the why
and how of
“Land & Faith”
The purpose
To explore, share and gather around the Christian tradition’s wisdom and creativity in the context of land stewardship.
The offering
Content, events, research, consulting, speaking, advocation.
Our farm and home: used as a testing ground for ideas and as an intentional and imperfect attempt to demonstrate God’s love and purpose for all of creation.
The backdrop
Conversations around “better business and stewardship” have gained significant momentum in recent decades. But, in aggregate, they have materially overlooked the role of religious and spiritual worldviews, despite them representing an exceptionally high proportion of:
the global population’s perspective.
the nature of stewardship’s principles and practices.
the people who pioneered it historically.
the motivations held to sustain it in the face of opposition.
Our Twelve Pillars
Covenant
and Stewardship
Identity
and Place
Sacredness
and Sanctity
Story
and Myth
Family
and Community
Heritage
and Memory
Labour
and Provision
Flora
and Fauna
Rite
and Ritual
Healing
and Restoration
Transmission
and Succession
Beauty
and Mystery
What problem are we trying to solve here?
Until recently, contemporary discussions on land stewardship have been almost exclusively concern themselves with:
environmental and food related issues.
the pathways of science and technology.
modernity’s mechanical and utilitarian worldview.
the efficient allocation of financial, human and natural capital.
a concept of progress that is human centric and linear.
a secular, professional canvas that believes it’s neutral ground.
the belief that politics is the highest form of governance.
technocratic and pragmatic outputs
solutions rooted in forms of universalism.
People increasingly see the shortcomings of this reality and are leaning into more spiritually rooted responses. The challenge is what is frequently offered up as an alternative is:
highly abstract and lacking in concrete ways to be installed.
drawn from worldviews external to our cultural heritage that will struggle to make sense in the everyday.
pursuing a spiritual tourism (brief, surface level engagement) that does not lead to authentic or enduring adoption.
falling into the same consumerist and mechanistic traps (spiritual-pick-and-mix and controllable spiritual parts) its adherents are attempting to be an antidote to.
working with or against an awareness of religious views and histories that is extremely low and error prone.