This post is a challenge to dogma. The presence of dogma in our thinking blocks us from being open to new possibilities and new ideas.
It is easy to observe dogma in other people’s positions.
It is common to hear emphatic declarations that a certain practice or management technique is imperative to a healthy agriculture ecosystem.
There is no ‘rule’ of ecological agriculture that has not been successfully broken by someone, somewhere.
Examples:
- Biodynamics can only be practiced with these prescribed steps and in no other way.
- Tillage is universally a negative tool and always has a negative impact.
- Ionic salt fertilizers always have a negative impact on soil biology.
You can think of others you have heard or observed.
Very often, in agriculture systems, there is more than one right way to do something and a multitude of wrong ways.
The greatest obstacle to discovery is not ignorance – it is the illusion of knowledge. ~ Daniel J Boorstin
Read books and study nature. When the two don’t agree, throw out the books. ~ William Albrecht
It is not what you don’t know that is dangerous. It is what you think you know that isn’t so.
What dogmatic positions have you observed? (besides tractor color)