WHY WE NEED LIRA
Before God formed the far-flung depths of the cosmos, He shaped the earth and called the first crop of life out of the ground (Genesis 1:11). God planted a garden for the man of earth to teach him to do the same (Genesis 2:8, 15). The earth was made to give life to man, and man to draw life from the earth.
A whole generation of Israelites knew nothing but manna to eat their whole lives. Yet when they harvested the first crop from their new home across the Jordan, the manna ceased (Joshua 5:12). The land God had promised was itself His provision for their daily bread.
Thousands of human souls gathered to Jesus in the wilderness, hungry for His Word. When their thousands of human stomachs were soon rumbling, Jesus didn’t send them away to be filled elsewhere. Instead Jesus asked his disciples, “You give them something to eat. What do you have?” (Mark 6:37-38)
The Lutheran Institute of Regenerative Agriculture puts this life, provision, and question into the the hearts and hands of Christians today. Learning from the wisdom of cultivators ancient and modern.
LIRA will teach each coming generation to harvest rich life from the earth in ways that provide yet more richness for the future.
The methods taught are eminently accessible, requiring little overhead and minimal land. They also reward innovation, attentiveness, and the honest sweat of the brow by which God says we will eat bread.
With hands in the soil, apprentices will learn the rhythm, skill, and art of a life worth living in every age and every place. They will learn a life that endures regardless of the world’s circumstances, resilient to the world’s changes.
They will learn a whole and wholesome life of quiet blessing for all their neighbors. Once trained up in this life, sent out, and settled down, apprentices aid local Lutheran churches to become the cornerstone for their community’s life and welfare.
Broken as this creation is, it is still a divine gift to us. Broken as we are, we are still creation’s lords with the command and responsibility to cultivate and keep it (Genesis 1:28).
The world needs from the Church more men and women who know this and live this, many more.
LIRA is how we start.
This article is from LIRA partners Rev. Timm & Hannah Heath, whose humble homestead grows in New York State’s Southern Tier.
WHY LIRA
“We have had the pleasure of supporting LIRA with our own hands and resources during the early stages of the project and look forward to a long relationship as our family grows up. This unique project is vitally important, not just as a means for the next generation to learn skills for food security, but also as the future hub of a tangible community where we can learn to live, work and grow together. LIRA has a courageous vision and plan to build back faithfully, against the chaos of our times.”
-John Rabe, Lincoln, NE
“In a world of same old, same old, this institute is a breath of fresh country air. What a great opportunity to engage the body and soul in a setting that reconnects our people to the soil, and leads to the harvest of souls. When it comes to the restoration of Christian culture, the Lutheran Institute of Regenerative Agriculture is leading the way. Pray that this is the beginning of an even greater Pentecost harvest, rooted in the goodness of the God who has created and redeemed us.”
-Dr. Peter J. Scaer, Professor of Exegetical Theology CTSFW
“The Lutheran Institute for Regenerative Agriculture just makes common sense. We need a rural revival and the faith community is vital and central to this effort. A deeper connection to the soil helps heal the soul and inspires stronger relationships between each other. I am honored to know the Marondes and celebrate their genuine and welcoming spirit with a strategic plan to better the world. I know without a shadow of a doubt the love they have for Jesus will continue to transform the farm into a positive mission for generations to come.”
-Kerry Hoffschneider, Co-Founder of the Graze Master Group.
All Knowledge and Experiences Undergirded by our Lutheran Theological Heritage, Placing Care of God’s Creation Into a Biblical Framework
THE NEW GREAT SETTLING OF AMERICA
With the Great Settling of America, our ancestors came across the plains with determination, hopes, and dreams for a bit of land to call their own. They brought with them their most precious belongings, the greatest of which was their faith in God.
The rich knowledge of skills passed down allowed success: tending the land, caring for animals, growing, storing, preparing their own food…how to make a house…..how to make a home… living in quiet peace and living in community.
They longed for a bit of land. They had the knowledge they needed to allow them to have a bit of earth. Rooted to the land and in community with one another, they were connected into a whole that was greater than the parts.
Our Ancestors had dreams in their hearts of a bit of land and a greater life of possibilities for the future. Today those possibilities for our children are more slim and narrow.
Many do not possess the skills needed to be self-sufficient and self reliant. Many today have hopes and dreams of being connected to a bit of earth, but they may not see it as an option. Land has become too expensive to procure and equipment costs are beyond what a young family or new farmer can bear. Many who would root in our communities find it unrealistic to do so.
It is estimated that 400 million acres will change hands in the next 10 years. Who will be there to steward this land? Whom will be the ones to impact our environment, rural communities and landscapes all across the country?
Here awaits our incredible opportunity.
With a rich knowledge of versatile, inexpensive, and innovative ways of living off the land, we can succeed. With the foundational knowledge of self-sufficiency that we share, our communities can thrive and be sustainable.
What if we create a future full of strong men and women who are knitted to the earth and devoted to God and one another?
Rooted to the land and in community with one another, we are connected to a whole that is greater than the parts. Rooting to the land, bringing along our most precious gift-faith in God, is where we begin.
Let us have a New Great Settling of America.
Let us build something beautiful together.
Offering Knowledge & Diverse Experiences In:
Permaculture Gardening Techniques
Food Preparation and Preservation
Orchard Maintenance and Care
Fruit Guilds
Silvopasture Techniques
Small and Large Scale Poultry Flock
Cattle Pasture Grazing Systems
Innovative, Inexpensive Pasture-Based Structures Watering Systems
Visiting Partner Regenerative Operations
The study of Art, Literature, Theology, and History Accompanying Farm Experiences
The Lutheran Institute of Regenerative Agriculture will teach the rich heritage of Western civilization alongside the rich heritage of pasture-based agriculture, providing summer work and apprenticeship opportunities for young people and hosting conferences and retreats for the Church and world.
