By: Derek Polzer, Advisory Board Member
I woke up this morning to the news of Wendell Berry’s passing & knowing his age, it was expected, but for some reason I couldn’t accept it.
He was a mentor to many of us who came of age in the 60’s & 70’s. His work articulated feelings & ideas that we could not quite find the words for ourselves. I remember being given a copy of Unsettling of America 25th birthday & feeling such a sense of awe by what I was reading I underlined or yellow highlighted just about every line in the book! He spoke so clearly, & I listened!
When a void is left, who or what will fill it. I will not say he was the last of his kind, there are many who have given heed to his message & have acted on it. There are those who have taken his words & ideas to heart even in places within suburban & urban locales, & in the spirit of Gerald Winstanley & the Diggers, have created community gardens & farms on abandoned lots & other available land.
We speak today of “sustainability” using the language of high technology & extraction economics, Berry spoke in the ancient language of agrarianism, the reciprocal relationship between the planter & the giving Earth. My hope is that the coming generations will give heed to the words of Wendell Berry & learn from them, or as another Man of Wisdom once said, “Those who have ears, let them hear”!
…paddling ever onward! Derel Polzer
Check out this story & more on the Community Blog! Get notified for every new post. Subscribe Today!
We are Bringing the Rewild Revolution to New Jersey. Get notified of every new post. Subscribe Today!
Join the Rewild NJ Community.
Learn More & Connect
Email: rewildnjcc@gmail.com
Follow us on social media @rewildnjcc.
Support
Rewild New Jersey Community Cooperative (RNJCC) is completely volunteer based and self-funded. Contribute to support our projects and development!
Rewild New Jersey Community Cooperative (RNJCC) is currently pending nonprofit organization status. Contributions are not tax deductible.
