RGEOIS M5TALITY IS ! DEBASEM5T ( >T1 VALUES1 & RATIONALITY TO M]E TOOLS--A M5TALITY ?AT HAS EV5 9FILTRAT$ ! RADICAL CRITIQUE ( CAPITALISM IF ONE IS TO JUDGE FROM ! T5OR ( ! ,M>XIAN LIT]ATURE ?AT AB\NDS TODAY4 

,A RADICAL APPROA* TO AGRICULTURE SEEKS TO TRANSC5D ! PREVAIL+ 9/RUM5TALI/ APPROA* ?AT VIEWS FOOD CULTIVATION M]ELY AS A 0HUMAN TE*NIQUE0 OPPOS$ TO 0NATURAL RES\RCES40 ,?IS RADICAL APPROA* IS LIT]ALLY ECOLOGICAL1 9 ! /RICT S5SE ?AT ! L& IS VIEW$ AS AN OIKOS--A HOME4 ,L& IS NEI!R A 0RES\RCE0 NOR A 0TOOL10 BUT ! OIKOS ( MYRIAD K9DS ( BACT]IA1 FUNGI1 9SECTS1 E>?WORMS1 & SMALL MAMMALS4 ,IF HUNT+ LEAVES ?IS OIKOS ESS5TIALLY UNDI/URB$1 AGRICULTURE BY CONTRA/ AFFECTS IT PR(\NDLY & MAKES HUMANITY AN 9TEGRAL P>T ( IT4 ,HUMAN BE+S NO LONG] 9DIRECTLY AFFECT ! SOIL2 !Y 9T]V5E 9TO ITS FOOD WEBS & BIOGEO*EMICAL CYCLES DIRECTLY & IMM$IATELY4 

,CONV]SELY1 IT BECOMES V]Y DIFFICULT TO UND]/& HUMAN SOCIAL 9/ITUTIONS )\T REF]R+ TO ! PREVAIL+ AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES ( A HI/ORICAL P]IOD &1 ULTIMATELY1 TO ! SOIL SITUATION TO :I* !Y APPLY4 ,HYAMS'S DESCRIPTION ( EV]Y HUMAN COMMUNITY AS A 0SOIL COMMUNITY0 IS UN]R+2 HI/ORICALLY1 SOIL TYPES & AGR>IAN TE*NOLOGICAL *ANGES PLAY$ A MAJOR1 (T5 DECISIVE1 ROLE 9 DET]M9+ :E!R ! L& W\LD BE WORK$ COOP]ADVELY OR 9DIVIDUALI/ICALLY--:E!R 9 A CONCILIATORY MANN] OR AN EXPLOITATIVE ONE--& ?IS1 9 TURN1 PR(\NDLY AFFECT$ ! PREVAIL+ SY/EM ( SOCIAL RELATIONS4 ,! HI<LY C5TRALIZ$ EMPIRES ( ! ANCI5T WORLD W]E CLE>LY FO/]$ BY ! IRRIGATION WORKS REQUIR$ = >ID REGIONS ( ! ,NE> ,EA/2 ! COOP]ATIVE M$IEVAL VILLAGE1 BY ! OP5FIELD /RIP SY/EM & ! MOLDBO>D PL[4 ,LYNN ,:ITE1 ,JR41 9 FACT1 ROOTS ! ,WE/]N CO]CIVE ATTITUDE T[>DS NATURE AS F> BACK AS ,C>OL+IAN TIMES1 ) ! ASC5DANCY ( ! HEAVY ,EUROPEAN PL[ & ! CONSEQU5T T5D5CY TO ALLOT L& TO PEASANTS NOT ACCORD+ TO !IR FAMILY SUBSI/5CE NE$S BUT 09 PROPORTION TO !IR CONTRIBUTION TO ! PL\<TEAM40.<#d.> ,HE F9DS ?IS *ANG+ ATTITUDE REFLECT$ 9 ,*>LEMAGNE'S EF=TS TO R5AME ! MON?S ACCORD+ TO LABOR RESPONSIBILITIES1 !REBY REVEAL+ AN EMPHASIS ON WORK RA!R ?AN ON NATURE OR DEITIES4 0,! OLD ,ROMAN CAL5D>S HAD OCCASIONALLY %[N G5RE SC5ES 9 HUMAN ACTIVITY1 BUT ! DOM9ANT TRADITION 7:I* CONT9U$ 9 ,BYZANTIUM7 WAS TO DEPICT ! MON?S AS PASSIVE P]SONIFICATIONS BE>+ SYMBOLS ( ATTRIBUTES4 ,! NEW ,C>OL+IAN CAL5D>S1 :I* SET ! PATT]N = ! ,MIDDLE ,AGES1 >E V]Y DIFF]5T3 !Y %[ A CO]CIVE ATTITUDE T[>DS NATURAL RES\RCES4 ,!Y >E DEF9ITELY NOR!RN 9 ORIG92 = ! OLIVE1 :I* LOOM$ SO L>GE 9 ! ,ROMAN CYCLES1 HAS N[ VANI%$4 ,! PICTURES *ANGE TO SC5ES ( PL[+1 H>VE/+1 WOOD-*OPP+1 PEOPLE KNOCK+ D[N ACORNS = ! PIGS1 PIG-SLAU<T]+4 ,MAN & NATURE >E N[ TWO ?+S1 & MAN IS MA/]40.<#e.> 

