The ‘big’ free-range idea is to give animals such as egg-laying chickens and dairy cows a natural (to them) environment which then allows them to express their innate, unique behaviour patterns, for their own sakes, and to facilitate their natural proclivities and productivities. The ‘spiritual’ foundation to this appears to be a feeling that as ‘top animal’ man should be working ‘in partnership’ with them and recognising their needs, rather than just trying to dominate and control them; husbanding and caretaking rather than merely exploiting, paradoxically though often leading to good sustainable levels of productivity. There’s just something so satisfying, too, about seeing those chickens scratting busily and contentedly about in the paddock.
'Delicious Dosh' ('FR Living' book excerpt)
April 18, 2011 ·
‘Delicious dosh’
No, of course it’s not the money that’s consumed, though, it’s really just a medium - it’s what it can give access to that really counts: survival, security, exclusivity, social standing, clout, protection, conviviality, pleasure, personal development, philanthropy to name but a few.
Tags: Free Range Living
Eco-Holding Husbandries
April 01, 2011 ·
Four-Course Rotation
Maybe older ways and concepts may make a comeback as modern resources such as oil become scarcer, particularly as world-wide demand for material goods and comforts seems to be ever growing. Modern food growing uses considerable amounts of fossil fuels in the production of fertilisers for instance. In 'olden' days before fertiliser and spray availability, people had to plan and think ahead long-term, to ensure that soil fertility was on-going, just as modern organic farmers have to do. Maybe thinking and operating longer-term is an additional attraction of organic growing? .
Tags: Eco-holding husbandries
