INTIMATE, INTELLIGENT, HONORABLE PARTICIPATION
Good Ground Foodscapes is much more than a business venture - it's an essential endeavor.
This calling simply plays a part in the big picture... to genuinely embrace God's desires, designs, creations.
God desires that we love Him, love people, and properly care for His wonderful creation (good stewards of nature). God amazingly designed vital interconnected-interdependent (mutually beneficial) relationships among Himself, people and nature - for the good/prosperity of all.
In other words, when we willingly-faithfully embrace God's desires, designs, and creations; many good changes manifest in the health, wellness, and welfare of people & nature - spiritual, mental, emotional, physical, lifestyles, relationships, families, communities, livelihoods/vocations, hobbies, interests, surroundings, economies, governments, environment, ecology, land, soil, water, air, plants, animals, food, beverage, diet, natural remedies/medicine, physical activity/fitness, clothing, housing, products, energy, natural resources.
These principles, practices, benefits, and solutions are proven (tried & true).
THE MISSION IS CALLING
Answering the call to enhance the wellbeing of people, animals, nature, and food.
Loving God and loving people by imitating Jesus & sharing Him.
Properly stewarding God's wonderful creation/nature (which includes animals & food) by observing, learning, and mimicking nature; as well as correctly accelerating nature's process (the functions/patterns found in nature). This also allows God to reveal Himself to you (and others) through nature.
Embracing vital synergistic-symbiotic relationships among God, people, and nature. These essential relationships enable all to thrive. This calls for our intimate, intelligent and honorable participation.
Regenerating ecology/environment, growing thriving food forests, creating healthy soil, and providing excellent plant & animal care. Applying beyond-organic, beyond-sustainable, ecologically-friendly, regenerative, and permaculture methods. These practices are safe & healthy for people, animals, plants, food, and the environment. They produce an abundance of nutritious, delicious, and diverse food. These systems have been successfully implemented by our ancestors for thousands of years all over the world.
Encouraging whole person (holistic) health by simultaneously addressing and cultivating various good & meaningful components of wellness.
THE JOURNEY
Hi, I'm Joseph. Thanks for stopping by.
Before moving on I would like to thank Carl Warner for his inspiring foodscape artwork & images seen throughout this site.
Since childhood, I always had a connection with God (Jesus) and a desire for the outdoors, exploring, adventure, being active, creating, learning, and changing. Starting in my teens a liking for health, wellness, and nutrition developed. In my mid 30's I unexpectedly became very interested in ecology/ecosystems, biology/microbiology, horticulture, growing food, culinary, and homesteading. Not long after I came to truly appreciate the amazing synergy among God, people, and nature. It was in my early 40's (did I mention I can be a slow learner/knucklehead?) when I finally fully acknowledged & embraced our God-given charge to be honorable stewards over His creation (nature).
God has enabled us to have authority over nature, however with this authority comes our responsibility to rule/steward well. After all, nature and its resources (as well as its by-products) are necessary to survive and thrive. A healthy flourishing world is a need, not a want. Properly valuing & caring for God's creation (nature) certainly demonstrates love for God and people.
God is the First gardener, farmer, landscaper, ecologist, environmentalist, biologist, doctor, nutritionist, scientist, engineer, builder, etc. As the Creator of everything, He knows what's best for us and His creation. He's the Master of all. Therefore, we should emulate God and everything He has shown us about His creation; as closely as possible. This involves observing-learning-embracing-imitating God & nature, and correctly accelerating nature's process (the functions/patterns found in nature). It's about uncompromising collaboration with God, then with people and nature (for optimum success), rather than working against God, people and nature (which leads to inevitable failure).
So this led to more seeking & learning from God, nature, and people that are proficient in healthy gardening & farming practices, agrosystems (agroforestry & agroecology), land & ecosystem restoration/regeneration, homesteading, and holistic wellness (whole person wellbeing). This includes biology/microbiology, soil science/fertility, horticulture, arboriculture, composting, irrigation, naturopathic medicine, nutrition, diet, and other elements of wellness. Some notable food growing systems & land practices are: organic, sustainable, ecological, biological/biodiverse, regenerative, no-till, and permaculture. Although these coined terms/concepts are fairly new, their methods have been successfully implemented by our ancestors all over the world for thousands of years.
At the same time I've been developing agroecosystems where I reside, as well as collaborating with others (landscapers, gardeners, farmers, neighbors). Some initiatives include: creating nutrient-rich living soil, compost, vermicompost, teas/extracts, foliar sprays; irrigating with harvested rainwater & high-quality filtered water; growing many various types of fruit trees (from seed) as well as edible, medicinal & ornamental plants; creating wildlife deterrents; pruning, planting, transplanting, harvesting, amending, mulching, weeding, cleaning, organizing, designing, fixing, experimenting, observing, learning, failing, succeeding.
The sights, the smells, the touches, the tastes, the sounds, the interactions, the connections, the experiences of this endeavor have been... peaceful, joyful, hopeful, loving, humbling, healthy, healing, comforting, transforming, meaningful, impactful, creative, stimulating, appealing, satisfying, rewarding. I know that's saying a lot, but it's true. Yes, there have been plenty of disappointments, frustrations, and obstacles; but these so-called problems were just learning/growing opportunities.
Hoping you too will taste and see (try and experience yourself) all the goodness that comes.
THE GOOD GROUND
We are given choices and responsibilities. With every choice and responsibility there is accountability, as well as consequences (good or bad).
"And some [seed] fell into good ground, and grew up and produced a crop a hundred times as great." As Jesus said these things, He called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear and heed My words."
"But as for that seed in the good ground, these are the ones who have heard the word with a good and noble heart, and hold on to it tightly, and bear fruit with patience."
Luke 8:8 & 8:15