,YET NOT UNTIL WE COME TO ! MOD]N CAPITALI/ ]A DO HUMANITY & NATURE SEP>ATE AS ALMO/ COMPLETE FOES1 & ! 0MA/]Y0 BY HUMAN OV] ! NATURAL WORLD ASSUMES ! =M ( H>% DOM9ATION1 NOT M]ELY HI]>*ICAL CLASSIFICATION4 ,! RUPTURE ( ! MO/ VE/IGIAL CORPORATE TIES ?AT ONCE UNIT$ CLANSFOLK1 GUILDSM51 & ! FRAT]NITY ( ! POLIS 9TO A NEXUS ( MUTUAL AID2 ! R$UCTION ( EV]YONE TO AN ANTAGONI/IC BUY] OR SELL]2 ! RULE ( COMPETITION & EGOTISM 9 EV]Y >5A ( ECONOMIC & SOCIAL LIFE--ALL ( ?IS COMPLETELY DISSOLVES ANY S5SE ( COMMUNITY :E!R ) NATURE OR 9 SOCIETY4 ,! TRADITIONAL ASSUMPTION ?AT COMMUNITY IS ! AU!NTIC LOCUS ( LIFE FADES SO COMPLETELY FROM HUMAN CONSCI\SNESS ?AT IT CEASES TO EX]CISE ANY RELEVANCE TO ! HUMAN CONDITION4 ,! NEW />T+ PO9T = =M+ A CONCEPTION ( SOCIETY OR ( ! PSY*E IS ! ISOLAT$1 ATOMIZ$ MAN F5D+ = HIMSELF 9 A COMPETITIVE JUNGLE4 ,! DISA/R\S CONSEQU5CES ( ?IS \TLOOK T[>D NATURE & SOCIETY >E EVID5T 5\< 9 A WORLD BURD5$ BY EXPLOSIVE SOCIAL ANTAGONISMS1 ECOLOGICAL SIMPLIFICATION1 & WIDESPREAD POLLUTION4 

,RADICAL AGRICULTURE SEEKS TO RE/ORE HUMANITY'S S5SE ( COMMUNITY3 FIR/1 BY GIV+ FULL RECOGNITION TO ! SOIL AS AN ECOSY/EM1 A BIOTIC COMMUNITY2 & SECOND1 BY VIEW+ AGRICULTURE AS ! ACTIVITY ( A NATURAL HUMAN COMMUNITY1 A RURAL SOCIETY & CULTURE4 ,9DE$1 AGRICULTURE BECOMES ! PRACTICAL1 DAY-TO-DAY 9T]FACE ( SOIL & HUMAN COMMUNITIES1 ! MEANS BY :I* BO? MEET & BL5D4 ,SU* A MEET+ & BL5D+ 9VOLVES SEV]AL KEY PRESUPPOSITIONS4 ,! MO/ OBVI\S ( !SE IS ?AT HUMANITY IS P>T ( ! NATURAL WORLD1 NOT ABOVE IT AS 0MA/]0 OR 0LORD40 ,UND5IABLY1 HUMAN CONSCI\SNESS IS UNIQUE 9 ITS SCOPE & 9SI<T1 BUT UNIQU5ESS IS NO W>RANT = DOM9ATION & EXPLOITATION4 ,RADICAL AGRICULTURE1 9 ?IS RESPECT1 ACCEPTS ! ECOLOGICAL PRECEPT ?AT V>IETY DOES NOT HAVE TO BE /RUCTUR$ ALONG HI]>*ICAL L9ES AS WE T5D TO DO UND] ! 9FLU5CE ( HI]>*ICAL SOCIETY4 ,?+S & RELATIONS ?AT PAT5TLY B5EFIT ! BIOSPH]E MU/ BE VALU$ = PAT5TLY B5EFIT ! BIOSPH]E MU/ BE VALU$ = !IR [N SAKE1 EA* UNIQUE 9 ITS [N WAY & CONTRIBUTORY TO ! :OLE--NOT ONE ABOVE OR BEL[ ! O!R & FAIR GAME = DOM9ATION4 

