Orchards of Privilege
Water, Oranges, and Race in the Gamtoos Valley of South Africa, 1700-2023
By Robert Ross | Publisher: Ohio University Press
About the book
This study of the Gamtoos River floodplain in South Africa's Eastern Cape Province traces its transformation from an eighteenth-century natural landscape of thick bush into an agricultural zone now threatened by climate change.
The first half of the book explains how missionaries from the London Missionary Society and residents of the Hankey Mission Station introduced irrigation, turning the area into a community of small-scale farmers. Despite early failures, by 1849 they had constructed South Africa's first major irrigation tunnel and aqueduct. However, conflicts between the missionaries and residents led to the loss of communal lands to privatization, which ultimately impoverished the local farmers.
The second half explores efforts to develop the valley for large-scale agriculture, addressing challenges like drought, flash floods, and saline water. By the mid-twentieth century, Afrikaners dominated the area, benefiting from the construction in 1970 of the Kouga Dam, which provided fresh water for the floodplain. This led to the rise of a wealthy white farming community, sustained by apartheid policies and labor from the \"Coloured\" and African populations. In the early twenty-first century, however, this prosperity has become threatened by severe droughts linked to global climate change.
In view of these historical transformations, the Gamtoos River floodplain exemplifies the complex interplay between human ambition, environmental challenges, and sociopolitical forces.
Editions of Orchards of Privilege
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780821425992
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780821426203
- EBook
- ISBN 9780821426210
Read an Excerpt
This study of the Gamtoos River floodplain in South Africa's Eastern Cape Province traces its transformation from an eighteenth-century natural landscape of thick bush into an agricultural zone now threatened by climate change.
The first half of the book explains how missionaries from the London Missionary Society and residents of the Hankey Mission Station introduced irrigation, turning the area into a community of small-scale farmers. Despite early failures, by 1849 they had constructed South Africa's first major irrigation tunnel and aqueduct. However, conflicts between the missionaries and residents led to the loss of communal lands to privatization, which ultimately impoverished the local farmers.
The second half explores efforts to develop the valley for large-scale agriculture, addressing challenges like drought, flash floods, and saline water. By the mid-twentieth century, Afrikaners dominated the area, benefiting from the construction in 1970 of the Kouga Dam, which provided fresh water for the floodplain. This led to the rise of a wealthy white farming community, sustained by apartheid policies and labor from the \"Coloured\" and African populations. In the early twenty-first century, however, this prosperity has become threatened by severe droughts linked to global climate change.
In view of these historical transformations, the Gamtoos River floodplain exemplifies the complex interplay between human ambition, environmental challenges, and sociopolitical forces.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Orchards of Privilege about?
This study of the Gamtoos River floodplain in South Africa's Eastern Cape Province traces its transformation from an eighteenth-century natural landscape of thick bush into an agricultural zone now threatened by climate change.
The first half of the book explains how missionaries from the London Missionary Society and residents of the Hankey Mission Station introduced irrigation, turning the area into a community of small-scale farmers. Despite early failures, by 1849 they had constructed South Africa's first major irrigation tunnel and aqueduct. However, conflicts between the missionaries and residents led to the loss of communal lands to privatization, which ultimately impoverished the local farmers.
The second half explores efforts to develop the valley for large-scale agriculture, addressing challenges like drought, flash floods, and saline water. By the mid-twentieth century, Afrikaners dominated the area, benefiting from the construction in 1970 of the Kouga Dam, which provided fresh water for the floodplain. This led to the rise of a wealthy white farming community, sustained by apartheid policies and labor from the \"Coloured\" and African populations. In the early twenty-first century, however, this prosperity has become threatened by severe droughts linked to global climate change.
In view of these historical transformations, the Gamtoos River floodplain exemplifies the complex interplay between human ambition, environmental challenges, and sociopolitical forces.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Orchards of Privilege?
Earth Sciences, Geography, Environment, Planning > The environment > Applied ecology
Where can I read a sample of Orchards of Privilege?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780821425992
Is Orchards of Privilege part of a series, and can it be read as a standalone?
Yes it is a part of series Series in Ecology and History
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Orchards of Privilege?
Robert Ross
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Orchards of Privilege is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780821425992) and paperback(ISBN 9780821426203) and ebook(ISBN 9780821426210)
Where can I buy Orchards of Privilege online or support local independent bookshops?
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Where can I buy Orchards of Privilege?