The Shalom Center of Pleasant Hill presented a major forum on one of modern civilization’s most pressing issues, sustainable agriculture. The general topic for the weekend was “Spirituality and Sustainable Agriculture.” Karl Limvere and Fred Kirschenmann spoke on the subject in Adshead Hall on April 17th and 18th. Karl Limvere was the guest preacher for Sunday morning worship on April 19th, Integrity of Creation Sunday.

For those who have only a nodding acquaintance with modern farming, sustainable agriculture is, on the surface at least, synonymous with organic farming. Actually, it is a much more far reaching concept. Its simplest definition is “the ability of a farm to produce food indefinitely without causing severe or irreparable damage to the health of the ecosystem.” How can farmers ensure that ability in today’s high pressure world?

Speaking to the topic in four separate sessions will be Karl Limvere and Fred Kirschenmann, both deeply involved in the sustainable agriculture movement in the Midwest today. Limvere, a licensed United Church of Christ pastor, has a long history of working with UCC boards and agencies in agriculture-related projects. Today he serves on two major North Dakota agencies working in community development, natural resources, and sustainable agriculture.

Kirschenmann is a distinguished fellow for the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State University as well as president of Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture in Pocantico Hills, New York. He also oversees the management of his family’s 3500 acre farm in North Dakota.

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