,V>IETY1 9 BO? SOCIETY & AGRICULTURE1 F> FROM BE+ CON/RA9$1 MU/ BE PROMOT$ AS A POSITIVE VALUE4 ,WE >E N[ ONLY TOO FAMILI> ) ! FACT ?AT ! MORE SIMPLIFI$ AN ECOSY/EM--&1 9 AGRICULTURE1 ! MORE LIMIT$ ! V>IETY ( DOME/ICAT$ /OCKS 9VOLV$--! MORE LIKELY IS ! ECOSY/EM TO BREAK D[N4 ,! MORE COMPLEX ! FOOD WEBS1 ! MORE /ABLE ! BIOTIC /RUCTURE4 ,?IS 9SI<T1 :I* WE HAVE GA9$ AT SO CO/LY AN EXP5SE TO ! BIOSPH]E & TO \RSELVES1 M]ELY REFLECTS ! AGE-OLD ?RU/ ( EVOLUTION4 ,! ADVANCE ( ! BIOTIC WORLD CONSI/S PRIM>ILY ( ! DIFF]5TIATION1 COLONIZATION & GR[+ WEB ( 9T]DEP5D5CE ( LIFE-=MS ON AN 9ORGANIC PLANET--A LONG PROCESS ?AT HAS REMADE ! ATMOSPH]E & L&SCAPE ALONG L9ES ?AT >E HOSPITABLE = COMPLEX & 9CREAS+LY 9TELLIG5T ORGANISMS4 ,! MO/ DISA/R\S ASPECT ( PREVAIL+ AGRICULTURAL ME?ODOLOGIES1 ) !IR EMPHASIS ON MONOCULTURE1 CROP HYBRIDS1 & *EMICALS1 HAS BE5 ! SIMPLIFICATION !Y HAVE 9TRODUC$ 9TO FOOD CULTIVATION--A SIMPLIFICATION ?AT OCCURS ON SU* A GLOBAL SCALE ?AT IT MAY WELL ?R[ BACK ! PLANET TO AN EVOLUTION>Y /AGE :]E IT C\LD SUPPORT ONLY SIMPL] =MS ( LIFE4 

,RADICAL AGRICULTURE'S RESPECT = V>IETY IMPLIES A RESPECT = ! COMPLEXITY ( A BALANC$ AGRICULTURAL SITUATION3 ! 9NUM]ABLE FACTORS ?AT 9FLU5CE PLANT NUTRITION & WELL-BE+2 ! DIV]SIFI$ SOIL RELATIONS ?AT EXI/ FROM >EA TO >EA2 ! COMPLEX 9T]PLAY BETWE5 CLIMATIC1 GEOLOGICAL & BIOTIC FACTORS ?AT MAKE = ! DIFF]5CES BETWE5 ONE TRACT ( L& & ANO!R2 & ! V>IETY ( WAYS 9 :I* HUMAN CULTURES REACT TO !SE DIFF]5CES4 ,ACCORD+LY1 ! RADICAL AGRICULTURI/ SEES AGRICULTURE NOT ONLY AS SCI5CE BUT ALSO AS >T4 ,! FOOD CULTIVATOR MU/ LIVE ON 9TIMATE T]MS ) A GIV5 >EA ( L& & DEVELOP A S5SITIVITY = ITS SPECIAL NE$S--NE$S ?AT NO TEXTBOOK APPROA* CAN POSSIBLY 5COMPASS4 ,! FOOD CULTIVATOR MU/ BE P>T ( A 0SOIL COMMUNITY0 9 ! V]Y MEAN+FUL S5SE ?AT %E OR HE BELONGS TO A UNIQUE BIOTIC SY/EM1 AS WELL AS TO A GIV5 SOCIAL SY/EM4 

