ONE

“Grow what belongs here, and be patient.” We are indebted to Colleen McGlynn for her influence here. She notes that “what really matters is that our climate is Mediterranean, characterized by hot, dry summers with cool nights. Which is exactly like the Italian peninsula — and exactly the inverse of the climates of Bordeaux and Burgundy which have cooler, wet summers with warm nights, and are roughly 1000 miles north of where we are.” We commit to planting not only the right genus, but also the right species. We have chosen not to just plant olive trees, but Arbequina olive trees, which tolerate our winter’s chill. We have chosen not just to plant any grape varietal, but specifically chose Charbono which favors the Sierra’s diurnal temperature variation. Plants that are not naturally accustomed to our climate will not be planted. 

TWO

“Work with nature, and not against it.” Bill Mollison describes permaculture as a "philosophy of working with, rather than against nature; of protracted and thoughtful observation rather than protracted and thoughtless labour; and of looking at plants and animals in all their functions, rather than treating any area as a single product system.” Protracted observation is our version of “rule over and subdue.” We are not conquers, but managers with God over the earth and all it contains.

THREE

“Respect the Chicken-ness of the Chicken.” Chickens like to move and scratch. Chickens like to peck out their food, and pair it with a nice side of grit. And finally, chickens like to sleep comfortably at night perched upon a roost. We are indebted to Joel Salatin for reminding us that animals are not just machines or tools: “[Animals] occupy an amazing space, subject to humans, dependent on human care and mercy, yet exhibiting their own distinctiveness and glory. In theological terms, we honor our animals’ teleological function. In the practical terms, we encourage animals to do what they were designed to do. Our animals will not be denied their telos.