Louis Ricou January 10, 2025 Senior Project Proposal Farming for Life: Building Worldviews in Sustainable Farming Description Some people eat to live, and others live to eat. I find myself falling into the latter category more often than not. My love of food has driven me to attend culinary schools, and study food systems and agriculture at College of the Atlantic. My interest in agriculture evolved during my high school years as I worked at my local biodynamic CSA (Community Supported Agriculture), and as I began to explore food systems and sustainable farming at COA. Growing food has the potential to connect us to a place and ground us in relationship and identity with the living world around us, yet it also has the potential to inflict great harm upon and disconnect us from the land. My project is an analysis and comparison of various theories of sustainable agriculture. The theories of farming which I will look into are permaculture, biodynamic agriculture, and organic farming. Throughout this proposal I use the words 'theory' and 'concept' to refer to these above-mentioned methods of farming. When exploring the definition of 'sustainable agriculture' and its place in the world, there are many questions I could pursue. Such questions include: What is the role of the farmer in working the land and becoming intertwined with the ecology of the place? Are they a supporting economic force in our capitalistic market? Or are they producers of sustenance to maintain the human workers and families? Or rather are they the current stewards of this land, manipulating and shaping the soil and ecology in past, present, and future? How do farmers view themselves in the context of their work? How do their practices inform or shape their worldview and values, or vice versa? How do they understand their role as farmers in the world and in connection to the cosmos? How do (or don't) their practices mirror the beliefs they hold and the goals they strive for? What is the historical context through which certain terms such as 'permaculture' and 'biodynamic' arise? What historical events prompted an evolution of these methods of agriculture? What ideologies gave rise to these practices? My work will place the farmer at the center of this explorative project. I will build my initial base of knowledge off of interviews with farmers, aiming to become familiar with the practices they follow on their farm. I will likewise explore how their values, beliefs, and worldviews influence their farming practices, and how their work informs their understanding of their place and relationship to the world. I will continue my exploration by reading guides on implementing these methods of farming, gaining familiarity with their theories and actual practices. When possible, I will read original works which gave rise to these theories of agriculture, such as Rudolf Steiner's agricultural lectures which birthed biodynamic farming. In addition, I will note how fluid the definitions and content of these theories are when referenced by different people, such as literary authors and farmers. The historical contexts in which these farming theories arose are inevitably tied into the story of their development. Therefore, I plan on exploring historical events and contexts which existed during the time that these farming concepts developed, to understand what they arose out of and in response to. An additional aspect of my research will be reviewing scientific articles looking at the sustainability of permacultural, organic, and biodynamic practices. I will look for articles measuring variables such as: soil porosity, level of soil organic matter, biological soil activity, promoting beneficial flora and fauna, increasing economic viability of the farm, increasing yield of the harvest, decreasing insect damage to plants, preventing erosion, preventing runoff of excessive soil nutrients, preventing soil contamination of toxic chemicals. I will regularly reflect on my readings and interviews with farmers through a written and illustrated journal. This will allow me to better absorb the material by reproducing it through written synopses and small visual works. If time allows I plan on creating 'rich pictures' (an illustrated picture of a farm representing and communicating its structure and ambiance) for the farms I visit. I also hope to create works of art using a medium of watercolor paints for the agricultural theories I am studying, representing their inherent values, beliefs, and assumptions. Through creating these visual representations of the farms and theories of agriculture I will study, I hope to capture underlying beliefs, values, and worldviews in more than written means. This will complement the other methods of approaching this study I will employ, engaging another way of reflecting on and recreating my understanding of my topics of study. As a final product, I will create a report comparing permaculture, biodynamic agriculture, and organic farming. It will include my farmer interviews, the practices each theory follows, and the study results from the studies I review. I aim to create a report which exposes readers to various ways of looking at these agricultural concepts, while providing a well-rounded understanding of their beliefs and practices. In