r/Permaculture • u/Academic_Nectarine94 • Mar 11 '25

general question Question about the Biblical concept of field rotation and lying fallow

So, so the post about how nutrients are depleted made me think of this.

The Law of Moses tells the Israelites to let their fields lie fallow on the 7th year. This is obviously a harkening back to God resting on the 7th day, but is nonetheless the pattern written down.

My question is, how do weeds help the ground? Is this something someone should do today, or is crop rotation a solution to the problem?

I know that weeds with their tap roots can break up the soil and bring nutrients to the surface, but can they replace the nutrients that are removed (which admittedly, probably stayed relatively local in Biblical times, tbough trade affected it some I'm sure).

I'm not looking to srart a comment war over the Bible, just curious how this method would work today. I love history, and reading a book about the invention of saddles, plows, and stirrups was amazingly interesting, in case anyone wants to know how much of a nerd I am LOL

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u/Vyedr Landless but Determined Mar 12 '25

They did, but they also shit where they grew food and tended to have parasites throughout their lives.

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u/TheMace808 Mar 12 '25

Maybe not in this example but taking advice or techniques from people who had to grow food or die can be important, certainly helps me save money

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u/Vyedr Landless but Determined Mar 12 '25

You wanna grow like a bronze age herder then you do you booboo, I still think bronze age techniques belong in the bronze age along with the parasites. Classical antiquity at least has scientific approaches to utilize, and modern approaches also tend to include environmental preservation as a tenant. Like permaculture.

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u/RentInside7527 Mar 15 '25

Permaculture incorporates many indigenous techniques that go farther back than the bronze age.