Towards a Sociology of the Good: Radical Culture and Regenerative Agriculture in Rural North Carolina

• In Event: 30817 - Shaping Agricultural Futures: Land, Labor, and Environmental Challenges

Abstract

This paper advances a “sociology of the good” by examining how first-generation, smallholder farmers in rural North Carolina are redefining what it means to live well through regenerative agriculture. In a landscape marked by the decline of traditional farms and the dominance of large-scale commodity production, these alternative farmers pursue a post-capitalist agrarian ethic that prizes ecological thinking, local orientation, and the pursuit of meaning over profit. Based on qualitative and community-engaged research methods with over 30 first generation farmers in Orange County, the study highlights how cooperative structures and urban market connections support a resilient, yet challenging, rural future. Drawing on interdisciplinary insights—from Raymond Williams’ reflections on radical culture to Amartya Sen’s Capability Approach—this research interrogates the factors that shape both the aspiration to engage in demanding, often barely profitable work and the practical capabilities required to sustain it. By foregrounding the normative visions underlying these livelihood choices, the paper makes the case that regenerative agriculture is not only an economic activity but also a vital social good that offers a counter-narrative to conventional measures of rural decline.

Authors

• Kerilyn Schewel, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

• Lee Miller