The Foundations for Farming Tenets: Too Narrow?

Tilhana comments on my post about the Foundations for Farming methods compared to David The Good methods:

“I was cringing a little as I was reading their tenets. The more I learn about squishy topics like gardening, nutrition, and parenting, the more I feel like you just can’t lay down universal edicts and expect it to work for everybody. Like most important things in life, these principles are applied at the individual level, and every individual (or family or household) is different, and needs to tailor their approach to fit their situation and needs and priorities.

Granted, I can see the benefit of promoting some advice about “best practices,” even if they’re not always best but might be better than what most people receiving the message are currently doing. But then I also wonder about the people who will distrust the whole message because they can see that some of the principles are flawed.

I’m inclined to think that if you’re trying to influence a lot of people and convince them to do things better, maybe it’s best to keep your advice as conservative as possible. Stick to the most basic, universal principles, and focus on those, and then feel free to offer suggestions about the more nuanced stuff. So instead of “Never plough!” You could say, “Try ploughing less often; here are some great ways to break up the soil without ploughing…” and then you’re offering options, instead of issuing commands and judgements.

Not that they’re asking me. But as an irredeemable contrarian I know nothing makes me want to be non-compliant like being told I have to do a certain thing in a certain way.”

I agree.

There is no “one size fits all” method of agriculture. Even tightening it down to saying things like “the ground should always be covered!” is too narrow for my tastes.

At least it’s no longer called Farming God’s Way…

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