Mahi Patil - The Biggest Little Farm

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San Jose State University *

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185

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Anthropology

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Feb 20, 2024

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The Biggest Little Farm Questions Part 1: The Start of the Journey Motivations and Challenges 1. What specific events or circumstances led John and Molly Chester to embark on the journey of starting their farm? After confronting challenges in the city with their dog Todd, John and Molly Chester set out to set up Apricot Lane Farms. They attempted to build a farm that was in sync with the environment to find a spot where they could give Todd a better life. 2. Describe some of the initial challenges the Chesters faced when they first acquired the land for their farm. How did they address these challenges? They couldn’t really make their vision of growing all of their own vegetables work at first, but then they saw an animal hoarder and brought their own dog home named Todd, which filled them with purpose. But their dog would bark all day if they left the home, which was bothersome to the neighbors. They were then called for an eviction notice, which still wouldn’t stop Todd’s barking. Their plan for a farm was way outside of the norm, since they wanted to have a small-scale, “grow-it-all” kind of farm. Their soil was dead, but they ended up fixing over five miles of irrigation. Vision for the Farm 3. What was the Chesters' vision for their farm, and what principles guided their approach to farming? Molly wanted to grow everything she could cook with, like a traditional farm from the past. The Chesters aspired for their farm to be a regenerative, sustainable environment that worked with the natural world. To draw attention to the interdependence of the entire ecosystem, they endeavored to raise a wide variety of crops and cattle. One of the group's underlying concepts was to base their agricultural operations on those encountered in nature . 4. How did they plan to create a balanced ecosystem that supported both agricultural production and biodiversity? Planted lots of new trees, made a new chicken coop, decreased runoff, diversified their crops and animals for better output

The Chesters were interested in repairing the soil through the inclusion of a variety of crops, animals, and vegetation covers to build up a balanced ecosystem. Their objective was to establish a self-sustaining and self-regulating system in which each component enhanced the farm's overall welfare. Their mentor, Alan York, taught them to embrace variation and complexity in order to achieve ongoing simplicity. Part 2: Adapting to Challenges Facing Obstacles 5. Choose one significant obstacle encountered by the Chesters during their farming journey. Describe the obstacle and explain how the Chesters attempted to overcome it. Emma, their pig, had a large fever and they have to call the liverpool hospital to find an answer to how to get her to feel better. They tried taking her babies away to fix the fever and to relive her of some stress. When they eventually got her fever down, she refused to eat, so much that f she didn’t receive any nutrition soon she’d pass away. One of her baby’s intestines grew out of the body so they had to put the baby down, which was sorrowful. She ate her food finally and regrew her health to a normal state, so the emergency was over and she was safe again. 6. How did the Chesters' understanding of their land and ecosystem evolve as they encountered and addressed challenges? The Chesters confronted obstacles such as the invasion of snails, which caused their perspective of the land to change. They discovered how to watch and adjust, using ducks' instinctive behavior as a means of managing pests. Their growing comprehension emphasized how crucial it is that humans engage with nature rather than fight it. Learning and Growth 7. Reflect on the lessons the Chesters learned from their experiences on the farm. How did these lessons shape their approach to farming and stewardship of the land? Seeing animals that’ll one day become food makes them naturally develop a bond, something they couldn’t even get themselves to fully process. 8. In what ways did the Chesters adapt their farming practices in response to feedback from their environment and the ecosystem? The Chesters improved their agricultural methods by adopting a more inventive and perceptive mentality. As opposed to forcing answers, they let nature lead them to inventive solutions, like deploying ducks for controlling fly numbers and hens to control snail numbers. Part 3: Ecological Relationships on the Farm Symbiotic Relationships

9. Identify specific examples of symbiotic relationships between different organisms on the farm. How do these relationships contribute to the farm's overall health and productivity? Ducks and chickens work together to manage snail numbers and fly populations, while cover crops are used to replenish the soil on farms. These relationships support soil fertility, control of pests, and basic ecological balance, all of which enhance the health of the farm. 10. Discuss the interconnectedness of plants, animals, and microorganisms in the farm ecosystem, as depicted in the documentary. The documentary emphasizes how every element of the agricultural ecosystem—plants, animals, and microorganisms—is interrelated, with each one sustaining the others. The Chesters place an immense value on watching and collaborating with the natural procedures that contribute to a regenerative and self-sustaining farm. Biodiversity and Resilience 11. How does the presence of diverse plant and animal species contribute to the resilience of the farm ecosystem? Several species of animals and plants help the farm the environment remain resilient by fostering a self-regulating, balanced environment. A variety of species reduces the farm's sensitivity to outside threats by improving biodiversity, enhancing soil health, and managing pests. 12. What strategies do the Chesters employ to promote biodiversity and ecological balance on their farm? The Chesters use tactics including alternating putting down roots, cover crops, and livestock incorporation to help maintain ecological balance and biodiversity. These approaches strive to replicate natural ecosystems and build a farm based on the ideals of abundance and interconnection.

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Mahi Patil - The Biggest Little Farm

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