Subject: Re: generalizations
From: garlicgr@pond.com (The Tetrad)
Organization: St. John's Organic Community Garden, Mont Clare, PA
Date: Tue, 23 Sep 97 16:17:40 GMT
Message-ID: <MOD$970923.19752@rec.gardens.ecosystems>
References: <MOD$970922.22377@rec.gardens.ecosystems> <MOD$970922.26760@rec.gardens.ecosystems>
William D Hulet wrote:
> I wonder about the structure of this debate. Is gardening a
>cultural or a scientific enterprise? If it is cultural, then shouldn't we
>be discussing values, rules of thumb, and, ways of envisioning the world?
>If it is a science, then we should be arguing about details and evidence.
I think that gardening is *both* a cultural and a scientific enterprise. For
instance, many people begin heirloom seed saving for cultural reasons -- they
don't want a favorite veggie that's part of their heritage to die out.
However, a basic knowledge of genetics makes planning the garden so that those
seeds *will* be the heirloom desired a whole lot easier!
Surely this newsgroup is big enough for both discussions!
> If I wanted to discuss the relative toxicity of one poison versus
>another I think that I'd go to another conference. Here I want to learn
>how people have found out to sidestep the whole problem.
I mostly agree with you here. . .
> I am not a
>scientist and I don't think that science will have very much to do with
>any solutions to either problems in my garden or problems in my world.
Well, while I am no longer a paid botanist, I truly believe that my scientific
training has helped me "separate the wheat from the chaff" as if were, when it
comes to solving problems both in my garden and in my world. Science isn't the
*only* answer, but it does teach a rational approach to problems. Not all of
us nasty scientists study or peddle poisons (literally and figuratively! ;-)
Dinara, the garlic grower
Sustainable agriculture takes root with your support! <*>