,YET TO DEAL ) !SE ISSUES M]ELY 9 T]MS ( TE*NIQUE W\LD BE A SCANT IMPROVEM5T OV] ! APPROA* ?AT PREVAILS TODAY 9 AGRICULTURE4 ,TO BE A TE*NICAL CONNOISSEUR ( AN 0ORGANIC0 APPROA* TO AGRICULTURE IS NO BETT] ?AN TO BE A M]E PRACTITION] ( A *EMICAL APPROA*4 ,WE DO NOT BECOME 0ORGANIC F>M]S0 M]ELY BY CULL+ ! LATE/ MAGAZ9ES & MANUALS 9 ?IS >EA1 ANY MORE ?AN WE BECOME HEAL?Y BY CONSUM+ 0ORGANIC0 FOODS ACQUIR$ FROM ! NEWE/ SUBURBAN SUP]M>KET4 ,:AT BASICALLY SEP>ATES ! ORGANIC APPROA* FROM ! SYN!TIC IS ! OV]ALL ATTITUDE & PRAXIS ! FOOD CULTIVATOR BR+S TO ! NATURAL WORLD AS A :OLE4 ,AT A TIME :5 ORGANIC FOODS & 5VIRONM5TALISM HAVE BECOME HI<LY FA%IONABLE1 IT MAY BE WELL TO DI/+UI% ! ECOLOGICAL \TLOOK ( RADICAL AGRICULTURE FROM ! CRUDE 05VIRONM5TALISM0 ?AT IS CURR5TLY SO WIDESPREAD4 ,5VIRONM5TALISM SEES ! NATURAL WORLD M]ELY AS A HABITAT ?AT MU/ BE 5G9E]$ ) M9IMAL POLLUTION TO SUIT SOCIETY'S 0NE$S10 H[EV] IRRATIONAL OR SYN!TIC !SE NE$S MAY BE4 ,A TRULY ECOLOGICAL \TLOOK1 BY CONTRA/1 SEES ! BIOTIC WORLD AS A HOLI/IC UNITY ( :I* HUMANITY IS A P>T4 ,ACCORD+LY1 9 ?IS WORLD1 HUMAN NE$S MU/ BE 9TEGRAT$ ) ?OSE ( ! BIOSPH]E IF ! HUMAN SPECIES IS TO SURVIVE4 ,?IS 9TEGRATION1 AS WE HAVE ALREADY SE51 9VOLVES A PR(\ND RESPECT = NATURAL V>IETY1 = ! COMPLEXITY ( NATURAL PROCESSES & RELATIONS1 & = ! CULTIVATION ( A MUTUALI/IC ATTITUDE T[>D ! BIOSPH]E4 ,RADICAL AGRICULTURE1 9 %ORT1 IMPLIES NOT M]ELY NEW TE*NIQUES 9 FOOD CULTIVATION1 BUT A NEW NON-,PROME!AN S5SIBILITY T[>D L& & SOCIETY AS A :OLE4 

