Here’s a link to Childrens Health Defense Network on a study about small farmers being the ones to supply the food in lieu of big agriculture. Being able to feed the people is important and what is more gratifying is the relationship that is built up between the spirits of place, spirits of the garden, spirits of the plants and the person doing the caretaking.
I was recently living in San Diego where the spirits of place are really not interested in the actions of the people, in fact they are pretty angry and disinterested in interaction. Even after years of working with my garden and plants the spirits there were still not forthcoming.
Contrasting that with being in San Lorenzo Cacaotepec, Oaxaca, I have space to garden. Getting all excited about the things I could do, I was making plans and deciding plants. When working with the spirit of the garden here, she came right out to work with me, telling me what she wanted and where. It is so refreshing being here with the spirits so willing to be in partnership with what we are doing.