BORN-AGAIN DIRT BORN-AGAIN DIRT FARMING TO THE GLORY OF GOD Cultivating a Biblical Vision for God-Glorifying Agriculture noah sanders Born-Again Dirt by Noah Sanders © 2012 Noah Sanders All Rights Reserved. Published by Rora Valley Publishing www.roravalleypublishing.com ISBN: 978-0-9851315-0-0 Unless otherwise noted, Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers. Note: The author uses the 1984 edition of the NIV and does not recommend newer editions as inaccurate gender-neutral language has been introduced into those editions. All Scripture emphases are the author’s. Front cover and author photographs: Abigail Sanders Back cover photograph: Joel Ferrill Editors: Lora Lynn Fanning, Timothy Sanders, Noah Sanders, Kyle Shepherd Illustrations: Noah Sanders Typesetting and interior layout: Kyle Shepherd Cover design: Kyle Shepherd DEDICATION To my son Enoch Timothy Sanders. I pray that the Lord will draw you to Himself so you can be born again at a young age. May He bless you and bring glory to Himself through the work and testimony of your life. TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS xviii INTRODUCTION 1 1 BORN-AGAIN DIRT A Vision for Christian Agriculture 5 FARMING TO THE GLORY OF GOD 6 THE IMPACT OF WORLDVIEW ON AGRICULTURE 7 WHAT IS “BORN-AGAIN” DIRT? 8 BEGINNING THE JOURNEY 10 2 LAYING A BIBLICAL FOUNDATION The Proper Foundation for Agriculture 13 BASIC PRINCIPLES OF A BIBLICAL, WORLDVIEW OF AGRICULTURE 14 1. We Don’t Own our Farms 14 2. Farming is not About Us 15 vii viii BORN-AGAIN DIRT 3. God Knows More About Farming than We Do 15 4. We Can’t Make Things Grow! 17 FARMING AND THE GOSPEL 18 CONCLUSION 19 3 EVALUATING OUR AGRICULTURE Does Modern Farming Reflect a Biblical Foundation? 21 THE UNACKNOWLEDGED FLAWS OF MODERN AGRICULTURE 21 Unprofitable Farming 22 No Replacement Farmers 23 Unhealthy Food 23 Unsustainable Farming Methods 24 Fragile, Centralized Production 24 IDOLATROUS AGRICULTURE 24 Idolizing Man— The Industrial Model 25 Idolizing Nature— The Environmentalist Model 26 Consequences 27 SUSTAINABLY FRUITFUL 27 MOVING FORWARD, NOT BACKWARD 28 JUDGE NOT—WORK IN PROGRESS! 29 4 THE BORN-AGAIN DIRT FARM What Does God Want Our Farms to Look Like 31 1. A Christian’s Farm Should Be a Home 32 2. A Christian’s Farm Should Be Beautiful 32 3. A Christian’s Farm Should Be Fruitful 33 THE PURPOSE OF OUR FARMS 33 1. To Reflect the Glory of the Creator 33 TABLE OF CONTENTS ix 2. To Provide a Practical Environment for Loving Relationships. 34 FARM DESIGN 34 1. Designing for Habitability 34 2. Designing for Beauty 35 3. Designing for Fruitfulness 36 RELATIONAL LOCATION PERENNIALS FOR FRUITFULNESS MULTIFUNCTION EVERYTHING MULTIPLE SUPPORTING SYSTEMS NO WASTED RESOURCES WHAT IS A FARM? 40 CONCLUSION 41 5 THE ROLE OF A CHRISTIAN FARMER Being Good and Faithful Stewards of the Land 43 OUR JOB AS CHRISTIAN FARMERS 44 CARING FOR THE LAND 44 Faithful in the Maintenance of Our Farms 44 Attentive to the Needs of Our Farm 45 Considerate and Kind in the Care of Our Animals 45 WORKING THE LAND 46 Diligent and Hard Working 46 Prompt and Timely in the Tasks We Perform 47 Thoughtful and Wise to Plan Ahead. 48 CULTIVATING A PROPER HEART 49 THANKFULNESS JOY HUMILITY WHOLEHEARTEDNESS TRUSTING IN GOD THOUGH FAITHFUL (NOT FRANTIC) WORK 52 x BORN-AGAIN DIRT PRACTICAL IDEAS FOR STEWARDSHIP 53 Walk Your Farm with the Owner 53 Keep a Husbandry Journal 54 Pray Over Your Crops 54 CONCLUSION 55 6 PRINCIPLES OF GOD’S DESIGN What Principles Should Direct Our Farming Methods? 57 LEARNING TO FARM FROM THE EXPERT 57 PRINCIPLE #1: SOIL-BASED 60 Soil in Scripture 60 Soil in Creation 61 Characteristics of Healthy Soil 61 NOT COMPACTED DEEP WEED-FREE LIVING Developing Soil-Based Methods 62 FOCUS ON BUILDING HEALTHY SOIL RECOGNIZE POOR SOIL AS THE CAUSE OF MOST PLANT DISEASES AND PESTS MANAGE ANIMALS FOR SOIL ENRICHMENT What About Hydroponics? 64 PRINCIPLE #2: SEASONAL 65 Seasons in Scripture 65 GOD CREATED SEASONS THERE IS A SEASON FOR EVERYTHING THE MOON AND SEASONS IT’S IMPORTANT TO DO THINGS IN SEASON ANIMALS ACT ACCORDING TO THE SEASONS THE PROVISION OF GOD COMES IN SEASON Seasons in Creation 67 Growing in Season 67 Characteristics of Seasonal Production 68 PLANT AT THE PROPER SEASON