,CAN WE HOPE TO A*IEVE FULLY ?IS NEW S5SIBILITY SOLELY AS 9DIVIDUALS1 )\T REG>D TO ! L>G] SOCIAL WORLD >\ND US8 

,RADICAL AGRICULTURE1 ,I ?9K1 W\LD BE OBLIG$ TO REJECT AN ISOLAT$ APPROA* ( ?IS K9D4 ,AL?\< 9DIVIDUAL PRACTICE D\BTLESS PLAYS AN 9VALUABLE ROLE 9 9ITIAT+ A BROAD MOVEM5T = SOCIAL RECON/RUCTION1 ULTIMATELY WE WILL NOT A*IEVE AN ECOLOGICALLY VIABLE RELATION%IP ) ! NATURAL WORLD )\T AN ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY4 ,MOD]N CAPITALISM IS 9H]5TLY ANTIECOLOGICAL3 ! NUCLE> RELATION%IP FROM :I* IT IS CON/ITUT$--! BUY]-SELL] RELATION%IP--PITS 9DIVIDUAL AGA9/ 9DIVIDUAL &1 ON ! L>G] SCALE1 HUMANITY AGA9/ NATURE4 ,CAPITAL'S LAW ( LIFE ( 9F9ITE EXPANSION1 ( 0PRODUCTION = ! SAKE ( PRODUCTION0 & 0CONSUMPTION = ! SAKE ( CONSUMPTION10 TURNS ! DOM9ATION & EXPLOITATION ( NATURE 9TO ! 0HI<E/ GOOD0 ( SOCIAL LIFE & HUMAN SELF-REALIZATION4 ,EV5 ,M>X SUCCUMBS TO ?IS 9H]5TLY B\RGEOIS M5TALITY :5 HE ACCORDS TO CAPITALISM A 0GREAT CIVILIZ+ 9FLU5CE0 = R$UC+ NATURE 0= ! FIR/ TIME SIMPLY .<TO.> AN OBJECT = MANK9D1 PURELY A MATT] ( UTILITY44440 ,NATURE 0CEASES TO BE RECOGNIZ$ AS A P[] 9 ITS [N RI<T2 & ! !ORETICAL KN[L$GE ( ITS 9DEP5D5T LAWS APPE>S ONLY AS A /RATAGEM DESIGN$ TO SUBDUE IT TO HUMAN REQUIREM5TS44440.<#f.> 

,9 CONTRA/ TO ?IS TRADITION1 RADICAL AGRICULTURE IS ESS5TIALLY LIB]T>IAN 9 ITS EMPHASIS ON COMMUNITY & MUTUALISM1 RA!R ?AN ON COMPETITION1 AN EMPHASIS ?AT D]IVES FROM ! WRIT+S ( ,PET] ,KROPOTK9.<#g.> & ,WILLIAM ,MORRIS4 ,?IS EMPHASIS C\LD JU/LY BE CALL$ ECOLOGICAL BE=E ! WORD 0ECOLOGY0 BECAME FA%IONABLE1 9DE$1 BE=E IT WAS CO9$ BY ,]N/ ,HAECKEL A C5TURY AGO4 ,! NOTION ( BL5D+ T[N ) C\NTRY1 ( ROTAT+ SPECIFICALLY URBAN ) AGRICULTURAL TASKS1 HAD BE5 RAIS$ BY SO-CALL$ UTOPIAN SOCIALI/S SU* AS ,*>LES ,F\RI] DUR+ ! ,9DU/RIAL ,REVOLUTION4 V>IETY & DIV]SITY 9 ONE'S WORKADAY ACTIVITIES--! ,HELL5IC IDEAL ( ! R\ND$ 9DIVIDUAL 9 A R\ND$ SOCIETY--F\ND ITS PHYSICAL C\NT]P>T 9 V>I$ SURR\ND+S ?AT W]E NEI!R /RICTLY URBAN NOR RURAL1 BUT A SYN!SIS ( BO?4 ,ECOLOGY VALIDAT$ ?IS IDEAL BY REVEAL+ ?AT IT =M$ ! PRECONDITION NOT ONLY = HUMANITY'S PSY*IC & SOCIAL WELL-BE+ BUT = ! WELL-BE+ ( ! NATURAL WORLD AS WELL4 

,\R [N ]A HAS GONE FUR!R ?AN ?IS VISION>Y APPROA*4 ,A C5TURY AGO IT WAS /ILL POSSIBLE TO REA* ! C\NTRYSIDE )\T DIFFICULTY EV5 FROM ! L>GE/ CITIES &1 IF ONE SO DESIR$1 TO LEAVE ! CITY P]MAN5TLY = A RURAL WAY ( LIFE4 ,CAPITALISM HAD NOT SO COMPLETELY EFFAC$ HUMANITY'S LEGACY ?AT ONE LACK$ EVID5CE ( NEI<BORHOOD 5CLAVES1 QUA9T LIFE-/YLES & P]SONALITIES1 >*ITECTURAL DIV]SITY1 & EV5 VILLAGE SOCIETY4 ,PR$ATORY AS ! NEW 9DU/RIAL SY/EM WAS1 IT HAD NOT SO COMPLETELY ELIM9AT$ ! HUMAN SCALE AS TO LEAVE ! 9DIVIDUAL TOTALLY FACELESS & E/RANG$4 ,BY CONTRA/1 WE >E COMPELL$ TO OCCUPY EV5 QUASI-RURAL >EAS ?AT HAVE BECOME ESS5TIALLY URBANIZ$1 & WE >E R$UC$ TO ANONYM\S DIGITS 9 A /AGG]+ BUREAUCRATIC APP>ATUS ?AT LACKS P]SONALITY1 HUMAN RELEVANCE1 OR 9DIVIDUAL UND]/&+4 ,9 POPULATION1 IF NOT 9 PHYSICAL SIZE1 \R CITIES COMP>E TO ! NATION-/ATES ( ! LA/ C5TURY4 ,! HUMAN SCALE HAS BE5 REPLAC$ BY ! 9HUMAN SCALE4 ,WE CAN H>DLY COMPREH5D \R [N LIVES1 MU* LESS MANAGE SOCIETY OR \R IMM$IATE 5VIRONM5T4 ,\R V]Y SELF-9TEGRITY1 TODAY1 IS IMPLICAT$ ILL A*IEV+ ! VISION ?AT UTOPIANS & RADICAL LIB]T>IANS HELD =? A C5TURY AGO4 ,9 ?IS MATT]1 WE >E /RUGGL+ NOT ONLY = A BETT] WAY ( LIFE BUT = \R V]Y SURVIVAL4 

