Rooting Occupation in Nature and Community: The Lived Experience of Community Based Ecological Farmers

Abstract

A phenomenological study was undertaken to explore the lived experience of community based farmers using ecological farming practices. These farmers support and are supported by their local communities through marketing their products directly to eaters and use farming practices that mimic and seek to enhance the vitality of natural systems and cycles on their farms. Farmers’ experiences are characterised by hard work for little pay, engaging the fullness of human capacity, living in harmony, spirituality, and a socio-political awareness of food and farms in society. Farmers’ experiences contribute to the development of concepts of doing, being, belonging and becoming, and have implications for concepts of occupational justice and occupational ecology. Further study of other forms of occupation that promote engagement in dialogue with the natural world is encouraged in order to develop these concepts and help to integrate theories of justice, ecology, and occupation.