Soil, Sense, and Sensibility Across Time and Cultures: Insights From Illich, Berry, Gandhi, and Tagore

• In Event: The Land and the Local: Illich, Gandhi, and Other Friends

Abstract

Soil grows sense and sensibility.
Common sense grows in commoners’ commons because, living down-to-earth, they are privileged to learn from having dirt in their fingers. This dirt joins them to their places and to each other more easily.
Illich, Gandhi, Berry and Tagore, despite their credentials, kept their feet and hands close to soil. Their philosophies of education reflect that closeness to soil beneath their feet.
Their philosophies of education reflect their wisdom on soil; creating green, good food pathways out of cinderblocks to soils that are being discovered even in the rooftops and dead centers of our megapolises.

Authors

• Kristin Dillman Jones, Concordia University - Chicago

• Dana L. Stuchul, The Pennsylvania State University

• Madhu Suri Suri Prakash, The Pennsylvania State University

• Dilafruz R. Williams, Portland State University