,RADICAL AGRICULTURE (F]S A MEAN+FUL RESPONSE TO ?IS DESP]ATE SITUATION 9 T]MS NOT ( A FANCIFUL FI<T TO A REMOTE AGR>IAN REFUGE1 BUT ( A SY/EMATIC RECOLONLIZATION ( ! L& ALONG ECOLOGICAL L9ES4 ,CITIES >E TO HE DEC5TRALIZ$--& ?IS IS NO LONG] A UTOPI/IC FANTASY BUT A VISIBLE NECESSITY :I* EV5 CONV5TIONAL CITY PLANN+ IS BEG9N+ TO RECOGNIZE--& NEW ECOCOMMUNITIES >E TO BE E/ABLI%$1 TAILOR$ >TI/ICALLY TO ! ECOSY/EMS 9 :I* !Y >E LOCAT$4 ,!SE ECOCOMMUNITIES >E TO BE SCAL$ TO HUMAN DIM5SIONS1 BO? TO AF=D ! GREATE/ DEGREE ( SELF-MANAGEM5T POSSIBLE & P]SONAL COMPREH5SION ( ! SOCIAL SITUATION4 ,NO BUREAUCRATIC MANIPULATIVE1 C5TRALIZ$ ADM9I/RATION H]E1 BUT A VOLUNT>I/IC SY/EM 9 :I* ! ECONOMY1 SOCIETY & ECOLOGY ( AN >EA >E ADM9I/]$ BY ! COMMUNITY AS A :OLE1 & ! DI/RIBUTION ( ! MEANS ( LIFE IS DET]M9$ BY NE$1 RA!R ?AN BY LABOR1 PR(IT OR ACCUMULATION4 

,BUT RADICAL AGRICULTURE C>RIES ?IS TRADITION FUR!R--9TO TE*NOLOGY ITSELF4 ,9 CONTEMPOR>Y SOCIAL ?\<T1 TE*NOLOGY T5DS TO BE POL>IZ$ 9TO HI<LY C5TRALIZ$ LABOR-EXT5SIVE =MS ON ! ONE H& & DEC5TRALIZ$1 CRAFT-SCALE LABOR-9T5SIVE =MS ON ! O!R4 ,RADICAL AGRICULTURE /E]S ! MIDDLE GR\ND E/ABLI%$ BY AN ECOTE*NOLOGY3 IT AVAILS ITSELF ( ! T5D5CY T[>D M9IATURIZATION & V]SATILITY1 QUALITY PRODUCTION1 & A BALANC$ COMB9ATION ( MASS MANUFACTURE & CRAFTS4 ,= SIDE BY SIDE ) ! MASSIVE1 HI<LY SPECIALIZ$ FOSSIL-FUEL TE*NOLOGY 9 USE TODAY1 WE >E BEG9N+ TO SEE ! EM]G5CE ( A NEW TE*NOLOGY--ONE ?AT L5DS ITSELF TO ! LOCAL DEPLOYM5T ( MANY 5]GY RES\RCES ON A SMALL SCALE 7W9D1 SOL> & GEO!RMAL7--?AT PROVIDES A WID] LATITUDE 9 ! USE ( SMALL1 MULTIPURPOSE MA*9]Y1 & ?AT CAN EASILY PROVIDE US ) ! HI<-QUALITY SEMIF9I%$ GOODS ?AT WE1 AS 9DIVIDUALS1 MAY *OOSE TO F9I% ACCORD+ TO \R PROCLIVITIES & TA/ES4 ,! R\ND$ ECOCOMMUNITIES ( ! FUTURE W\LD !REBY BE SU/A9$ BY R\ND$ ECOTE*NOLOGIES4.<#h.> ,! PEOPLE ( !SE COMMUNITIES1 LIV+ 9 A HI<LY DIV]SIFI$ AGRICULTURAL & 9DU/RIAL SOCIETY1 W\LD BE FREE TO AVAIL !MSELVES ( ! MO/ SOPHI/ICAT$ TE*NOLOGIES )\T SUFF]+ ! SOCIAL DI/ORTIONS ?AT HAVE PITT$ T[N AGA9/ C\NTRY1 M9D AGA9/ WORK1 & HUMANITY AGA9/ ITSELF & ! NATURAL WORLD4 

