Agricultural Ingenuity: Repairing for Generations is an archival practice that captures oral histories and documents the changing environment of my family farm as it has been passed down through generations.
My work explores the resilience, sustainability, and innovation needed to become a farmer. It highlights farmers' adaptability in response to ongoing unpredictable challenges. Rooted in resourcefulness, it promotes the reuse and repurposing of existing systems, equipment, and materials readily available on the farm. This culture thrives on community knowledge, where shared wisdom and collaborative problem-solving strengthen social bonds between neighbouring farmers.
I grew up on 3 different farms. When I was 12 we moved to the farm on which my Great Grandfather, Great Uncle, Grandfather and Father grew up. It was fascinating to see firstly how the farm becomes inhabited as it goes through generations and becomes a continually enriched site for repair. The history of repair is first visible in the tools, the successful ones being retained and the obsolete being replaced by new technology. I think this is also a reflection of the techniques of repair. Farmers are very much of the opinion of not changing something that is working well.
The techniques and tools of repair can evoke a sense of place on a farm but are not tied to that specific location. This became clear to me from seeing my family move from farm to farm. Most people when moving house would aim to clear out items of disregard yet farmers move every part of the farm without throwing anything away. I have been documenting these items looking into the farms’ workshops which contain all sorts of different sized pieces of scrap metal, nuts and bolts, and machinery parts. This stems from the unpredictability of external factors such as weather (fixing a combine during periods of limited sunshine) and breakdowns which means that it is common for farmers to keep objects that most consider of no value. They recognise that these objects could one day prove invaluable for making quick, effective repairs, ensuring that essential work can continue without interruption. For farmers, repair is not just a one-off action done to appear environmentally conscious, it is engrained in their culture.
I have been closely examining the sites of repair scattered across the farm. These sites have no connection in the way they are distributed, however all share the same approach of repair – being crafted from anything that will get the job done. It reflects a ‘make do’ mentality which is what makes the farmers’ approach to repair so unique.
For farmers, repair is not something that can be suddenly learnt, it is something that you learn gradually as you develop experience. It is also not something that can be learnt through books or online. The items that fail can be so vastly different that no one repair is the same. For this reason, the sole method of learning repair as a farmer is through either trial and error or through word of mouth. Farmers frequently exchange knowledge and repair techniques, finding camaraderie in their shared challenges and the demanding nature of the job. This creates a strong community. It is not just this that makes farming repairs so unique.
As an architect I think we can learn a lot from farmers’ approach to repair. We should not redesign things for the sake of the new, instead we should use our scarce resources to maintain what already exists. I think a lot of this stems from our perception of what is broken and our preconceived ideas of what we should do to fix it – often the easiest option is to knock it down and build something new. I want to emphasize that it’s the mindset that needs to change, and much of that can be learned from farmers.
The project emphasises the cultural significance of repair as a narrative of resilience and ingenuity passed down through generations. It highlights how the farm itself becomes a living archive of these practices, with tools, materials, and repair sites embodying the stories of those who used them. This approach to repair reflects a deep respect for history, resourcefulness, and adaptability—values that resonate far beyond farming. By documenting these practices and their broader implications, the project seeks to inspire a renewed appreciation for repair, encouraging a shift in societal attitudes toward sustainability and the preservation of existing resources. The project explores the themes of failure, impossibility, and the unknown by examining the inherent uncertainties and challenges of farming. Farmers operate in a world where failure is inevitable; equipment breaks, weather disrupts plans, and resources often fall short. Yet, these failures are not seen as endpoints but as opportunities for innovation and adaptation. The project explores how farmers confront the impossible - making do with what is available, transforming "worthless" objects into essential tools, and solving unique problems with no predefined solutions. This process embodies a constant engagement with the unknown, as each repair requires creativity, improvisation, and resilience. By documenting these practices, the project highlights how failure becomes a catalyst for ingenuity, offering valuable lessons on embracing uncertainty and fostering sustainability in broader contexts.
The project references a particular case study being Sutton Lodge farm in North Oxfordshire. From this case study I have analysed the various repairs that have happened on the farm, the techniques of these repairs, the location, situation and history behind the repair. The project seeks to inspire a shift in how people perceive broken and repair by visually showcasing the innovative repair practices of farmers. I began by photographing the farm’s repairs, repair sites, and materials, and exploring a photographic archive of my family’s past farms. I then started experimenting with plaster casts of repair joints found on the farm. Initially, I considered welding a sculpture using metal pieces collected from the farm. However, I ultimately decided against this approach, as it conflicted with the core idea I aimed to convey -repurposing and preserving materials for future repairs rather than removing them from their intended practical use. I concluded the final project will consist of a documentary style video displaying an insight into a farmer’s perception of repair, the techniques and tools used, and examples of previous repairs. Accompanying the video will be an archive of tools used on the farm, highlighting both those still in use and others that have become obsolete over time.
