Don't have much to say on the theme at this point, but will share it:
We (human beings) are by nature, part of nature; and our activities
should be consistent with natural systems. An artifice may be good
or bad, more or less good or more or less bad, but the results will
speak for themselves, in the long run. This is precisely the concept
underlying sustainable agriculture. That which is congruent with
biologically evolved systems that are in turn generous and productive,
this is where the future lies.
To the degree that we (people) learn to emulate fruit bearing plants
(remember that the difference between an action and a substance is not
so distinct as some might think - Einstein had something to say about
this also), doing and building things that give rise to life as we
know it, in it's must universal sense, this is not far removed from
nature, this is helping nature (NOT being so stupid as to think we can
REDO nature).
Now - if we have to move a little dirt or water around, to help
distribute natural things and we can do this without seriously
disrupting natural systems that are now supporting life itself
(including ours), this may be a very natural thing for any of us to
do. (The words seriously and disrupting may give pause to some, but
remember that the proportions of these things all become known, in
time).
Have I made myself clear? If so: Watch for true life examples, coming
soon.
If not: Watch for true life examples, coming soon.
DH
*********** REPLY SEPARATOR ***********
Wednesday, November 17, 1999, 10:11:10 AM, you wrote:
Ted> Lawrence, you said:
Ted> "Gophers dig burrows, worms do same, natural gardeners dig raised
Ted> beds, bees build comb, wasps build nests. All of this is natural, all of this
Ted> is structured. Structured does not equal synthetic in this context."
Ted> Yes, yes of course but the gardener building the raised bed may be an
Ted> illustration of harmony with nature not something natural. (Actually
Ted> gardeners who build traditional double dug raised beds, like myself, are
Ted> maniacal not natural.) I have to look at agriculture-food production,
Ted> synthetic construct impressed upon nature, can, should, must be
Ted> harmonious but cannot be natural. Food production is synthetic. Food
Ted> gathering (hunting and gathering) is natural, carrying capacity(of
Ted> humans) is low. Agriculture is synthetic carrying capacity for humans is
Ted> dramatically higher. Harmonized with nature through ecological
Ted> principles Agriculture may be sustainable.
Ted> Again I apologize, this may be semantics and irrelevant but I think that we
Ted> should be cautious about how we use words and how those words
Ted> might effect our prejudices. Besides I am an angry old fart studying to be
Ted> a curmudgeon.
Ted> Best,
Ted> Ted
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