The Weedy Farm：An Ongoing Co-adaptation of Farmer and Nature in Organic Farming

• Main Authors: Fu-Chun Yu, 余馥君
• Other Authors: 劉可強
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2008
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/90294409812509901209

碩士 === 國立臺灣大學 === 建築與城鄉研究所 === 96 === This research is aimed at the human-nature relationship in organic farming. Compared to industrial agriculture, organic farming and other sustainable farming practices have been thought as “following nature”. However, as a means of agriculture, farmers have to disturb ecological succession in order to make production. This means that there’s something other than “following nature” that happens in a weedy organic farm. We suggest a new perspective in this research, which views nature and farmer as mutually–subjective. Nature acts on ecological rationale and farmer acts on agriculture production. In this way, it is actually an ongoing co-adaptation of farmer and nature that happens in organic farming. The reduction of chemical use not only released farmer from poison, but also activated “ecological succession”. Nature is no longer passive, but an active manipulator in organic production. Wild plants, birds and insects invade the farm outrageously, which force the farmer to take actions such as “prevention”, “wrestle”, “stratagem” and “abandonment”. Aside from farming practices, farmer’s marketing and lifestyles are also adapted to nature. As the intimate interplay of farmer and nature goes on, farmer gets to know nature better and builds an agroecological system. Nature is also adapted to farming practices and then becomes a partner of farming. Each association of farmer and nature evolves into a particular farming rhythm, which creates diversified organic farming landscapes. We also conclude that farmers’ concept of nature is transformed through the co-adaptation process. In organic farmers’ eyes, nature has changed from an objective production material to a subjective farming co-worker. Therefore, organic farming is not merely a movement against crises of human health and environment, but also a realizable practice of Aldo Leopold’s “land ethic”. This stands for a post-modern human-nature relationship.