> Lawrence, you said:
>
> "Gophers dig burrows, worms do same, natural gardeners dig raised
> beds, bees build comb, wasps build nests. All of this is natural, all of this
> is structured. Structured does not equal synthetic in this context."
> Yes, yes of course but the gardener building the raised bed may be an
> illustration of harmony with nature not something natural. (Actually
Humans, being higher order organisms may not perceive what they do as
natural when in fact they may be in the act of defining what is natural.
One growing to feed oneself is closer to being what some perceive as
"natural" but one growing to feed many is less easy to perceive that way
since it is a much more complex, difficult process and more succeptible
to error and it's "naturalness" is less obvious - adhering to the laws of
nature is more difficult.
It would be hard to say that birds dropping rocks on clams to get at the
meat or chimpanzees using sticks to gather termites is not simply natural,
and that it _may_ be in harmony with nature or not. The spread of invasive
species seems "natural" but is it "in harmony with nature"?
How would you define the act of planting red clover on newly enriched
(with compost, manures & rock powders, maybe seaweed) & tilled raised beds
in order for the substances exuded by the clover roots to enhance the
ability of some soil fungi to break down and extract plant-available
nutrients from soil particles (phosphate from rock)? Is this "natural"
an "enhancement or extention of nature" or participating in a process that
is "in harmony with nature"?
You are more than welcome to ignore this as I am just rambling a bit.
> gardeners who build traditional double dug raised beds, like myself, are
> maniacal not natural.) I have to look at agriculture-food production,
That's what happens when you begin growing your own food naturally. :-)
> synthetic construct impressed upon nature, can, should, must be
> harmonious but cannot be natural. Food production is synthetic. Food
This is an interesting point.
> gathering (hunting and gathering) is natural, carrying capacity(of
> humans) is low. Agriculture is synthetic carrying capacity for humans is
> dramatically higher. Harmonized with nature through ecological
> principles Agriculture may be sustainable.
This is a very goal to work toward as we move into the next millenium.
> Again I apologize, this may be semantics and irrelevant but I think that we
> should be cautious about how we use words and how those words
Very true, especially these days when agriculture is so complex and we
have so much we can and should learn and put into practice.
> might effect our prejudices. Besides I am an angry old fart studying to be
> a curmudgeon.
Good luck.
:-)
Lawrence
>
> Best,
>
> Ted
>
Lawrence F. London, Jr. Venaura Farm
http://metalab.unc.edu/intergarden
/permaculture /intergarden/orgfarm /ecolandtech
lflondon@mindspring.com london@metalab.unc.edu
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