Journal 34; June 2009
New Agrarianism
"With this issue of our Journal, we reach a culmination of much of what The Quivira Coalition has been trying to accomplish since our founding in 1997.
"The idea of a new agrarianism encompasses nearly all our work over the past twelve years: grazing in nature's model, the radical center, land health, watershed restoration, bridging the urban-rural divide, progressive stewardship, education, collaboration, local food, and resilience.
"For a while, I hoped that environmentalism would embrace these innovations, but as time went on, and new challenges arose, it became clear that we had started down a new path, heading in divergent directions. Not long ago, I came across the term `new agrarianism' and when I began to explore what it meant, I saw its appeal. This was the unifying whole, the big circle that pulled everything together.
"In order to introduce the term, I decided to reprint two essays here, one by Eric Freyfogle and one by Wendell Berry. Both were written around 2001 - too early, in my opinion. Both deserve to be read again - because now the time is right.
"But we can't forget about the `old agrarianism' either. Much of what traditional communities still do, including the Amish and the villagers of northern New Mexico, are still relevant - and can teach the rest of us important lessons.
"`New' or `old' or `back to the future' - whatever you want to call it, I hope the essays contained here resonate with you and where you live."
Happy reading,
-Courtney White
Contents:
"With this issue of our Journal, we reach a culmination of much of what The Quivira Coalition has been trying to accomplish since our founding in 1997.
"The idea of a new agrarianism encompasses nearly all our work over the past twelve years: grazing in nature's model, the radical center, land health, watershed restoration, bridging the urban-rural divide, progressive stewardship, education, collaboration, local food, and resilience.
"For a while, I hoped that environmentalism would embrace these innovations, but as time went on, and new challenges arose, it became clear that we had started down a new path, heading in divergent directions. Not long ago, I came across the term `new agrarianism' and when I began to explore what it meant, I saw its appeal. This was the unifying whole, the big circle that pulled everything together.
"In order to introduce the term, I decided to reprint two essays here, one by Eric Freyfogle and one by Wendell Berry. Both were written around 2001 - too early, in my opinion. Both deserve to be read again - because now the time is right.
"But we can't forget about the `old agrarianism' either. Much of what traditional communities still do, including the Amish and the villagers of northern New Mexico, are still relevant - and can teach the rest of us important lessons.
"`New' or `old' or `back to the future' - whatever you want to call it, I hope the essays contained here resonate with you and where you live."
Happy reading,
-Courtney White
Contents:
- A Durable Scale -Eric Freyfogle
- The Agrarian Standard -Wendell Berry
- Abiquiu, New Mexico: Chapter 5 -Lisa Hamilton
- Finding Agraria, Part 1 -Courtney White
- Amish Farm Economics -Randall E. James, PhD
- Horsing Around - Photos by Courtney White
Journal 34 pdf size: 6.80mb