Hobbies And Interests
Listening to the Land
Proper stewardship of the land requires an understanding of its cycles, its needs and its complexities, and this can only be gained by paying close attention to the land itself. Generalized theories and philosophies are useful in some respects but not without a close connection to the specific conditions in a particular location. Understanding at this depth requires a lot of time and a profound involvement in the ecological processes that take place on the land. While this kind of connection was common hundreds of years ago, industrial society machines have removed many people from the land and decreased their understanding of its needs.
Maintaining Biodiversity
Diversity creates stability, and stability creates diversity. Healthy ecological systems involve the presence and participation of thousands of species of plants and animals. In diverse ecosystems, if a single species experiences a crash, other species are usually able to compensate. Monocultural systems, such as an industrial wheat field, are more susceptible to blight and disease because they don't have the necessary biodiversity for stability. Land stewards recognize the absolute necessity of biodiversity, and judge any planned action by its effect on biodiversity.
Reciprocity
Natural systems function on the basis of reciprocity, a dynamic in which every time something is taken, something else is given back. An animal may eat part of a plant, but it fertilizes the plant with its droppings and eventually with its body when it dies. Predator species depend on prey species, while at the same time keeping those species healthy by culling their weakest members. The connection of traditional Native cultures to natural systems can be seen in their promotion of ideas of reciprocity within their cultures, which developed within the natural world.
Humility
A human being who enters into a natural system with a preconceived idea about what is best for that system is suffering from hubris. A person who believes that he already has the answer is no longer open to learning. Humility counsels a different approach; one that approaches a place from a beginner's point of view, remaining open to any lessons that might be available for learning. Land stewardship is a process of service rather than mastery, and a good steward remains constantly aware that the land is more complex than he knows, and he values that mystery as a source of wisdom.