Agrarianism Essay

The Orcs of Middle Earth trampled through the forest leaving a visible path of broken branches. In another part of Middle Earth, Ents spent their time slowly and thoughtfully making decisions. The land culture of the Ents in The Lord of the Rings differs greatly from the Orcs, thus, providing readers a view of Tolkien’s perspectives of agrarianism and current culture. An Orc’s nature is just to follow the orders of their leader and that is all. It is not as much that Orcs don’t like the nature, but that they are unaware of it and it’s importance. Ent’s are known to do everything slowly, from decision making, to talking. These relationships to land correlate to modern views of the land. Wendell Berry is a writer and farmer, who is a leader

Davis writes that she believes the mindset of the Hebrew Scriptures is Agrarian. Only the first chapter of Genesis, contradicts her opinion. She defines agrarianism as humanity being the land’s servent and caring for the environment without compromising the existing inhibitors (43). Dikerson and Evans define Agraririanism and feraculture differently. Feraculture is the idea of conservation and preservation of the wilderness, while Agrarianism is the sustainable cultivation of land (133).

The two cultural extremes are the feraculture of Ents, and the Orcs, who have little to no relation to the land. Tolkien also uses Hobbits and Elves as other examples of agrarianism. Hobbits use agriculture to provide food for themselves, while Elves use horticulture for aesthetic beauty. Will Alan incorporates a combination of these agrarianist cultures.

Will Allen started an urban farm in the city to bring fresh food to people in the cities who were living in food desert, meaning they didn’t have access to healthy affordable food. He also employed youth from the city, providing them with a job in a safe environment (Allen, 7). Will Allan deeply cared about the land. He made business decisions based on what impacts the earth the least, and sustainability. In that way, he was similar to Tolkien’s Elves and

He is not only a farmer, but also a writer. He writes about the differences between industrialism and agrarianism. He states these two types of societies are “two nearly opposite concepts of agriculture and land use, but also two nearly opposite ways of understanding ourselves, our fellow creatures, and our world.” He highlights that agrarianism is about the land, plants, and the rest of nature. Industrialism is about high technology machines and increasing profit. He compares industrialism to mining, saying that when used, it only abuses the land (Berry). For Berry, and other agrarianists, farming is so much more than planting and harvesting as quickly as possible. Old traditions are used, and the hard work that is put into the crop, is done so with love. Agrarian societies practice subsistence agriculture, meaning they grow just enough food to support their families. This culture’s practices are done with the goal of being completely