Success from Climate, Techniques or Land Management?

For Centuries Western Europe has taken care of it’s farmland better than most places in the world.

One of the main reasons for it’s success is it’s climate with it’s gentle rainfall and long growing seasons. Plus much of the farmland being not too hilly.

 

Shrub hedges and/or stone walls such as Cornish hedges were also built around fields which in a literal sense – prevented erosion because the topsoil had nowhere to go. The hedges also provided ecosystem and a home for beneficials to do their job.

 

But perhaps further than a favorable region or a set of techniques that made Western European farms work so well is the social context of how the land was taken care of.

 

Instead of splitting the land up to the heirs when the elders passed, the land was mainly put into primogeniture. Or left to the eldest son. This prevented the land from being managed or sold to too many people. It also made it easier to pass down knowledge of land care to each successive generation.

Tag:, , , , ,

Nicholas Burtner
Nicholas is the Founder and Director for the School of Permaculture, where he leads the education programs and directs operations at both the farm and suburban demonstration sites for the school. Since 2012, Nicholas and his team have worked on a large and varied number of permaculture projects from farms and ranches, to suburban homesteads and public parks, to apartment complexes and college campuses. He has received his permaculture education and training, in person, from the co-originator of permaculture Bill Mollison in Melbourne, Australia. He also interned with world renown permaculturist Geoff Lawton at Zaytuna Farm and attended the Earthship Academy for natural and recycled building construction, under the tutelage of Michael Reynolds in Taos, New Mexico. Aside from permaculture, and ecologic-related activities, Nicholas is a devote follower of Jesus Christ, a husband, and a father. He is also a nidan and instructor at the Flowing Circle Aikido Center, a major proponent of peace. He believes that through the application of permaculture, people can find a more meaningful and purposeful existence.

You may also like

Developed by Digi Interacts Pvt Ltd.