In a field of their own : farm transfer and farmers' 'sense of place'

Abstract

This dissertation focuses on the 'sense of place' of farmers and the way this shapes the farm transfer process. Three main bodies of literature are used in the forming of a conceptual framework. These are writings on conceptualising the farm, 'sense of place', and the process of farm transfer. An interpretive approach is taken to explore the farm transfer process, focusing on farms in the Hook area. A qualitative methodology was used, and accordingly data was collected through interviews and a map drawing exercise. A self reflective study on the author's family farm was also undertaken.

This study shows there were two main senses of place shown by farmers. These were a business focused sense of place, and a lifestyle focused sense of place. Farmers holding a business oriented sense of place treated the farm as an economic unit first and foremost. Accordingly they treated farm transfer as an economic decision. Alternatively, lifestyle focused farmers valued the farm as a family place. Consequently retaining the farm within the family was their highest priority in the farm transfer process. Several limitations constrained this study, however this dissertation concludes that analyses of farmers' sense of place supplements current knowledge on the farm transfer process.