Well, as cool as technological
advancements in the agricultural world are, from time to time it is pretty breathtaking
to see generation-old wisdom positively implemented. After a bushfire swept
through his land in South Australia, farmer Brian Fischer came up with an innovative
solution to combat soil erosion, converting his land into a huge geometric
patchwork. Therefore, he reports that the idea for his rare method that is now
saving him valuable topsoil has been passed down for generations in his family,
from as far back as 1944, however the origins of the method before his family
learned about it are unknown.
Moreover Fischer’s intricate web
sits in a field at Ashmore White Suffolk Stud, just north of Adelaide Australia.
Thus the hypnotic design may look like crop art but is really the farmer’s
inventive response to the conservation of his soil. Hence with much of the
area's vegetation wiped out in the fires, Fischer’s fields were unprotected and
susceptible to soil erosion from gusting winds. These simple geometric furrows
are just high enough to avoid further harm and erosion.
Furthermore the clever ridges
took several days for Fischer to plow into his fields; though they’re now
saving him 15cm of topsoil and enticing attention from local press. The inventive
farmer also acted as his own photographer, capturing these shots from his son’s
airplane and displaying that art and agriculture can sometimes go hand in hand.