An examination of rural agriculture through traditional folk knowledge in Arpaöz village of Çorum province

This study, titled "An Examination of Rural Agriculture Through Traditional Folk Knowledge in Arpaöz Village of Çorum Province," focuses on identifying the traditional methods employed in agricultural and soil-processing practices and evaluating these methods from a folkloric perspective. The aim of the research is to determine the nature of the traditional ecological knowledge formed through the culture–environment relationship in Arpaöz Village, to reveal how this knowledge is maintained, and to examine how cultural elements are reflected during its transmission to future generations. Arpaöz Village, located in the central district of Çorum, has experienced significant out-migration, leading to the gradual disappearance of many cultural elements. The adverse effects of global capitalism on both urban and rural settlements have placed traditional culture and natural resources under threat. For this reason, documenting the surviving aspects of traditional knowledge and ecological practices in the village has been considered essential. The study first presents the conceptual framework of traditional ecology and then introduces the research area to define the scope of the investigation. Data were collected through fieldwork using interview and observation techniques. It was determined that 15 households reside permanently in the village, 15 of which are still engaged in agriculture. Traditional knowledge practices related to soil cultivation, product processing, and intergenerational transmission were compiled from these households, and detailed information regarding their applications was gathered. Furthermore, both past and present states of cultural practices that have been forgotten or are no longer widely performed were documented to highlight the differences between older and contemporary forms. In doing so, the study reveals the potential contributions of the region's traditional knowledge to human well-being and ecological balance.