Liv på landet: En analyse af opbygning af social kapital i tre multifunktionelle landbrug

The depopulation of rural areas continues, agriculture is in crisis, while the rural communities are far from what they used to be. The need for sustainable solutions – if not a radical transition – is urgent. As we know, crises may also be the beginning of something new and better. In Denmark, like other places in the global north, we are currently experiencing examples of people and movements, who want something else. Who wants a more sustainable life. A more sustainable life in the countryside and a more sustainable way of farming.

The primary aim of this PhD thesis is to explore what difference three different farms can do for their local community, when it comes to rural resilience, social sustainability, and social capital. The secondary aim of this thesis is to gather examples and knowledge of possible pathways towards the green transition and the future of farming. And how theses pathways can strengthen the local communities and the social sustainability.

The idea behind the project is born out of wonder – and sometimes frustration – towards the fact that farming for a long period primarily has been managed, understood, and valued on basis of it ́s economic performance. As if money and growth where the only thing valued. First later – probably within the last 10 years – has there been a serious focus on reducing the environmental impact of agriculture. While the social dynamics of farming have been – and still are – neglected. Hardly not appreciated or seen as something not worth prioritising. Despite that the political and public pressure for more sustainable solutions – also social sustainable solutions – is growing significantly. An important point to mention is, that there are quite some similarities with my critique of the reductionist economic focus in modern farming, and the critique behind the development of new forms of capitals.

The research question is: How do three innovative multifunctional farms generate social capital as part of rural development? The field of research is both the local farm, agriculture in general and the local community in a broader societal perspective.

The empirical data is based on three multifunctional farms, which have been selected due to their differences, their organization and multifunctional approach. The three farms are introduced in chapter three. The three farms are:

Yduns Have (Yduns garden) is a 18-acres small organic farm located on the island of Samsø and owned by a local agricultural-foundation SamsØkoloisk. The primary income at Yduns Have derives from the farm shop, which has a wide range of organic vegetables and eggs from their own production and their CSA (Community Supported Agriculture arrangement)

Fru Møllers Mølleri – (Miss. Millers Millwork) is a large and well-known farm shop located in Bjerager in the eastern part of Jutland. It´s owned by Kim and Bodil since 1994. The farm shop has quite a number of functions e.g.; Bakery, Mill, Restaurant, Slaughterhouse, Ice cream-shop, Free-range animals and Market days. The farm is a conventional farm running 200 acres of land and an industrial pig herd. The farm shop is open to the public Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. The farm and the farm-shop has around 20 fulltime employees and some casual workers.

Nørregården (The North farm) - is a Steiner-inspired biodynamical farm located at the western part of Funen in Ørsbjerg. It´s running 32 acres of agricultural land with cattle, geese and chickens. The farm activity-center is offering jobs for 8-10 intellectually disabled people who run the farm together with a couple of professional farmers. Furthermore the farm is running Bernards Hus, which is group home for seven intellectually disabled people living together. And kindergarten named Høkassen for 14 children between 2 and 6 years. Finally a little road-side stand. The farm was until recently privately owned, but in the autumn of 2020 the foundation Bernard House took over the farm due to financial troubles.

The empirical data consists of the following elements: Ethnographic field observations 3 times 2-4 days on each farm. 21 semi-structured interviews. Six interviews with owners, tenants, leaders and employees and 16 interviews with locals from the neighbourhood. The Facebook-sites of the three farms are included in the data-material, due to an overall understanding of their multifunctional activities, network, and objectives. The methods have been case-studies, ethnographical field-observations, interviews and a hermeneutic document analysis.

The primary theory for the social capital theoretical analysis have been theory of social capital, where Bourdieus Forms of capital from 1986 and Colemans Foundation of social theory from 1994 have been the primary sources. While Putnams Bowling Alone from 2000 and Herreros The problem of forming social capital from 2004 have been included when they contribute with further perspectives. Several other relevant social capital sources have also been included to give a deeper and a wider perspective of social capital and its history. Besides this, another 13 articles with a specific focus on social capital, rural development,
and/or farming have been introduced in a litterature review in chapter four. Especially the book: The creation and destruction of social capital from 2004 by Svendsen and Svendsen has been important to my research. The same goes for Wiesingers article: “The importance of social capital in rural development, networking and decision-making in rural areas” and Monnlor i Rico og Fullers article: Newcomers to farming toward a new rurality.

Due to a deeper understanding of multifunctional farming and the role of farming in rural development – and in the society as a whole, a short presentation of theories of multifunctional farming and principles of agro-ecology is introduced in chapter five. These theories and principles are included to give a theoretical understanding of the field of agriculture and the growing demand for new green pathways. While the theories of multifunctional farming and agro-ecology also will serve as a kind of theoretical anchor for the social capital-analysis in the field of agriculture. Especially the article “Multifunctional quality and rural community resilience” by Geoff Wilson has been important for a deep understanding of multifunctional farming and its potentials. The quality of that article is, that it’s presenting a link between Bourdieus capital-theory and multifuntional farming a link which has been quite important for the understanding of
the deeper ontological perspectives of multifunctional farming in general and for this project in particular. The Book “Agroecology the ecology of sustainable food systems” from 2015 by Stephen Gliessman is introducing agro-ecology as a possible pathway towards a new food system. The important argument is that Gliessman is arguing for a stronger connection between farmers and consumers and the society as a whole. A connection that can only be reached if the social and local level of farming will have a higher priority. An argument which is quite important to this project.

The primary analysis of the three farms are presented by case. The purpose of the analysis is to explore – if and how the three farms are creating social capital in their everyday praxis. Chapter 10 will provide a cross-sectional analysis including all three farms – and perspectives of multifunctional farming, transition and agro-ecology to give the social capital theoretical analysis perspectives towards the future of the rural areas and the future of farming.

The overall conclusion of the project is that the three multifunction farms are creating social capital in their local community. Especially Yduns Garden and Miss Millers Millwork are building and maintaining the local social capital around their farms. While Nørregården mainly is creating social capital among friends within the circles of the Steiner-Community.

In addition, all three multifunctional farms are excellent examples of how to bring new “life” – new functions and new jobs into the rural areas. Another interesting point is that most people visiting the farms, such as friends, neighbours and customer “love” these farms, and they are asking for more. More opening hours, more products, more social arrangements, and more obvious reasons to come and be a part of the farms. But unfortunately, the farmers are already too busy.