Sustainability - Biblical and Delicious

Sustainability
Sustainability is arranging actions, such as agriculture, to do no harm, and if possible, be beneficial to the environment so that it might continue indefinitely. Unsustainability would then be acting in a way that cannot be sustained. Mathematically, you might put this as one taking a resource at a faster rate than you and/or nature can replenish it. Current examples would be most fisheries. The fish are being taken at faster rates than they can reproduce. (for information on which fish are and are not sustainably harvested take a look at Monterrey Aquarium’s Seafood Watch page http://www.mbayaq.org/cr/SeafoodWatch.asp) Another example would be, surprisingly, soil. Take a look at my post on soil for more information.

The Bible concerns itself with sustainability through the Sabbath principle. Leviticus and Exodus both command that the land be granted a Sabbath, just as people are. (Lev. 25:4, Exo. 23:11) Allowing nature to reclaim land for periods of time helps to restore nutrients and give shelter to wild animals. As theologian Calvin B. Witt writes, the Sabbath principle means that the land, “creatures and ecosystems should not be relentlessly pressed.”[1] Industrial farms usually do not give land a Sabbath. Instead, they press the land and use increasing inputs of chemicals to make up for the decreasing fertility of the land, to maximize profits. While profits are obviously a necessity, this relentless exploitation is not ethical, from a Judeo-Christian standpoint. It shows that our quest for money has become an overzealous love of it which is expressly banned by Jesus. 1 Timothy 6:10 says, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” (NIV)[2] We have wandered from the faith by abandoning Biblical wisdom in our rule over the land.

Biblical principles on sustainability also teach concern for the actions of our forebears and for the good of our descendents. The Old and New Testament are consistently concerned with genealogies, showing the importance of generations. This means that we must make wise, sustainable decisions in agriculture that leave our soil and natural resources in good quality and quantity for future generations. Thus, when I speak of sustainable agriculture I mean local, diversified, organic farming on small to medium-sized farms, because polycultured (having many crops and animals, as opposed to monoculture which is just one crop or animal) local, organic farming adds to the soil (through composting and careful management of animal waste), creates no waste, creates healthier food (through healthier soil and animals), minimizes our dependence on oil (through no petroleum-based chemical inputs and less need of machines), and reduces pollution (through less run-off of chemicals into waterways and environment, minimized use of machines, less transportation of goods because local food systems exist, etc.). Of course, this is utopic, but every move towards a system like this brings us closer to a food system that is healthier for everyone – the environment and people.

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[1] Calvin B. Witt and __ Nash on the environment. http://apologetics101.net/free/DE403.pdf

[2] In Steven Hall’s article on sustainable agriculture.