In the grand narrative of village ecological development, the elderly are like a silent yet solid treasure trove of wisdom. They carry the traditional ecological wisdom accumulated over the years, and this wisdom shines like brilliant stars in the night sky of village ecological inheritance, with a unique and indispensable light.
Lin Yue deeply understands the value of the elderly, and she began organizing a series of activities aimed at uncovering and documenting their traditional ecological wisdom. At the village's senior activity center, a warm and meaningful forum unfolded. Sunlight streamed through the windows, illuminating the wrinkled yet radiant faces of the elderly. Lin Yue sat among them, her eyes filled with respect and expectation, and softly said, "Grandpas and Grandmas, you have lived on this land your entire lives, possessing countless experiences and wisdom in coexisting with nature. These are invaluable to the ecological development of our village. Today, please speak freely and share your precious memories and knowledge."
Grandpa Li, with his gray hair, was the first to speak. He reminisced about his farming days in his youth, saying, "Back then, farming wasn't like it is now with so many pesticides and fertilizers. We planned our farming activities by observing the weather and the seasons. Take sowing, for example. We had to wait until the spring thunder had sounded and the soil was soft before planting the seeds, so that they could take deep root and grow strong. Also, we would plant some flowers and grasses along the edge of the field to attract the natural enemies of pests, like ladybugs and lacewings. This way, we didn't need to use so many pesticides, and the grains we grew were safe to eat." Grandma Zhang, standing nearby, nodded in agreement. She continued, "And, in the past, we raised livestock, and their manure was a treasure. We would pile up the manure to ferment it into organic fertilizer, which we would then spread in the fields, making the crops grow lush and green." Lin Yue listened attentively, occasionally taking notes in her notebook. She knew that these traditional farming experiences contained profound principles of ecological balance. According to research by agricultural experts, traditional ecological farming methods can reduce soil erosion by about 30%, increase soil fertility by more than 20%, and promote the development of farmland biodiversity.
The elders also possess unique wisdom in protecting mountain forest resources. Grandpa Wang slowly explained, “In the past, we had strict rules when we went into the mountains to cut firewood. We only cut dry branches, never cutting indiscriminately. Moreover, every year we would plant some saplings in the forest, caring for them meticulously like raising children. Back then, the forests were very lush, teeming with all sorts of birds and wild animals.” Grandpa Zhao added, “We would also set up simple traps in the forest, not to kill wild animals, but to catch wild rabbits and wild boars that damaged the forest, and then move them to other places. This way, we could protect the forest vegetation from overgrazing.” These traditional methods of forest protection, though simple, were very effective, allowing the forests surrounding the village to remain lush and verdant for a long time.
Besides farming and forest conservation, the elderly also have rich experience in water resource utilization. Grandma Liu recalled, “Before, there was no running water in the village, and everyone relied on well water. We would dig a large water tank in the yard to collect rainwater for washing vegetables and clothes. We wouldn't waste the water from washing vegetables; we used it to water the flowers and vegetables. Moreover, we protected the village streams very well, never throwing garbage into them. The water in the streams was so clear you could see the bottom, and fish swam around in them.” This traditional method of water resource recycling reflects the wisdom of the elderly in cherishing and efficiently utilizing water resources.
However, in the process of inheritance, some conflicts and integrations arose between the elderly and modern technology. For example, many elderly people initially found it difficult to accept the promotion of new agricultural equipment. The village introduced a batch of new seeders and irrigation equipment, which could improve planting efficiency and water resource utilization. But the elderly were used to traditional manual sowing and manual water carrying for irrigation, and had doubts about these "iron machines." Grandpa Li frowned and said, "Can this thing do as well as we do it ourselves? Don't worry about damaging the land." Faced with this situation, Lin Yue organized several on-site demonstrations, inviting the elderly to personally watch the operation of the new equipment, and having technicians explain the working principles and advantages of the equipment in detail. After a period of observation and understanding, the elderly gradually changed their minds. After seeing the seeder sowing seeds evenly and efficiently, Grandpa Li couldn't help but nod in praise: "This thing is really good, much faster than us doing it by hand, and it sows the seeds evenly."
There are also many stories regarding the coordination between traditional ecological knowledge and modern monitoring data. After environmental monitoring equipment was introduced to the village, the data sometimes differed from the traditional experience and judgments of the elderly. For example, the monitoring equipment showed that the soil fertility data for a certain plot of farmland was low, but the elders, based on their years of farming experience, felt that the land had always yielded good harvests. Therefore, Lin Yue invited agricultural experts to discuss the issue with the elders. Through further analysis of soil samples, the experts discovered that the traditional farming methods had resulted in a special balance of certain trace elements in the soil, even if their content was low, still sufficient to meet the needs of crop growth. This made the elders realize that modern monitoring data can provide more accurate information, while traditional experience also has its irreplaceable value, and the two can complement each other.
Lin Yue's work in organizing activities for the elderly and passing on cultural traditions was not without its challenges. Initially, some seniors were not very enthusiastic, feeling that it was something for younger people and that they were too old to bother. Lin Yue visited each household, patiently explaining to the elderly the importance of passing on ecological wisdom. She said to Grandpa Wang, "Grandpa, it would be such a pity if you didn't pass on the experience you've accumulated throughout your life to your children. This is a treasure of our village; it can save them from many detours." At the same time, Lin Yue also prepared small gifts for the participating seniors, such as warm gloves and comfortable cloth shoes, as a token of her appreciation. Gradually, the seniors were moved by Lin Yue's sincerity, and more and more people participated.
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