Radical Agriculture - Hardcover

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0814754147 ISBN 13: 9780814754146

Publisher: New York University Press, 1976

Synopsis

The cultivation of food is a social and cultural phenomenon unique to man. Since its early development ten thousand years ago, the practice of agriculture has undergone unique and frightening changes. Since its development into an "industry", land becomes "real estate", soil a "natural re¬source", and food the exchange medium handled for "money." The beliefs in the sanctity of the land, food cultivation as a spiritual activity arid its consumption as a hallowed social ritual are long gone; in their places now are the use of pesticides, insecticides, technology and industrialization, and the outlook toward how much the land can produce and its market value. Radical agriculture then, is a movement to restore balance to the relationship between man and the soil he cultivates. Humanity's sense of community is to be transformed by recognizing the soil as an eco-system, a biotic community capable of supporting life to insects, bacteria, fungi mammals. It also seeks to view agriculture as the activity of a natural human community, a rural society, and culture-a day to day interface of soil and humanity, the means by which both meet and blend. The radical agriculturist sees agriculture not only as a science but as an art as well. The food cultivators must be part of a "soil community" in the very meaningful sense that she or he belongs to a unique and varied biotic system, and all involved must work together or face eventual destruction. Among subjects examined within RADICAL AGRICULTURE are, Land and Culture (Wendell Berry), Land and Water (Peter Barnes), Agriculture and Agribusiness (Nick Kotz, Sheldon Greene, Michael Perelman, and Jim Hightower), and Food/ Energy and the New Rural Renaissance (John Todd, Richard Merrill, William McLarney, Helga and William Olkowski, John Elter, Donald Marier and Ronald Weintraub).

About this edition

• Publisher: New York University Press
• Publication date: 1976
• ISBN 10: 0814754147
• ISBN 13: 9780814754146
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 459
• Editor: Merrill Richard