Farmer-poet Wendell Berry’s environmental ethics were deeply rooted in his Christian faith and belief in caring for creation
Berry’s belief that humans have a responsibility to care for God’s creation traces back to the Book of Genesis. So does an opposing argument for environmental exploitation.
Wendell Berry, a celebrated Kentucky farmer and poet who passed away on August 31, 2026, was renowned for his deep-rooted environmental ethics that stemmed from his Christian faith. Throughout his 92-year life, Berry cultivated his Lane's Landing farm in Henry County using traditional methods, including draft horses, crop rotation, and natural fertilizers. His Christian Baptist beliefs guided him to practice what he preached, adhering to a philosophy known as creation care today.
Berry firmly believed in the Genesis passage, which asserts that humans are caretakers of the Earth, not its owners. He wrote, "We are allowed to make no exceptions – every person’s obligation toward creation is summed up in two words from Genesis 2:15: 'Keep it.'" This principle guided his opposition to environmentally destructive practices, such as mountaintop-removal coal mining, which he witnessed destroying Kentucky's streams and forests.
In 2013, Berry joined a protest against mountaintop mining at the Kentucky Capitol, where he emphasized his lifelong commitment to environmental stewardship. He participated in a multiday sit-in, stating his intention to stay involved as long as the Lord spared him. Berry's environmental ethics, deeply rooted in his Christian faith, strongly influenced his work, which often advocated for a more humble, respectful, and skillful approach to utilizing the Earth's resources.
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