Farming without fossil fuel

Two horse land C Reading University

Three horse land C Reading University

For a very long time I have wanted to work the land using as little fossil fuel as possible. Why? Modern farming only works because we have a plentiful supply of gas and oil but, what would happen if this was turned off? Let’s say Russia decided to turn the gas off or one, possibly more, of the  major oil producing countries suffered civil war. Starvation! Because we could not adapt our modern farming system to a biomechanical system let alone nurture the crops with inorganic fertiliser and pesticides (which incidentally use a lot more fossil fuel than you’d think); and I guess that the majority of people would not like to work in all weathers- cold, wet, muddy and for long hours. Less than a hundred years ago most of the UK’s food was produced by blood, sweat, tears and hard labour using both men and horse power (excepting the new fangled tractor engines run on coal). There is an awful lot of information on the web about fossil fuel use and farming, below is one such article plus some added photos to break up the text.

Hard physical work

Hard physical work

“Implications of Fossil Fuel Dependence for the Food System



Two horse land

Two horse land




The combine harvester!

The combine harvester!


Natural materials almost fossil free

Natural materials- almost fossil free


Bio-degradable packaging

Biodegradable packaging


Fossil Fuel Dependence



What! you can use straw for a roof!!!!!

What? You can use straw for a roof?!!!!!



Biomechanical power

Biomechanical power






Ok so we used some petrol to lay the hedge!

Ok, so we used some petrol to lay the hedge!

Fossil Fuel Depletion


Harvesting the wheat the hard way but no fossil fuel used

Harvesting the wheat the hard way… but no fossil fuel used






Making this wagon didn't use hardly any fossil fuel

Making this wagon used hardly any fossil fuel



The main conclusions of this study are; (A) The current food system is unsustainable because it is overly dependent on non-renewable fossil fuel resources which will soon become more scarce (B) This poses a threat to food security, because with the current system, fossil fuel supply shortages mean food supply shortages (C) To insure food security the current food system should be transformed into a system that efficiently uses local renewable energy, enhances the regeneration of renewable resources and is ecologically sustainable. It is time that we leave behind the saturation period of agriculture and develop a new more efficient and sustainable system.






















Wood gas generator running a tractor

Wood gas generator running a tractor- wow! Got to get a generator!

So, could I farm without fossil fuel? Possibly, but it is more likely that I would have to use some (although it would be very minimal and only when really necessary). To start with I would need a farm of 100 to 200 acres; that would require 2-4 horses as apparently, as a rule of thumb, you needed 2 horses per 100 acres; but on heavy boulder clay land, like that found in the East of England, it is more difficult and a three-horse team would be required, maybe one spare horse too (sort of like a spare wheel). You would need labour too and that’s where the problem arises- wages are too high but, if you provided accommodation and food, it would be possible, especially if you were training and upskilling people in the old arts of farming and working the land. A shepherd to graze the fields and fold the sheep (bring the sheep at night to next year’s wheat land where they drop fresh parcels of fertiliser), and for lambing, shearing and the like. A horseman or two to work the land (eleven miles of walking to plough an acre!!!!!), some general labourers (who might have specialist skills like looking after beehives), baker/cook, blacksmith, carpenter, hedge layer, mower and so on… a small community all working together to achieve a common goal. However, unlike Victorian times, we would use modern technology like solar power which could replace the normal and expensive stock fencing and replace it with electric fencing; we would use certain chemicals judiciously (glyphosphate consumes less fossil fuel in comparison with mechanical weed control apparently); we could even develop new ideas to make farming with muscle power more efficient. You could maybe even add value- a small micro brewery, bakery, butchers (Mr Anderson!!!) etc etc etc. Many of the men who fought in the wars were strong – built physically and mentally through hard graft and long hours in rural areas (farming, mining, fishing etc); it was probably this that made them endure such deprivation in the two World Wars. Then of course look at the Amish in the USA… everything is possible if you have a mind to do it…

A lifetime of travelling and marvelling at the traditional farming practices throughout the world brings you to the realisation that you could have it right here on your doorstep… one wonders why we let ourselves be so reliant on fossil fuel!

About Sadeik

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1 Response to Farming without fossil fuel

  1. Tony says:

    This little quote from the Wikipedia page on the Haber process is one I like to illustrate the size of this problem:

    “Fertilizer generated from ammonia produced by the Haber process is estimated to be responsible for sustaining one-third of the Earth’s population. It is estimated that half of the protein within human beings is made of nitrogen that was originally fixed by this process”

    Can you work out how many people your farm of 100-200 acres would sustain ? And then how much land would the UK need to sustain its current population using horse power and sheep fertiliser ? I anticipate a depressing answer.


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