Margins are often tight in farming communities. That is a broad statement, but it address the commercial realities for many.
- Is it possible to develop synergies in swales, rainwater harvesting, fence work, terraces, wind energy, solar panels and automation tools?
- Can we use soil amendments like compost?
- Do benefits always move towards the bigger farmer, bigger machines and flatter field?
- Do you need to be “tech literate” to use basic electronics?
Innovations in play behind many farms have taken centuries to evolve. If you consider the pivot irrigation tower, then materials were not available to make it effective before a certain date. The motors and gears needed to mesh to deliver more consistent horse power than a donkey could muster. One step follows another.
It is only recently that the young moved to the city to pursue further education in big schools. One time nature was the primary teacher. Wherever you live has specific climatic conditions, an orientation, a soil type, a freeze/thaw cycle, a prevailing wind pattern, a specific yearly amount of sunshine. There variables tend not to vary so much with each passing season.
Planting trees you will never sit under
Trees your grandfather planted (if you happen to be born into a farming family) determine the soil quality. A 50 year old apple tree develops it’s own micro climate, pollinators and habitat. By driving roots deep into the soil, this matriarch rules a domain.
Markets
In combination with terrain features, rivers and prevailing wind, each location develops a unique identity. Certain regions develop a reputation for specific crops. France, Italy and Spain for wines. UK, Ireland, for milk and cheeses. Central Germany for forestry and river based commercial success. These are market based factors that map on top of the geographical features.
Culture
When we look at the traditional Bulgarian garden, we see a focus on crops rather than flowers. In the UK the dynamic is reversed, culturally it has been grass and flowers for more than 100 years. Nowadays the “organic” trend is changing that dynamic. After industrialization, UK residents used communal “allotments” for fruit and vegetable growing. Cultural factors tend to drive relationships with the soil, as does how land holdings are regulated.
