Rediscovering Agriculture: Implementing Methods of Traditional Farming in the Face of Environmental Crisis

Abstract

Abstract Background: Traditional farming methods sustained Indigenous communities for thousands of years prior to European contact. In the centuries following European colonialism and introduction to capitalism, the quest for better yield and higher profits has caused considerable environmental detriment through the use of nitrogen rich fertilizers, chemical pesticides and loss of biodiversity. Objective: The objective of this capstone is to explore how methods of Indigenous agriculture can be implemented today to create small-scale, sustainable farms in the face of climate catastrophe. Design and Method: Research for this capstone is collected mostly from scholarly articles regarding traditional Native American farming techniques, the introduction of capitalism in the wake of European contact, and how those events have led to the rise of big agriculture and our current environmental situation. Journal articles are underpinned by first hand accounts from a Shinnecock Powwow. The research questions are as follows: How did Traditional methods differ from Old World Cultivation Practices? How did European contact, specifically capitalism, influence Native methods? How can we implement traditional and hybrid techniques on small scale, sustainable farms today? Results: This research is significant as we are at the precipice of an environmental crisis. We must address our food systems and methods of cultivation; seeing as, the agribusiness model is proving unsustainable for both farmers and our planet. Conclusions: The shift towards a completely harmonious agriculture industry must come from wide-scale, systematic changes to our relationships with our food and planet. While it will take time to dismantle the ingrained power structures inherent to capitalism, some methods such as communal, no till, and three sister farming are simpler ways we can shift the agriculture industry to create a more sustainable food system. Key Words: agribusiness, European contact, sustainable farming, traditional agriculture