my near future, I plan to work on organic or biodynamic farms before transitioning to working for an organization supporting small-scale sustainable farmers, such as Pasa Sustainable Agriculture or MOFGA. I have spent much of my time at COA thus far evaluating the social contexts through which sustainable farming is or is not possible. I would like to round out my knowledge of sustainable agriculture by focusing on certain theories of farming. I aim to understand their values and actual practices, and how farmers relate to these concepts and practices. By better understanding the 'how-to' and the 'why' of sustainable farming, I hope to bolster my preparedness to work on farms and shift them towards sustainable practices, as well as to eventually work with farmers to help create a more sustainable agricultural landscape. Agriculture as a study and a practice straddles many different disciplines, and is inherently human ecological. Growing plants is a biological, chemical, and physical process. Simultaneously, agriculture and food preparation can be seen through the lens of artistic creation and expression, such as making art out of food. Agriculture also relates to the humanities in the way it has shaped human cultures through relationship to place and identity. This study embraces multiple ways of looking at agriculture, from Western Scientific experiments to farmers' experiences and knowledge, utilizing a human ecological approach to exploring this topic. I have taken courses at COA which focused on sustainable farming or food systems, such as Agroecology, Transforming Food Systems, and The Anthropology of Food. These courses have exposed me to some of the aspects surrounding food and farming and how we evaluate sustainability in food systems, preparing me to further explore this topic. I have also taken courses which required significant amounts of research and reading, such as Corn and Coffee, Wabanaki Studies, and From Native Empires to Nation States. These courses expanded my experience with reading-heavy courses of study, which will aid me as I undertake a research-heavy project. Goals My specific goals for this project are to: 1) Gain a sense of how farmers relate to the concepts of permaculture, biodynamic agriculture, and organic farming, and how farmers' values, worldviews, and sense of place and role in the world influence their practices, as well as vice versa. 2) Become familiar with the practices employed by permaculture, biodynamic agriculture, and organic farming, and the reasons (beliefs/values/goals) certain practices are used. 3) Gain an understanding of the historical context surrounding the development of these theories of agriculture. What values, beliefs, and fears gave rise to these particular concepts of practicing agriculture, and against what historical backdrop did it make sense to have such theories exist? 4) Gain familiarity with scientific data measuring the effectiveness (using variables stated above) of these theories' practices. 5) Understand in what ways and to what degree permaculture, biodynamic agriculture, and organic farming are different from each other when defined by book authors and farmers. New Learning My goal for this project is to explore the practices and ideas communicated by the concepts 'permaculture', 'biodynamic', and 'organic' in order to understand how these methods are practically carried out. I also aim to research into the historical and cultural contexts from which these theories arose, and any scientific data exploring the effectiveness of their practices. My goal is also to understand how actual farmers interact with these theories, and how their values influence their relationship to them, as well as farming as a whole. I will therefore approach this project through four primary modes of study: farmer interviews; practical 'how-to' guides for farming; historical accounts of how these theories came to be; and scientific articles. I will also pull on films or podcasts I happen to find during my project should they prove useful to my exploration. Farmer Interviews I will conduct interviews with farmers, pulling from my own network and, when applicable, from that of my COA advisor, Suzanne Morse, or senior project advisor, Kourtney Collum. I will record and transcribe interviews, conducting them early in the project as well as near to the end once I have more knowledge of permaculture, organic farming, and biodynamic agriculture. Some questions I may ask include: What are your guiding values or principles? What influences your decisions? What is your farming practice across the year? What would you say to someone who knows nothing about the method of farming you practice? How does farming influence your worldview and create connections to other parts of your life? Does the more-than-material world or spirituality play into or become influenced by your farming practices? How do your farming practices connect you to more-than-physical health? How does farming create connection and relationship between yourself and the land you farm, if it does at all? How do you view your role as a farmer? Are you feeding yourself, feeding other people, or caretaking for the land? How do you see your part in the grander scheme of things? Scientific Articles and Data I will