Mixing methodologies in research

Farmers know a lot about the importance of harvesting the best possible crop and harvesting knowledge so that they can continue to produce. Over many generations farmers have learnt how to prepare the ground so that seeds literally jump up to greet the sun. They know about watering appropriately, whether crops are prone to be affected by the wind, where to plan, how to nurture and when is the best time to harvest. This understanding has been developed through trial and error. But Farmers make their tacit knowledge more explicit for each successive generation so that trial and error is minimised and the same mistakes might be avoided. Farmers are researchers in the best possible way.