The Importance Of Sustainability On The Environment

I used to believe that sustainability meant to take a stand to preserve the earth. Now however, my position on sustainability has dramatically changed. Sustainability is a way of living. As beings on this earth, we are accountable for our ecological impacts, and it is our responsibility to ensure that we are living sustainably. By examining sustainability through the farming and organic agriculture of Herman Mentink, the saving of the whales and it relation to Pete Seeger, my definition of sustainability changed from taking a stand, to a way of living. Herman Mentink lives sustainably by taking responsibility for the potentially harmful animal waste produced on his farm and uses it to his advantage (Mannell & Bingham, Personal Communication,

Herman manages his farm in a way that promotes a positive nitrogen cycle and allows him to give back to the earth. Herman collects his animal’s manure, which is very high in nitrogen and mixes it with straw, which is low in nitrogen. This creates a balanced nitrogen cycle. Nitrogen helps plants grow, but high levels nitrogen can pollute the earth. By mixing these two ingredients Herman creates a fertilizer that slowly releases nitrogen to his crops, and allows them to thrive (Mannell & Bingham, Personal Communication, SUST 1000 Cluster 1, September 22 2016). Herman’s farming methods discussed in cluster one share similarities with the organic farming discussed in cluster two. Organic agriculture is a way to produce food without compromising the health of soils, ecosystems, and people. Organic agriculture is also important because it makes people aware of how they can farm more sustainably (Hammermeister, Singh, Mannell & Bingham, Personal Communication, SUST 1000 Cluster 2, October 11 2016). Herman is practicing organic agriculture in the way that he produced food that benefits the environment and preserves the health of the surrounding ecosystems. Herman is taking responsibility for the potentially harmful waste his animals create and is instead using it to farm organically and benefit the environment. Through examining how Herman takes steps to preserve the environment and live sustainably in his daily life it becomes clear that sustainability is a way of