A qualitative assessment of the environmental stewardship value of salt hay harvesting practices in Nova Scotia

Abstract

Since European colonization salt marshes have been utilized for agricultural purposes, and have played a prominent role in the development of Nova Scotia's social, cultural, economic, and environmental history. While dykeland agriculture has received much attention in Atlantic Canada's historiography, popular culture representations, and agricultural development planning, the agricultural practices associated with tidally unrestricted marshlands have remained largely unacknowledged. Local and oral histories reveal a long tradition of Nova Scotian farmers who harvested the indigenous flora of salt marshes, and utilized it in a variety of ways within their farming operations. Research indicates that systems of natural resource management, wherein communities maintain long-term utilization of a natural resource, have environmental stewardship value. Employing qualitative research methods, this paper presents the expertise of men and women who utilized these salt marsh resources in their farming operations, and assesses the environmental stewardship value of salt hay harvesting in Nova Scotia.