• February 28, 2021

Within Understanding Ag, we teach what we term Adaptive Stewardship. We believe this to be an integral part of regenerative agriculture because without a good understanding of stewardship, we cannot be good practitioners of regenerative principles. The dictionary defines stewardship as “the responsible overseeing and protection of something considered worth caring for and preserving” or “the position and duties of a steward, a person who acts as the surrogate of another or others.”

Meaning of Steward

If we look at the ancient Hebrew definition of a steward, we find that the root word is oikonomia, taken from oikonomeo, which means to manage a property or household, to look after another person’s affairs. For those who follow the creation account spelled out in Genesis, chapters 1 and 2, we understand that God placed man in the garden and told him to “work it and to keep it.” The two Hebrew verbs used here have great meaning. The first is le’ovdah, meaning “to serve it.” The second verb is leshomrah, meaning “to guard it.” This immediately placed humankind in the position of being the guardian of property that belongs to someone else and that, while guarding, we must also exercise vigilance and be personally liable for losses due to negligence.

Our Responsibility

My immediate response to that is “Wow.” What an awesome (even fearful) responsibility we have to be stewards over the earth and all that is contained therein. It also tells me that I, nor anyone else, owns this earth, nor do we own nature. Psalm 24:1 states, “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof.” That means we are stewards on behalf of God and we are bound to respect His creation and to care for it. To nurture it. This mandate applies to every man, woman, and child, without exception.

Considering that no one individual ever possesses land for more than his or her lifetime, we all owe debts to those who came before us and to the future generations. We inherited the land in its current state and we will leave it in a certain state for those who follow us. In the case of most of us alive today, we inherited a significantly degraded resource. The question before us is, “Will we continue to be extractive or will we be regenerative?”

So, what is included in our charge to be stewards of the land we have been blessed with? The answer is quite simple: all life. The life that starts beneath the soil surface and extends to the ecosystems around us. We are not just responsible for our livestock or the crops we grow. We hold responsibility for the life in the soil, for the function of the mineral and water cycles, for the life of beneficial insects and pollinators, for birds, wildlife, and plants. Whenever we make a decision to do something or apply something that harms this life, we must ask ourselves “Are we being good stewards? Are we perpetuating life and regeneration or are we perpetuating further degradation?” The simple act of asking ourselves those questions on a routine basis can have a profoundly positive impact on our farms, our communities and our quality of life.

The 6-4-3

This is why we teach and operate by what we call the “6-4-3” rule. This refers to the Six Principles of Soil Health, the Four Ecosystem Processes, and the Three Rules of Adaptive Stewardship. Operating under these guidelines helps hold us accountable for what we do on our farms and encourages good stewardship.

The Six Principles are:

1. Context – We must understand our context. That includes goals & objectives, farm and family history, desired profits, production system, and markets.
2. Minimize disturbance – Nature doesn’t till for a reason. We should minimize disturbance through minimizing tillage, chemical and synthetic applications, or any practice that potentially harms the very life we are charged with protecting.
3. Keep the soil covered (armored) – Keep residue or living plant material on the soil at all times. Do not expose the soil surface to harsh temperatures, wind and water erosion, and rapid evaporation.
4. Keep living roots in the soil – Living roots feed soil microbes and vice versa, so plant cover crops after cash crops. Do not leave bare soil.
5. Encourage and facilitate diversity – This refers to diversity in all life, including soil microbes, plants, insects, birds, wildlife, and livestock.
6. Incorporate Livestock – Grazing and foraging animals play a vital role in soil fertility, biodiversity, and ecosystem function.

The Four Ecosystem Processes are:

1. Water cycle – We are responsible for how water infiltrates, is retained, or runs off our land.
2. Mineral cycle – Moving minerals through soil, plants, and animals supports the broader carbon cycle.
3. Energy Flow – Solar energy drives photosynthesis and supports all life on earth.
4. Community dynamics – Biological succession occurs as species enter or leave environments based on conditions.

The Three Rules of Adaptive Stewardship are:

1. Rule of Compounding – Every action creates cascading positive or negative effects.
2. Rule of Diversity – Nature avoids monocultures; diversity strengthens ecosystems.
3. Rule of Disruption – Nature is dynamic; planned disruptions build resilience and adaptability.

Summary

As a truly good steward of the land, we have been entrusted with this noble calling, but it brings with it deep and sobering responsibility. How we handle that responsibility affects not only our lives but also future generations. By using the “6-4-3” rule as a compass for your farm or ranch, you can confidently answer: “A legacy of regeneration and of life.”