Drew Crain gives a great overview of the biblical and scientific justifications for tending to the land, as well as some practical ways people can get involved.
READ: https://biologos.org/articles/environmental-ethics-and-motivations-for-christians
Lots of (ahem) locally sourced food for thought there. I was reflecting on the examples given as well as the overall concept of aesthetic based environmentalism, and feel it is really a tough sale. It is so subjective, and as with most such voluntary efforts is subject to wide variation. A few random thoughts:
Locally sourced food. What is local? Walking distance? Donkey cart distance? One day in the back of a pickup truck? 2000 miles? At least that would let me have seedless grapes from California. Forget the one one from Chili, though. No more bananas. I have to admit, the most ridiculous thing ever is bottling water and trucking it across the country in plastic bottles when you can turn on a faucet. Not to mention imported beer and wine. Well, guess I did mention it anyway.
Amazon. Should I cancel my account?
Mega-churches. Should all churches be house churches in walking distance? Cathedrals are aesthetically pleasing, but a waste of resources, so what about them?
Plastic. Paper bags actually are claimed to be worse for the environment.
Deforestation. I’m good there. I am all if favor of planting trees. Lots of trees. Just need a way for folks to make a living and have locally grown food without cutting them down which is an issue.
The pragmatist in me thinks: I agree with the author’s statement,“many still value the land for economics and not aesthetics” although I would extend it further to say that economics drive pretty much everything, including ethics. And aesthetics. Paul said it first, in 1 Timothy, " The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil." Until we make environmental responsibility financially beneficial, we are doomed to failure.
Well, enough rambling. I need to think about what trees to plant this fall. Good time of year to plant.
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So many considerations, you are right!
I love eating primarily local (regional or state, like from a farmers market), but citrus is hard to come by around here. It certainly depends on things like budget, too! I also still drive to the FM…but that’s a whole thing.
I am constantly conflicted about Amazon for lots of reasons, but that could go a whole new direction we don’t need.
My church isn’t quite within walking distance, but I like a neighborhood church because you can live and church alongside the same community, and service to the community is often your own community. (Depending on what type of living situation)
So maybe I just liked this article because I felt good that I was making good strides. 
I like purchasing from companies that make things from recycled things, but they’re also not local, so there’s the shipping thing. I think a lot of it will be a tradeoff like that, unfortunately.
I thought it was exciting but then (sorry @jpm) I’ve always been moved by aesthetics at least as much as by ethics. I was inspired to message my cousin who home schooled and now teaches science at a Christian school to share the article. I let her know about your resources and forums for home schooling. It would be way cool if she if likes it.
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These data are not from one lab or one scientific group, but from a paper entitled “World scientists’ warning to humanity: A second notice” that was co-authored by 15,364 scientists from 184 countries. In summary, scientists have sent a clear and urgent message.
That’s a great stat for all the times you hear there’s not really a consensus.
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I thought the same!
While the article here makes a strong case for why we should care for creation, I ran across this blog discussing why evangelical Christianity leans toward not supporting those efforts. I thought the way he contrasted motivations for opposition to evolution with the motivations for opposition to environmentalism was insightful and relevant to this forum.
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