A few weeks ago, I came across a book called the “One Straw Revolution.” Short summary: A farmer in Japan does not till or plow the land, yet his yields per acre are equal if not better to farms that till and plow the land. Additionally, he uses no pesticide or fertilizer.

Assuming the goal of human Farming is to achieve something close to a maximum yield of food per acre: How would a society that treats the land as “whole” and not in need of human interference to achieve maximum yield differ from a society that believes that maximum yield can only be achieved with human intervention? What would change? Would the “no-till/no plow” people understand the idea of power differently? Would they be more or less likely to situate the human “within” the “natural order” or “above” it?

For the purposes of stories from Llyria, this idea of tilled/plowed land vs. untilled/unploughed land will provide the foundation for how cultures are differentiated regarding their attitudes to power. This has been an exciting development for me as far as world-building is concerned. This no-till vs. till farming concept lends itself to other areas where the idea of “power over the land” vs. “no power over the land” can reveal itself.

Fashion & fabric is an easy place to start. Could it be that people who believe in “power over” also wear highly styled clothes or patterned with perfectly geometric details? Do they have cuisine which tends towards unnaturally occurring substances? Do they practice mono-culture? How else has the idea of “power over” crept into their lives?

Similarly, how would a society that does not see itself as “above or over” nature structure itself? Would there be less intervention with the world in general? Would that lack of intervention mean”? Would they have fewer rules? I don’t have the answers to these questions yet. Still, I hope to develop a consistent world based on this fundamental difference. No-till Farming vs. till Farming.

Till vs. No-Till Farming

In the image below, you will see the actual root depth difference between an agricultural root system and a root system that has developed over the years undisturbed. No-Till Farming would have a root system that extends deep into the earth, with each new harvest building on the strength of the previous one. Till Farming has a shallow root system. To plow the land, you need a plow or a till. Typically those break into the earth to depths between 20-40cm. On planet earth, this is not a particularly bad thing; however, in Llyria, it is a terrible idea to break into the soil because of “white weed.”

Till Farming is a symbol for “power over” the land. No-Till Farming is a symbol for “power with” the land.

White Weed:

“White weed” is a slightly poisonous weed that emerges from the soil when the top layer has been broken. There are two ways to kill “white weed.” The first way is labor-intensive and requires that the areas that have sprouted white weed are covered and protected from sunlight and moonlight for weeks and sometimes months. The faster way to kill “white weed” is flooding. The unfortunate side effect of flooding is that the water runoff tends to cause an overgrowth of “Red algae” in water systems. “Red Algae” is not poisonous, but exposure to red algae diminishes one’s ability to dream.

“White Weed” is a permanent layer in the soil, meaning it can never be removed thoroughly. It is present in most Llyrian soils that have regular exposure to moisture. What this means is that the desert areas of Llyria do not have “white weed,” and you may farm there without worrying about “white weed” so long as you can redirect the weather regularly. For this reason, farmers in the Western Valley are highly dependent on a state-run initiative called “The Weather Service.” More details on “The Weather Service” coming up.

Historically attempts to farm into areas where White Weed grows have been disastrous. These disasters led to the abandonment of the “Hearth Valley” project. “Hearth Valley” was a promise made to the people who initially moved into the Midwestern Valley. It failed to materialize. The settlements along the valley borders are littered with remnants and visual reminders of the future that never was.

Base Plants & Farming:

In Llyria, roots from different plants can grow onto the roots of other plants. As far as types of plants go, I think there will be two type of plants (calling one of them “base plants” for now). Base Plants maintain a more extensive network of roots into which other plants attach their roots. These “base plants” only bloom or flower when they have enough other plants embedded in their root system, and the soil surrounding this combination of plants has reached an optimal level of balance. In cultures that Till Farm, plants and crops that need “base plants” to thrive are not grown. Till Farmers get their seeds from specialist seed farms located in the far west, whereas No-Till farmers harvest seeds from the crop grown locally. (note: This is not a story about whether GMO seeds should or should not exist).

The number of “base plants” that flower or bloom determines whether a harvest was successful in cultures that practice No-Till Farming, whereas, in Till Farming cultures, the success of a harvest depends on the overall yield per acre. This maps quite nicely onto “power with” and “power over.”

Continuance vs Initiation:

There are two distinct methods of seeding and planting crops.

The actual method used by the Japanese farmer I mentioned above is as follows:

1- After the seeds & fruit have been removed from the harvested crop, seeds are encased in the earth and left to dry out.
2- The de-fruited, de-seeded crop is then returned to the land from which it came to act as mulch for the next harvest.
3- The vegetative materials that are returned to the land are scattered as randomly as possible; randomness is essential.
4- Once what has scattered has flattened out a bit, seeds in soil cases are sprinkled and left to germinate. No effort is made to force them into the soil.
5- No further work is done to the crop other than to ensure enough ambient moisture and sunlight.
6- Animals are allowed to graze crop fields

In Llyria No-Till, Farmers refer to the process described above as “Continuance.” The general idea is to situate the active duties of the farmer as part of an existing system rather than the creators of a system. There is symbolism in the wrapping of seeds in earth and returning what is left of the harvested material to the land rather than turning it into fertilizer. That some seeds grow into an existing root system also works well with the idea of “continuance.

Till Farmers refer to the seeding process as “Initiation.” Initiation is what we here on earth already experience and looks something like this:

1- The entire crop is removed from the land to be de-seeded or de-fruited.
2- None of what is removed is returned to the land unless it has been processed into fertilizer.
3- Land is re-plowed
4- Land is flooded in areas where there is a threat of white weed
5- Seeds are actively planted at regular intervals
6- The ground is flattened, and significant effort goes into fertilizing and keeping pests at bay
7- Animals are not allowed to graze crop fields

I am using the word “Initiation” because I want to illustrate that Till Farmers see themselves as the prime movers of the cycles of nature upon which they depend. This sits nicely inside the idea that they have “power over” the land and nature and that every crop cycle starts anew.

Back to Power:

Using the differences between No-Till Farming and Till Farming, I think I will be able to get my point (or at least my questions) across and illustrate the different types of power using a subtext that is relevant to everyone in the world: Farming / Food. Could something as simple as how we get our food from the land lead to how we see and situate ourselves in the order of things? Could that ifluence our attitides to power, who gets to use it, and how it gets used? There are probably no answers to these questions. Still, I’m happy that the middle section of the world is starting to develop and that things are starting to hang together nicely.