Indigenous cultures it seems weren’t so much hunter gatherers, as they’re often depicted, but were more cultivators of vast areas who worked in harmony with their surroundings to create sufficient food for themselves and for other, non-human species. Mother Nature’s bounty was not just for the benefit of humankind, it was to be shared amongst all of creation, each taking only what they needed; then offerings were made in return, in reciprocity, to replenish Her, give gratitude for Her generosity and request the ongoing success of the mutually beneficial relationship. This approach successfully lasted for thousands of years. I learned this from Lyla June Johnston who recently completed her PhD on indigenous cultures and their food systems, admittedly, her focus was on the first peoples of America rather than here in the UK, but she said that there were numerous parallels to be drawn with all other indigenous cultures, including European, who potentially behaved in similar ways to the native Americans.

I was lucky enough to be asked to sit on a discussion panel this week at the Oxford Real Farming Conference with Lyla June and others, as her experience is theoretical and research based, I was asked to speak about how I am applying similar principles in the way I manage the land here on the farm and whether there were any parallels that could be drawn to the indigenous principles found by Lyla June. It really got me thinking about my approach in a different light, one that shines on a perspective of several millennia and seen from here, I feel as though a blindfold has been removed and I can see that we have all been hoodwinked, by those we thought we could trust.

For one, the answer to land management has to be organic; the fact that adding chemicals to the land, be it to encourage plant growth or to kill off other, unwanted plants, fungi or insects, is such a new phenomenon that of course it would have consequences that the majority of people could not foresee when they were brought into common use; When considering the fact that these chemicals began from the toxic concoction developed for the gas chambers of the nazi concentration camps, it is no wonder that applying them to our land and food is a really bad idea. We were all sold the lie that they did no harm and we believed them.
Softly listening to the needs of the landscape, the rivers, the soil, the wildlife and the weather. Adapting to meet the needs of all and working towards the benefit of the collective whole by recreating various habitats to encourage more species to coexist alongside the food being produced for humans must too make sense. Humans are merely part of an ecosystem, not the only important species, so to encourage the expansion of wildlife areas and then corridors to connect habitat across a landscape so creatures can safely move, breed and spread seems critical for everyone’s survival.

The land here is old. The wisdom held within is there to be heard if we can only remove the distractions that prevent us from listening. Slow down and just be, relax and trust in the subtle perceptions that are all around. The murmurings are everywhere and getting louder all the time. Those of us who can hear them are gathering in ever larger numbers, creating tiny ripples of change in ourselves and our immediate surroundings. Look across the landscape with a soft gaze and you can see those ripples expanding and strengthening in their wake. Everyone is welcome to join as we head towards a shift in paradigm. A remembering of indigenous wisdom but with a modern twist; a necessity to reimagine and rekindle our relationship with the natural world whilst sloughing off that which no longer serves us, in order to redress the balance that’s been lost as we got caught up in the lie that it was the individual that was important and that humans were the all important master.

I for one, was once fooled, but I am glad I awoke and can perceive a deeper truth. The shift must come from within yourself; none of us can change other people but we can change ourselves. If we each take a step in the right direction towards where it is we wish to head and trusting our inner wisdom, then we will gather in sufficient numbers, in a place teeming with life and with sufficient food for us all that it will be an abundant landscape like the one inhabited by our indigenous ancestors. They knew more than we thought and it is time now that we too remember.