人草共生的田園—有機農業中農人與自然相互順應的動態過程

Abstract

本研究企圖探索有機農業中農人與自然的關係。相對於工業化農業，有機農業強調不使用化學肥料、農藥等「順應自然」的耕作方式，但作為農業生產，卻始終逃脫不了「生存即殺戮」的殘酷現實，無法單純地「順應自然」而必須對生態環境進行干擾。那麼，在強調生態保育的田園中，有機農人與自然的關係為何？「人草共生」的田園景觀何以形成？ 本研究橫跨生態學與農業的觀點，將農人與自然分別視為兩個主體進行研究。經由十五組有機農人及田園的深入調查訪談，本研究提出：在有機田園中，農人並非單純的「順應自然」，而是與自然形成「相互順應」的關係，且持續不斷進行成為一個「動態過程」。農人因為各種因素放下農藥，同時也啟動了田園中的「生態演替」，使自然不再被動地受人操控，而主動地影響田園耕作；以雜草�蟲鳥大軍為首的「自然突圍」，促使農人仔細評估權衡經濟損失與空間平衡，進而採取「預防」、「肉搏」、「智取」、「放任」等各種耕作實踐策略；不僅如此，農人在田園之外的生產與生活，也會受到「順應自然」的影響。而在歷經長時間與自然親密相處與交手之後，農人逐漸摸索出自然運行的道理，開始建構「健全農業生態系統」，自然也得以「順應」而成為農人的「耕作伙伴」，達到穩定平衡狀態。每位農人更因循不同的地理條件、作物種類、經營方式與耕作理念等，舞出屬於自己的「耕作節奏」，創造多樣化的「人草共生」景觀。 我們也發現，有機農人與自然相互順應的動態過程，足以說明農人自然概念的轉型：自然如何從客體的生產資料，轉變為主體的共同工作伙伴。因此，有機農業不僅作為回應生態危機與健康威脅的農業反動，更隱含「土地倫理」的具體實踐，成為人與自然關係的新展望。

This research is aimed at the human-nature relationship in organic farming. Compared to industrial agriculture, organic farming and other sustainable farming practices have been thought as “following nature”. However, as a means of agriculture, farmers have to disturb ecological succession in order to make production. This means that there’s something other than “following nature” that happens in a weedy organic farm. We suggest a new perspective in this research, which views nature and farmer as mutually–subjective. Nature acts on ecological rationale and farmer acts on agriculture production. In this way, it is actually an ongoing co-adaptation of farmer and nature that happens in organic farming. The reduction of chemical use not only released farmer from poison, but also activated “ecological succession”. Nature is no longer passive, but an active manipulator in organic production. Wild plants, birds and insects invade the farm outrageously, which force the farmer to take actions such as “prevention”, “wrestle”, “stratagem” and “abandonment”. Aside from farming practices, farmer’s marketing and lifestyles are also adapted to nature. As the intimate interplay of farmer and nature goes on, farmer gets to know nature better and builds an agroecological system. Nature is also adapted to farming practices and then becomes a partner of farming. Each association of farmer and nature evolves into a particular farming rhythm, which creates diversified organic farming landscapes. We also conclude that farmers’ concept of nature is transformed through the co-adaptation process. In organic farmers’ eyes, nature has changed from an objective production material to a subjective farming co-worker. Therefore, organic farming is not merely a movement against crises of human health and environment, but also a realizable practice of Aldo Leopold’s “land ethic”. This stands for a post-modern human-nature relationship.