Our farmers have a relationship with the soil, plants and food that begins with reverence for the earth and for the livelihood of farming. There is great humility in a farmer’s relationship to the earth, to the farm and to each abundant harvest.

Farmers could not farm successfully if they did not understand the land. The philosophy of organic farming naturally promotes reverence for the land, and this reverence is evident in the lives of our farmers. They respect the land, they care for it and they do no harm to it.

Even if you’re not a farmer, or a gardener, it’s important to have some sort of relationship with the land. To appreciate life in general, we need to understand some of what goes on beneath our feet – how plants grow, how animals thrive, how crops succeed or fail... Biology, botany, agriculture, horticulture – all are related to an understanding of the natural processes of life. A holistic approach to the environment stems from an understanding of how these processes work together and the impact on the environment if they are out of harmony.

To survive and flourish, we all need to understand what land is, what it provides us with and what we can do to protect it. “This land is our land...” are words Americans know by heart and sing so often.

We must treat the land well in order for it to treat us well. The land cannot continue to give without receiving in return.

This land is all we have “...this land was made for you and me.”

Without it, we have nothing.