On Christianity, and Regenerative Agriculture (part 1)

On one hand, this appears to be two completely unrelated topics. But when you dive into it, really get down to the root of it, the two are linked at the hip.

Indulge me for a bit, what does the Bible, the perfect Word of YHWH, have to say on the matter?

Genesis 1:26 King James Version (KJV) 26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

What does it mean to have dominion? Is it ruling with an iron fist? Crushing and domin-ating everything within reach? Or could it be that our Creator tasked us with watching over, managing, His creation? Are we to subjugate all creatures, fish, birds, animals, insects (“good”, and “bad”)? To eradicate all “weeds”, without knowing the symbiotic relationship they may have with other plants?

If we take a cue from YHWH’s design, we can see in everything we pay close attention to, what we always refer to as “the circle of life”.

Nothing exists in a vacuum (or does it?). Pun aside, from the tiniest of micro-organisms, all the way to the largest animal on earth, they are all connected.

From the white-tail deer who feasts on berries, nuts, and grain. Then harvested by a hunter, who deposits hide and innards in an out of the way location. That in turn is feasted on by buzzards, coyotes, and flies. The flies are eaten by a flock of migrating birds, who also ate berries alongside the white-tail deer. The birds then deposit the berry seeds under a tree or in some fence row in another region. A tree sprouts, with fertility having been added to the soil by (horror) dandelions, vetch, and plantain. The cycle continues ad infinitum.

How do we, as YHWH’s people, fit into this circle of life. To husband is to manage with prudent economy, to frugally conserve. Not to live in awe and worship of the created “mother earth”. Not to disrupt the cycle of nature. But to live in such a way that brings honor and glory to the one who created all.

Now tell me, how is the best way to honor the Creator in our garden? Is it to Round-Up every “weed” and “undesirable plant” that may pop up? Sevin dust (now we have Eight dust, Sevin isn’t strong enough anymore) to rid ourselves of all “pests”? Or could we arrange our gardens and lawns in such a way, as control these “curses” naturally?

Thoughts?