Home of Parrish W. Jones

        The philosophy of sustainability assumes four things:

1) That humans in general wish to see the human species to survive into the ages;
2) That most people want clean air, water, soil, food, and physical health;
3) That all persons need to be able to make a living; and
4) that the earth has the capacity to sustain a reasonable living for all humans if some   humans do not appropriate the living of others for themselves thus concentrating wealth.

        One hardly finds anyone who wishes to see the human species cease to exist. The species that we are most protective of is our own. When controversy arises over saving one or the other of the species of animals or plants, the rain forests, or the rivers, the appeal for and against saving it always rests on the affect on human beings. All those in favor of protecting the Spotted Owl were not protecting the Spotted Owl simply for aesthetic and romantic reasons. No doubt some persons think only in those terms. However, the argument for saving a species is based on the sound principle that species diversity is good for the environment and what is good for the environment is good for humans. What is good for humans is good for any particular human.
        Most humans are in favor of the good of humanity as long as it does not hurt their personal lifestyle too profoundly. Yet, people usually prefer to think that whatever position they hold regarding the environment will not in the end threaten the future sustainability of the human species.
        Most people want to have a good quality of life for themselves and future generations. We recognize that a good quality of life involves good physical health . We know that good physical health is dependent on clean air, water, and good food. The one ingredient often ignored by most people is healthy soils. The reason soil is ignored is that few of us are connected with the soil in a direct way. However, we need soil to walk on. We lay our pavement over it, build our houses on it, plant our lawns in it, and curse it when it comes in our houses.
        In recent years much has been said about scarce resources: oil, coal, lumber, clean water, etc. While those are non-renewable, we seldom hear much about soil. Yet, every year soil is used up and it is a non-renewable resource. Well, that's not totally true. We can build soil quality through application of manure, but the amount of space for soil cannot be expanded. There are just so many acres of land on the planet. There are many billions of acres not amenable to agriculture. Of the acreage that is, humans seem hell bent and determined to build cities on it.
        When it comes to sustainable life, soil and land are of prime concern. Yet, one important aspect of soil is not just quantity but quality. Studies have shown that soil health is inextricably linked to human health. Plants grown in organically fertilized (manures whether green or brown) produce healthier plants which produce healthier animals which together produce healthier humans.
        Additionally, in recent years we have learned that artificial fertilizers can push production only so far. Apart from the damage done by artificial fertilizers to water, air, and soil quality, the fertilizers can only push things slightly more than is already happening. The issue in agriculture today and in life in general is not just how to produce more this year, but how to sustain production for the long term? More and more agricultural scientists are concluding that artificial fertilizers will eventually have to be replaced by natural fertilizers, namely, manures from plants and animals. Pesticides and herbicides create more problems than they solve. While killing "pests" they also kill the predators of pests, poison water, soil and air. The more we use the more we have to use. Insects and noxious plants (weeds) evolve quickly and become resistant to our best science seemingly over night.
        So is it back to the dark ages?
        The answer is no. Sustainability does not mean subsistence. However, it does mean placing first things first. That means developing social policy and changing our lifestyles to assure sustainable and healthy lives for all of us into the future. One lifestyle change that leads to sustainability is that of birth control. However, even with birth control, we cannot hope to solve the problem. Americans have readily adopted birth control because it fits our narcissistic lifestyle. Yet, there are many things the third world accepts as a fact of life which we refuse to accept. Such things as limited living space, limited public utilities, limited food supply, and the like.
        Yet, even those limitations may not be necessary. Everyone needs to earn a living. A farm that cannot produce incomes for the farmer is unsustainable. But that is precisely why only 1% of the population farms today. In the U.S. we will have to accept higher food prices if we wish to sustain agriculture and a safe and healthy food supply. Animals will have to be moved from feed lots and confinement facilities to pastures. Thus humans will have to move aside for the animals if we want meat to eat which will affect development policies. We cannot sustain agriculture and the food supply and the rapid subdividing of farmland.
        Some of us may even be forced by nature to take up farming once more. We live in what may turn out to be an aberrant period of history. We have quickly forgotten that almost everybody once farmed in order to survive. Even those who lived in cities farmed (we call it gardening because we could do otherwise) in their yards in order to put food on the table. Many older persons remember their yards filled with vegetables instead of lawns.
        Sustainability is not something that can happen by buying our way out. We have been doing that since WWII, however, we will not always be able to. In addition only the wealthy can afford to buy their way out of any problem. Thus a sustainable philosophy or ethic requires that we assure that not just the wealthy can sustain their life, but that everyone can.
        That is an issue of justice which may be the most difficult challenge.