Future Perfect

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nvironment

legal

and

ethical

issues

are unable to predict more than a fraction of nature’s behaviour.

Even awe-inspiring glimpses of reality are better than ignorance for

the continuity of life and should give reason for living in conformity

with the physical environment, according to the laws of nature from

which it derives its life forces.

Turning now to practical actions, how might a holistic approach

begin, for example, to address the loss of biodiversity and arrest the

use of destructive pesticides and fertilizers? Actions must begin with

grass-roots initiatives and creative individuals, as illustrated by exam-

ples from apiculture and community-supported agriculture (CSA).

One of the most serious threats to biodiversity is the loss of

honeybees in many parts of the world. The decline of honeybee

numbers and vitality has several causes. Bee populations that have

been overexploited for commercial profit are severely stressed.

Reduced to mobile pollinating factories that are trucked over great

distances, thousands of hives have also collapsed. Flowers that

provide bees with nectars and pollens have been either poisoned

by pesticides or uprooted, to make place for monocultures or even

pristine lawns. Without doubt, the moribund bees have unpredict-

able life prospects unless steps are taken to protect them. The loss

of bees would have grave consequences for the world’s supply of

fruits, nuts and vegetables.

Because bees play a key role in the food chain and natural ecosys-

tems, apiculturists have a responsibility to approach their profession

in ways that are wholly consistent with nature. KirkWebster described

his method as:

“The model of a healthy, treatment-free northern

apiary, based on the balanced production of queens,

nucleus colonies and honey… Reverence for Nature

and its restorative power were consulted and used at

every possible opportunity. Economic success was

assured only by the counter-intuitive process of ignoring

economic concerns and focusing on the natural ability of

bees and insects to be healthy, productive and responsive

to changing conditions. Much of the stress and worry

has been eliminated and beekeeping has become more

interesting and enjoyable than ever before. This ‘promise’

is available to every beekeeper who can selflessly think

and work at the same time and adapt Nature’s methods

to his or her own situation.”

In response to the environmental damage associated

with industrial agricultural methods poisoning land and

water, reducing biodiversity and eroding topsoil from

fertile landscapes, community supported farms have

come into existence to serve inhabitants by supplying

them with foods that have been grown locally and often

organically. On some of these farms, scientific methods

have been enriched by philosophical and spiritual beliefs,

as in the case of natural, permaculture and biodynamic

farms. These holistic approaches work with nature, and

require close observation and thoughtful labour, includ-

ing attention to examples of sustainable land use.

Temple-Wilton Community Farm is a CSA prototype

in New Hampshire in the United States. This four-acre

vegetable farm – then one of only two of its kind –

was established in 1985 by Anthony Graham, Lincoln

Geiger and Trauger Groh, immigrants from Zimbabwe,

Sweden and Germany, respectively. It is an association

of ‘active and passive’ farmers who share the profits and

losses of the land that provides vegetables for more than

100 families, all year round.

Work on this farm is grounded in moral principles

and spiritual aims. The farmer’s job is to produce life-

enhancing foods for local families, in harmony with

natural forces. Here, farming is labour, a craft and an

art, where farmers create conditions that allow nature

to fulfil its functions of growing crops and feeding live-

stock.

The farm is a biodiversified, closed organism,

supplying its own biological fertilizers and seeds, while

maintaining self-sufficiency in its productive processes.

Thousands of CSA farms have burgeoned in the United

States and around the world since 1986.

Madison’s plea for harmony with nature remains

urgent and auspicious. Addressing the World Economic

Forum in Davos in January 2011, United Nations

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon emphasized the necessity

for everyone to live in harmony with the natural world,

as had the ancients. He declared: “In an odd way, what

we are really talking about is going back to the future.

The ancients saw no division between themselves and the

natural world. They understood how to live in harmony

with the world around them. It is time to recover that

sense of living harmoniously for our economies and our

societies.” Hope rests in progress achieved caringly by

creative and soulful individuals around the globe.

Image: Kevin Sullivan

Farming in harmony with nature is a craft