Re: gleaning

**D* J* <d*@edibleforestgardens.com>**

Miranda et al, 

I've been lurking on this list for a while and appreciate most of the posts.
Thanks all!  Time for me to offer a tidbit, I guess.

Miranda said: 
> Instituting that much control over gleaners is really hard. For one thing,
> even if you explain that you are protecting the lives of the small little
> beings that live in the soil and help the plants grow, non-farming people
> generally have a hard time grasping the concept. (I've had more success by
> explaining that I am quite nuts and this is one of the ways in which it
> shows....) 

And this dynamic is the source of many myths and taboos, I am sure!  In his
classic book "Cows, Pigs, Wars, and Witches: The Riddles of Culture" Marvin
Harris explains how many of the myths of various cultures have an ecological
basis: sacred cows in India might be sacred because they had a higher
benefit to the ecosystem and culture alive than as a source of meat; many
halal and kosher restrictions relate to various diseases common to the
various regions of the Middle East at the time; etc.  A very interesting
read!  I've also noticed that Feng Shui and the Indian subcontinent's analog
have diametrically opposed recommendations for the best location of the
front door of a house that they say are based in universal sacred geometry
or mysterious subtle energies, but make sense put into their climatic
context.  

Logic and deep systems understanding do not cut it with many people, but
boogie men and monsters strike fear into the heart so people remember them
and comply.

Oh well.  Does this mean our work as garden writers is in vain?  Of course
not.  But it is a reality we must consider.

Blessings to all!

Dave
-------------
Dave Jacke
Dynamics Ecological Design
308 Main Street #2C, Greenfield, MA 01301
603-831-1298 ? davej@edibleforestgardens.com

Edible Forest Gardens is a winner!  The Garden Writer's Association has
awarded Volume 1 of my book a Silver Medal, and the Council of Botanical and
Horticultural Libraries nominated both volumes for its Literary Award, too!
Find details on the books at

<http://www.edibleforestgardens.com/
-------------------

The human species 
is psychosocially highly underdeveloped, 
and paradoxically 
this is our greatest reason for hope.
       Stuart Hill

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