Wendell Berry's Farmer

In this article I take as my starting point the call to explore ways of' relating to nature through a discussion of the poet and farmer Wendell Beny's idea r~f' community. Exploring the ethics of ecological community, l suggest that they parallel the Emersonian conception of self reliance. f proceed with an explication of some of the relationships that exist within Berry's community with nature, examining attitudes to both wild nature and to the soil. The living out of' these relationships is intended to invoke in Berry's self-reliant individual the requisite se(f restrain.I to assure the community's sustainable existence. l observe that the level of selFrestraim demanded hy acquiescence to the harsh ecological strictures of nature can be moderated by mankind's introduction of' cultural tools into the landscape. However, my reading of' Berry's community with nature is that his vision is supported exclusivefy by examples taken ji-0111 the fanning landscape which he knows best. l conclude that more development is needed on the vital question r~f' how his com1111mity relates tu the utilization (~f'tech11ology, and to question !he relevance of this vision of' man in the landscape to an 01,erwhelmingly urban society

Archaeology · Berry · Biology · Geography · Natural (archaeology · American Environmental and Regional History · Horticulture

• Changes in the Land

  William Cronon•Changes in the Land•2003

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