,RADICAL AGRICULTURE BR+S ALL ( !SE POSSIBILITIES 9TO FOCUS1 = WE MU/ BEG9 ) ! L& IF ONLY BECAUSE ! BASIC MAT]IALS = LIFE >E ACQUIR$ FROM ! L&4 ,?IS IS NOT ONLY AN ECOLOGICAL TRU? BUT A SOCIAL ONE AS WELL4 ,! K9D ( AGRICULTURAL PRACTICE WE ADOPT AT ONCE REFLECTS & RE9=CES ! APPROA* WE WILL UTILIZE 9 ALL SPH]ES ( 9DU/RIAL & SOCIAL LIFE4 ,CAPITALISM BEGAN HI/ORICALLY BY UND]M9+ & OV]COM+ ! RESI/ANCE ( ! TRADITIONAL AGR>IAN WORLD TO A M>KET ECONOMY2 IT WILL NEV] BE FULLY TRANSC5D$ UNLESS A NEW SOCIETY IS CREAT$ ON ! L& ?AT LIB]ATES HUMANITY 9 ! FULLE/ S5SE & RE/ORES ! BALANCE BETWE5 SOCIETY & NATURE4 

.<#a.> ,T4,C4 ,MC,LUHAN1 $41 ,T\* ! ,E>? 7,NEW ,YORK3 ,\T]BRIDGE @& ,LAZ>D1 #a#i#g#a71 P4#h4 

.<#b.> ,IBID41 P4 #e#f4 

.<#c.> ,$W>D ,HYAMS1 ,SOIL & ,CULTIVATION 7,LONDON3 ,?AMES @& ,HUDSON1 #a#i#e#b71 PP #b#g#d1 #b#g#f4 

.<#d.> ,LYNN ,:ITE1 ,JR41 ,M$IEVAL ,TE*NOLOGY & ,SOCIAL ,*ANGE 7,NEW ,YORK3 ,OX=D ,UNIV4 ,PRESS1 #a#i#f#b71 P4 #e#f4 

.<#e.> ,IBID41 P4 #e#g4 

.<#f.> ,K>L ,M>X1 ,GRUNDRISSE1 $4 & TRANS4 ,DAVID ,MC,LELLAN 7,NEW ,YORK2 ,H>P] @& ,R[1 #a#i#g#a71 P4 #i#d4 

.<#g.> ,SEE ESPECIALLY ,P4 ,KROPOTK91 ,FIELDS1 ,FACTORIES & ,WORK%OPS ,TOMORR[ 7,NEW ,YORK3 ,H>P] @& ,R[1 #a#i#g#d72 ,MUTUAL ,AID 7,BO/ON3 ,S>G5T ,PUBLI%]S1 #a#i#e#e71 & ALSO3 ,CONQUE/ ( ,BREAD 7,NEW ,YORK3 ,NEW ,YORK ,UNIV]SITY ,PRESS1 #a#i#g#b74 

.<#h.> ,SEE ,MURRAY ,BOOK*91 ,PO/-,SC>CITY ,AN>*ISM 7,B]KELEY3 ,RAMP>TS ,PRESS1 #a#i#g#b74 

,FROM 3 ,!,AN>*I/,LIBR>Y4ORG4 

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,NOVEMB] #c1 #aiga 3 ,RADICAL ,AGRICULTURE -- ,PUBLICATION4 
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