use the library databases to search for and examine peer-reviewed studies and literature reviews which have explored the methods of farming in question, in order to become familiar with what the available data suggests about these farming practices. I will explore to what degree studies agree or contradict each other, taking into account the amount and reliability of data I find. I will keep in mind that Western Scientific ways of measuring efficiency may overlook certain benefits or reasons for following certain practices, particularly those which stem from spiritual or otherwise non-physical sources. Guides to Farming In addition to data examination, I will do research into the literal 'how-to' of sustainable farming. I will read guides on how to structure a farm and follow certain practices according to each theory, exposing me to the by-the-book practices employed by each. Historical Contexts I will examine historical resources, such as books and articles explaining the global context and events that were taking place when these theories evolved. I will explore the when, where, why, and how that 'organic', 'biodynamic', and 'permaculture' were created and why they made any sense in the contexts where they were invented (what they were created in response or in contrast to), as well as who they were ultimately made to serve or benefit (farmers, consumers, or someone else?). Audience This project is primarily focused on my own exposure to and understanding of methods of sustainable agriculture. As a result, I expect my main audience to be myself. However, if any of the farmers I interview express interest, or if through my research I uncover appropriate venues through which to share my findings and report, I will share my final product with them or present my findings in an appropriate manner. Final Product My final product for this project will have two components. The first is a report/literature review comparing permaculture, biodynamic agriculture, and organic farming. It will include the interviews and experiences of farmers, the practices, the scientific data, and the historical context relating to each theory of agriculture. By including various ways to approach and think about these farming theories, I hope to offer a well-rounded understanding of the values and practices they encompass and how farmers in the field relate to their existence. The second component will be a reflection in the form of works of art. I will create watercolor pieces capturing the essence of the practices and values which I encounter in my exploration. I will also create rich pictures of the farms I visit to create a visual understanding of their structure, process, and values in farming. This will not only lend to a more human ecological product of my project, but also an additional medium through which to represent these theories of agriculture. I hope to communicate certain aspects of these theories of agriculture which might not be able to be captured in a written report. Role for Project Advisors Kourtney Collum will be my senior project advisor. I hope to pull on her knowledge of food systems and her work with farmers to inform my own exploration of farmers' connection to their practices. I will meet with Kourtney on a regular basis, gain recommendations for resources to look into, and refine my techniques for interviewing and speaking to farmers. Criteria for Evaluation My criteria for evaluation are as follows. 1) Success in meeting self-imposed deadlines and those set by outside authorities, such as submitting drafts, completing watercolor prints and narrative synopses of the reading, and completing readings on time. 2) Evaluation of the final report will be based on the following. The accuracy of the information presented; the level of detail it contains (how well does it represent permaculture, biodynamic agriculture, and organic farming in terms of including all relevant practices); how engagingly it is written and whether it has a balanced flow between the different types of research stated above; and the quality of the layout and formatting of the report. 3) Demonstration (through the written report and reflective narrative and art pieces) of an understanding of the history, current practices, farmer realities, and existing data of each theory. 4) Demonstrated consistency and quality of reflective narrative synopses of reading, and completion of artist pieces. 5) Consistency of meetings with senior project director, and demonstration of progress in line with plan. 6) Completion of reading materials as assigned in the senior project proposal and/or other senior project planning sheets (assigned work should represent sufficient material to be considered appropriate for the number of credit hours spent on it). 