Goin' Green, Pt. 3 in the Vinyard....pre St. Francis Day

As I sit here on the terrace of Cantina Monte Vibiano, overlooking grapevines and rolling hills of olive groves I am impressed by their efforts to make this place not only beautifully functional, but also “green.” In the service of their guests they offer tours in solar powered vehicles, the guests are served on recycled plates, and the business is operated as not only carbon neutral, but generates more electricity than they use with their use of solar panels. They call it their 360° green revolution. They have worked to make everything within their farms, winery and olive oil production work with an eye toward the good of the earth.

These efforts are neither cheap nor easy. From construction costs to the purchase of environmentally friendly products for service, they pay more to lessen their impact on the environment. They have a special engineer hired for the specific purpose to maintain their green standards and make tweaks and changes here and there so the production is always top quality and respectful of mother earth. It has taken many years to get to this point, and more than one generation.

In a world where we are constantly reminded of dwindling resources and damage to our environment, our neighbors here have quietly worked to change their farm and business which has been in their family for hundreds of years. It is a good reminder that in whatever business we are in, even in our daily lives that we can be intentional about how we walk on God’s earth to leave it in as good or better condition than we were born into. Certainly modern times have produced goods that pollute, even this computer I am working on now. But with intention and care we can make our “things” last longer, we can plant vegetation instead of paving, we can live more simply so others can simply live. This is not always easy, but it is rewarding. The reward for me in this place is to smell the fresh air, to know my electricity today comes from the sun (there is a nuclear plant over the hill), and to know the fruits of the vines and trees have no chemical sprays, I know what I am eating. It is a feast for the senses and rest for a weary soul that has spent so much time in the smog of cities. It is a peace that knows that as we care for God’s creation, we care for ourselves. How do you care for creation as a reflection of your care for yourself and others? How does nature reflect God and creation and your place in it?