Source: Berry, Wendell. 1991. Living with the land. J. Soil Water Conserv. 46:390-393.

This paper argues that people no longer live with the land as they did in the past. Having a relationship of mutual interest, interdependence, familiarity, affection and care is inherent in living intimately with the land and is ruled ultimately by boundaries set only by nature. If our nation continues the trend of disregarding these rules and abusing the land, it will destroy the land and consequently destroy itself and its people. Small communities and local economies can thrive and be prosperous again if they do not allow the national economy to exploit the land and its workers under corporate control. Berry addresses the general public and reports that the necessary change can be achieved primarily through the efforts of the local communities themselves to be self-sufficient in their needs; urban consumer demands about the purity of food and support from Washington concerning the sustainability and self-sufficiency of local economies would also be helpful. Berry uses his own community of Port Royal, Kentucky, as an example of how the conditions of rural land and rural people have been getting progressively worse in the face of a national, and increasingly international, absentee economy. He also suggests ways to change our education and culture to save what is left of our once pristine environment. The author argues that land used for agriculture will be ruined unless it is cared for properly by people who know how to, want to, and are able to care for it. These people are the ones found in local communities supported by local economies. With the growing dominance of big business comes the death of local economies. As people move to cities, an absentee economy emerges and people are removed from the source of their food and health. Care for the land declines as people the leave the community; with no care and added abuse, the land and the country are destroyed and cannot be salvaged by money, science, or technology, despite the efforts of government and other professionals. The author concludes by reminding us that though the earth is hurt, she is not dead and does still own vast beauty. People have the power, and inherently the desire, to rebuild her health. We should begin by creating standards to live by and supporting self-sufficient local communities.

Abstract author: Laura H. Chan, 20 November 1994.

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