Sustainability

Sustainability.

It's a buzz word.

You hear it in relation to agriculture, and energy and industry.
It's the mantra of the new"green" culture.

Sustainability.

The dictionary defines it thusly: the capacity to endure.

Simply....doing what we need to do with no negative impact on our earth...
so that we could continue to do it for eternity. 

We as a society are re-examining our farming techniques.  Modern agriculture, under the present agribusiness system is not sustainable.  We clear our land with herbicides, treat our crops with pesticides,
erode our once rich soil with crops that remove nutrients.  Then we think we are replenishing those nutrients by dumping industrial fertilizers on our land, that eventually pollute our waterways.
And for this, we grow....what? 

Corn
or soybeans.
These are the raw ingredients from which chemists manufacture substances that we have 
come to know as food.  Substances in boxes and bags that have ingredient lists that read
more like chemical soup.

Sustainable?
Not on your life.

Our society is examining the sources from which we draw our energy.  Up to this point....and some would have us continue....we have relied upon fossil fuels to meet our ever growing thirst for energy.  There is a finite supply of fossil fuels....not to mention the impact that they have on our environment.

Sustainable?
Not on your life.

Industry is in need of a re-examination, also.  We manufacture low quality items with planned obsolescence with the goal of economic growth rather than producing quality items that last.   We fill our landfills with plastics that will never decay... not to mention the health risks these plastics pose.  

Sustainable?  
Not on your life.
Or mine.
Or anyone's, for that matter.

Sustainability.
It needs to be more than just a concept that we think of with respect to 
agriculture and industry.
It needs to be our way of life.
It's simple and it should be the rule for everything that we do in life.

Everything.

Even our relationships....the way we treat ourselves and each other.

Everything.

The measure of each and every thing we do should be...."could I continue to do this forever and have no negative effects on myself, others, or my world?"

Think about it.
If we approached our relationships this way,
how much better would our world be?
If we thought of the impact each one of our actions has on our world and each other....

well, just imagine......
It sounds difficult, but I believe it is easier than you think.

To me, sustainability is all about love....
loving our world...
loving each other....
loving ourselves...

And placing that above all else.
If every thing we did was motivated by that kind of love....
Our world would be sustainable....
forever,
and ever.

Sustainability....
it's for each and every one of us to strive for.

For now.....just try love....

love the earth and all of its inhabitants a little better.

Oh, and plant a garden! 

Sustainable?
You bet your life!

Comments

Anke said…
Great post Bev!!!
Susan said…
A very good and beautiful morning to you, Beverly. I could not agree with you more. Thank you so much for your moving post this morning. It brought tears to my eyes. It does all start with love. :-)

Thank you again and I hope you have a wonderful spring day,
Susan
Nina said…
Wonderful! May I share this on facebook?

Nina
Bee Haven Bev said…
Absolutely, Nina...I would love it if you would share a link to my blog. this post is so important to me.
Sharon said…
This was so very well written. I've linked you to my blog. Check it out at www.fitzgeraldsfamilyfarm.blogspot.com
Unknown said…
Thanks so much for posting this...just wonderful...and I totally agree with you. I try to do my part but I am sure there are more ways to be doing a good thing!
Amen to that sister!

It's the little folks like us that need to vote with our pocketbooks. Buy local, organically grown foods and low energy consuming cars and appliances.

I am seeing more wind and solar being used in my area. Looking forward to the day when all of our homes are "off the grid" and self sustaining. My amish neighbors have been doing it for years!
Amen to that sister!

It's the little folks like us that need to vote with our pocketbooks. Buy local, organically grown foods and low energy consuming cars and appliances.

I am seeing more wind and solar being used in my area. Looking forward to the day when all of our homes are "off the grid" and self sustaining. My amish neighbors have been doing it for years!
Unknown said…
What a great post. This is the lesson I would wish for all the world to learn.... love one another and love the earth.... it is our only hope. Thanks for telling the truth...
Anonymous said…
AMEN...great post...and you practice what you preach..You live your life that way....Thanks
kare said…
Thank You for this Post! i have been following on the sidelines of your wonderous blog for a while.

This Post speaks well for what peoples like me, are up against. Toxic society gone rampant, causing, or at least exaserbating illnesses in peoples and nature.
We are surrounded by, and addicted to, Industries toxic candy. From enhancers to make things grow & additives in foods... to the lovely chemical 'signiture' scents we adorn ourselves with; it's all a toxic soup.
We spray bug killers on our gardens & then wonder why the Bee'z are die-ing off?0
Thank You for caring about these Things Too. i LOVE your patch of earth and the lovely souls that inhabit it. So uplifting!
i am So happy to be re-emerging into life that has such neat folks seeking to improve the way things are.
Blessings & Buzz's

iznaabugg
*kare
Ms. Bake-it said…
Well written Bev! I completely agree with you. I hope you do not mind, but I created a button with a link to this post and placed it on my blog.

~ Tracy
Ginny said…
Love the post. Thank you for sharing.
Katmom said…
Hey Bev,
looks like it's been a really busy week around the "BeeHive" lol!
I think you deserve a mini get-away at the "Happiest Place on Earth!" wink wink!
Hugz & friendship
>^..^<
Anonymous said…
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