7) Demonstrated understanding of how interviewed farmers relate to these different theories of agriculture, and to what degree permaculture, biodynamic agriculture, and organic farming relate to one another. Time Table Winter Term: 2 Credits/300 hours Spring Term: 1 Credit/150 hours Winter Term Week 1 (15 hours) Complete proposal Gather reading resources Guide books Academic articles Historic books and resources Web resources Week 2 (15 hours) Interview local farmers Work on rich pictures of farms Read From the Agriculture Course to Sustainable Farming: 100 Years of the Biodynamic Movement by Rudi Bind & Ueli Hurter (Biodynamic history and context book) Read Agriculture GA 327 by Rudolf Steiner (original lectures) Write reflections from readings Work on art pieces representing learning from readings Look for web-related content connected to historical context of biodynamic agriculture Week 3 (15 hours) Interview local farmers Work on rich pictures of farms Read A Biodynamic Manual: Practical Instructions for Farmers and Gardeners by Pierre Masson (Biodynamic 'how-to' guide book) Read Soil Quality and Profitability of Biodynamic and Conventional Farming Systems by Reganold Read Biodynamic vs. Conventional Farming Effects on Soil Structure Expressed by Simulated Potential Productivity by Droogers & Bouma Write reflections from readings Work on art pieces representing learning from readings Look for web-related content connected to practices of biodynamic agriculture Week 4 (15 hours) Interview local farmers Work on rich pictures of farms Read A review of scientific research on biodynamic agriculture by Santoni et al. (scientific review looking at studies on biodynamic agriculture) Read Ecological Impact of Wheat and Spelt Production under Industrial and Alternative Farming Systems by Bavec et al. Read Hocus pocus? Spirituality and soil care in biodynamic agriculture by Pigott Read Biological soil quality and soil organic carbon change in biodynamic, organic, and conventional farming systems after 42 years by Kraus et al. Read BIODYNAMIC AGRICULTURE - OLD TRADITIONS AND MODERN PRACTICES by Beluhova-Uzunova & Atanasov Read other relevant articles found on practices of biodynamic farming Write reflections from readings Work on art pieces representing learning from readings Look for web-related content connected to science of biodynamic agriculture Week 5 (20 hours) Speak to David Gibson about permaculture Look into Bioneers organization Cool speakers about agriculture Bioneers permaculture conference Scaling up Permaculture Look into youtube conferences that relate to permaculture Read about historical context for birth of permaculture Read Permaculture-Scientific Evidence of Principles for the Agroecological Design of Farming Systems by Julius Krebs Read Permaculture Management of Arable Soil Increases Soil Microbial Abundance, Nutrients, and Carbon Stocks Compared to Conventional Agriculture by Williamson, Reay, and Sgouridis Write reflections from readings Work on art pieces representing learning from readings (get together materials you need to really make artwork) Reach out to farmers for further interviews Week 6 (15 hours) Write the structure of your report Meet with Kourtney to decide on your guy's timeline for spring that works for everyone Reach out to Anna Davis Emphasize farmer interviews Do reading for Biodynamics the first two days, then do permaculture for the rest of the week Emphasize painting and art components Prepare questions for Kevin chat Reach out to the biodynamic association to talk to them about biodynamics How it differentiates from other forms of sustainable ag, what they see the value in what they're doing as Read Permaculture: Principles and Pathways Beyond Sustainability by David Holmgren Read Review: ecosystem services in permaculture systems by Hirschfeld Read other relevant articles relating to permaculture Write reflections from readings Work on art pieces representing learning from readings Interviews with farmers Work on rich pictures of farms Explore how organizations support farmers, what they have encountered are the largest challenges to farmers they have discovered working with them Use GIS to map out where farms in Maine are versus population or other factors Week 7 (15 hours) Read Introduction to Permaculture by Mollison Read Sustainability of Permaculture Farming by Julius Reiff Write reflections from readings Work on art pieces representing learning from readings Interviews with farmers Work on rich pictures of farms The New Organic Grower, 3rd Edition - Eliot Coleman | Johnny's Selected Seeds https://www.ucpress.edu/books/agrarian-dreams/paper Comparing Productivity of Organic and Conventional Farming Systems: A Quantitative Review: Archives of Agronomy and Soil Science: Vol 68, No 14 Read A meta-analysis of the differences in environmental impacts between organic and conventional farming by Mondelaers Week 8 (15 hours) Look into youtube conferences that relate to organic farming Read Agrarian dreams: The paradox of organic farming in California by Julie Guthman Read about historical context for birth of organic farming Interview farmers Work on rich pictures of farms Write reflections from readings Work on art pieces representing learning from readings Week 9 (15 hours) Read The organic farming manual: A comprehensive guide to starting and running a Certified Organic Farm by Anne Larkin Hanson Read An Environmental, Energetic and Economic Comparison of Organic and Conventional Farming Systems by David Pimentel Interview farmers Work on rich pictures of farms Write reflections from readings Work on art pieces representing learning from readings Week 10 (10 hours) Wrap up readings Wrap up art pieces and reflections Complete any other outstanding work Spring Break Put together timetable for Spring Term Spring Term Work on report Check in with farmers Do additional research Bibliography Alvarez, R. (2021). Comparing Productivity of Organic and Conventional Farming Systems: A Quantitative Review. Archives of Agronomy and Soil Science, 68(14), 1947-1958. https://doi.org/10.1080/03650340.2021.1946040 Barton, Gregory A., The Global History of Organic Farming (Oxford, 2018; online edn, Oxford Academic, 22 Mar. 2018), https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780199642533.001.0001 accessed 20 Dec. 2024. Bavec, Martina et al. "Ecological Impact of Wheat and Spelt Production under Industrial and Alternative Farming Systems." Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems 27.3 (2012): 242-250. Web. Beluhova-Uzunova, R., & Atanasov, D. (2019). C. Trakia Journal of Sciences, 17(Suppl.1), 530-536. https://doi.org/10.15547/tjs.2019.s.01.084 Bind, R., & Hurter, U. (n.d.). From the Agriculture Course to Sustainable Farming 100 Years of the Biodynamic Movement. Floris Books. BRADSHAW, J. (2024). Biodynamic Farming Handbook: Activating soil fertility for growing healthy food. STEINER BOOKS. Coleman, E. (2018). The new organic grower, 3rd edition: A master's manual of tools and techniques for the home and Market Gardener, 30th anniversary edition (Third). Chelsea Green Publishing. Droogers, P. and Bouma, J. (1996), Biodynamic VS. Conventional Farming Effects on Soil Structure Expressed by Simulated Potential Productivity. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 60: 1552-1558. https://doi.org/10.2136/ssaj1996.03615995006000050038x Guthman, J. (2014). Agrarian dreams: The paradox of organic farming in California. University of California Press. Hansen, A. L. (2010). The organic farming manual: A comprehensive guide to starting and running a Certified Organic Farm. Storey Pub. Hirschfeld, S., & Van Acker, R. (2021). Review: ecosystem services in permaculture systems. Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems, 45(6), 794-816. https://doi.org/10.1080/21683565.2021.1881862 Holmgren, D. (2017). Permaculture: Principles and Pathways Beyond Sustainability. Melliodora. Klocek, D. (2013). Sacred Agriculture: The alchemy of biodynamics. Lindisfarne Books. Krause, HM., Stehle, B., Mayer, J. et al. Biological soil quality and soil organic carbon change in biodynamic, organic, and conventional farming systems after 42 years. Agron. Sustain. Dev. 42, 117 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13593-022-00843-y Krebs, J., & Bach, S. (2018). Permaculture-Scientific Evidence of Principles for the Agroecological Design of Farming Systems. Sustainability, 10(9), 3218. https://doi.org/10.3390/su10093218 Masson, P. (2014). A biodynamic manual: Practical instructions for farmers and Gardeners (Second). Floris Books. Mollison, B. C., & Slay, R. M. (1997). Introduction to Permaculture. Tagari Publications. Mollison, B. (1990). Permaculture: A Practical Guide for a Sustainable Future (First). Island Press. Mondelaers, K., Aertsens, J. and Van Huylenbroeck, G. (2009), "A meta-analysis of the differences in environmental impacts between organic and conventional farming", British Food Journal, Vol. 111 No. 10, pp. 1098-1119. https://doi.org/10.1108/00070700910992925 Nastati, E. (2018). Basic biodynamic agriculture in 9 meetings. Lindisfarne Books. Organic crop production guide. (2020). . Penn State, College of Agricultural Sciences research and extension programs. Pfeiffer, E. (2021). Biodynamic farming and gardening: Renewal and preservation of Soil fertility. Portal Books. Pigott, A. (2021). Hocus pocus? Spirituality and soil care in biodynamic agriculture. Environment and Planning E: Nature and Space, 4(4), 1665-1686. https://doi.org/10.1177/2514848620970924 Pimentel, D., Burgess, M. (2014). An Environmental, Energetic and Economic Comparison of Organic and Conventional Farming Systems. In: Pimentel, D., Peshin, R. (eds) Integrated Pest Management. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-7796-5_6 Rateaver, B. (1993). Organic method primer update: A practical explanation : the how and why for the beginner and the experience (Conservation gardening and farming). The Rateavers. Reganold, John P. "Soil Quality and Profitability of Biodynamic and Conventional Farming Systems: A Review." American Journal of Alternative Agriculture 10.1 (1995): 36-45. Web. Reganold, J., Elliott, L. & Unger, Y. Long-term effects of organic and conventional farming on soil erosion. Nature 330, 370-372 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1038/330370a0 Reiff, J. (2024). Sustainability of Permaculture Farming. Santoni, M., Ferretti, L., Migliorini, P. et al. A review of scientific research on biodynamic agriculture. Org. Agr. 12, 373-396 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13165-022-00394-2. Steiner, R. (1993). Agriculture: Spiritual foundations for the renewal of agriculture (CW 327). Biodynamic Farming & Gardening Association. Steiner, R. (1924). Agriculture GA 327. Lecture. Williamson, R. F., Reay, M., & Sgouridis, F. (2024). Permaculture Management of Arable Soil Increases Soil Microbial Abundance, Nutrients, and Carbon Stocks Compared to Conventional Agriculture. Agronomy, 14(7), 1446. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14071446