Why We Need A New Kind of Land Stewardship in a Burnt Out World

We have optimised almost everything. Our systems. Our schedules. Our soil. Now both land and people are showing the same symptoms: depletion.

For centuries we have pursued efficiency at all costs, applying it not only to systems and schedules but to soil itself. Now we are reaping the consequences, exhausted land, tired people. It is no wonder that mental health and hope are at a low ebb in general. Resilience cannot continue forever without new input, new energy and a new way of doing things. Land stewardship, where we work with nature rather than against it is what is needed.

This shift toward stewardship is explored practically through the model of a community funded sanctuary, where land is bought collectively and protected for long term regeneration.

The Cost of Extraction Culture

If we change land stewardship and our relationship toward nature to one of collaboration and nurturing then we will benefit. By planting companion plants and increasing bio diversity the natural ecosystem comes into balance, resulting in less pests and less disease in the plants and crops we plant and cultivate to eat (us or our animals). We also come into rhythm with nature as we plant, prune, harvest; understanding and respecting seasons but also the lunar cycles. Our own bodies align and balance better once we fall into alignment with natural cycles rather than trying to fight them. Trees and mountains don’t work 9 to 5 and have weekends off. They grow and pause as the elements dictate, as the light increases and decreases through the year.

Currently we have depleted soils which need more and more fertiliser. Devoid of organic content so that water just flows through rather than soaks in. More and more effort is needed for the same yields. This can change when we stop trying to profit and work with nature by using regenerative agriculture techniques. Everything we do is to improve or assist the soil and land. The same is true for humanity. There is so much drive to succeed but at what and at what cost? Success has become an ever moving target. The moment we reach it, it shifts. This results in even more trying, or people fall into listlessness when the goal is too big or too difficult to attain. We need to redefine success as balance rather than endless expansion. Like an ancient forest, an eco system which balances itself. Squirrels may thrive this year, Eagles next and so the cycle continues.

The biological consequences of this constant expansion, and why stillness is necessary for regulation, are explored further in Why Silence and Stillness Are Biological Requirements Not Luxuries.

Land Stewardship Versus Land Harvesting

We do not need all the produce we have. Much is left to waste in fields as it is; too small, too big, too lumpy, too smooth. If we cultivate in communities we can each have a sense of purpose and enjoy a balanced diet of vegetables and fruits and nuts in season full of nutrients. Animal husbandry can be handled the same way. Less food miles, more connection amongst the community and a sense of belonging overall. Land stewardship rather than land harvesting. One is a collaborative effort, the other is onesided and ends in disaster.

This more relational approach to conservation is part of a wider evolution toward a human and relational conservation model.

By joining together we can buy and own swathes of countryside to conserve it and to appreciate it. This is particularly simple to do in areas of Spain where the land has not yet become expensive. Building is carefully controlled in rural areas. Solar is kept to urban centres - where the current power lines are, in the main. Which leaves lots of lovely space for us to enjoy together. I don’t know anyone who, when returning from a walk in nature, regrets having gone. Nature is a natural healer and soothes our nerves and our minds. Unlike other forms of personal transformation you don’t have to do anything to benefit from being in nature. The new craze of forest bathing is tantamount to this. People, like you, feel calmer, more focused, more themselves when spending time in nature, especially when this is a regular part of their schedule.

Why Quiet Spaces Are Not Optional

The sights, sounds, smells and textures of nature are varied and subtle. There is so much to experience. The light as it makes shadows through the trees or across the hillside. The shapes of the rocks and branches, all the different colour greens dotted with pops of colour in a wildflower meadow. The sound of wind rippling through the sea of Barley. Every one of your senses is treated to a symphony of satisfaction and pleasure. The sounds of nature are organic and work with our senses. They are a far cry from the sounds of traffic, sirens blaring, notifications on your phone. We need quiet spaces. Away from the doing. Away from the distractions of modern life. Modern life itself is a distraction from being you. It is so easy for you to lose control over what harmonises your mind body and soul and what you should do. Spending some time in the “quiet” of nature in spaces dedicated for enjoyment whilst remaining wild places transforms people.

The importance of silence for nervous system regulation is explored in depth in Why Silence and Stillness Are Biological Requirements Not Luxuries.

This is why we are building Elemental Foundation. It brings together all of these pieces. Not to benefit one person or profit but to benefit us all. This is not a retreat centre designed for constant turnover. It is a protected sanctuary held collectively. A place where the primary purpose is stewardship, not consumption.

You can read more about how this sanctuary model works in What Is a Community Funded Sanctuary and How Does It Work.

Why Spain and Why Now

Sanctuary land in Spain is achievable if we act now. The UK population flocked to population centres in the 1980’s and 90’s, rural property lagged behind. 25 years later UK folk understood that living in the countryside was beneficial for their health and preferable to living in built up areas and thronged back. Most people benefit from regular time in quiet natural spaces. Research into nature exposure consistently shows reductions in stress and improvements in focus and emotional regulation. With this increase in demand the prices of country property and land have increased dramatically in the UK, making it unaffordable to live there for many people. Rural land in parts of Spain remains significantly more affordable than equivalent land in the UK. Urban migration patterns mirror those seen in Britain decades ago. Acting now allows protection before speculative demand increases. Acting now allows meaningful protection without requiring vast speculative capital. Later we become part of the solution for those who want to return to the countryside - or to sample doing so. We can be the bridge, rejoining people and nature for mutual benefit.

Elemental Foundation exists to shift our relationship with land from extraction to guardianship. To protect quiet before it disappears. To create places where humans and ecosystems can recover together.

In a burnt out world, stewardship is no longer optional. It is a responsibility.