Abstract
Based on ethnographic research carried out since 2015, the present paper offers a description of the traditional agricultural systems in the semiarid region of the Brazilian state of Paraíba. First, I describe the history and the context of the local landscape and the peasants that survive in it, who call themselves “agricultores experimentadores” [experimental peasant]. Here, the emic notion of “experiência” [experience] is central for the understanding of their practices. Secondly, I focus on the seasonal crops of corn and beans, pointing out the diverse varieties of these crops that are cultivated. Third, I turn my attention to red-rice cultivation, I bring out the complex history and multi-species relations that exist in these crops. Finally, I approach (in a broad manner) the so called “sementes da paixão” [passion seeds]. While emphasizing traditional knowledge, I also engage with kinship relations, as well as neighborhood and other partnerships created through the cultivation and circulation of plants.
Keywords:
Experience; Traditional knowledge; Diversity; Multispecies relationships; Love