Sisters of Providence Land Ethic

Below is a portion of the Land Ethic of the Sisters of Providence. This is a set of ideals to help guide our actions in regard to Earth. We hope it offers you ideas for creating your own such list of guiding principles for living in harmony with creation.

As members of one sacred Earth community, we Sisters of Providence commit ourselves individually and communally to care for our resources and to make decisions regarding their current and future use as we seek to balance our individual and SP communal economic needs with the sustainability needs of Earth community. The following commitments will guide our decisions regarding the care and use of our resources.
Care and use of resources

• We will conserve natural resources and preserve species unique to an area.
• We will make every effort to use non-toxic materials that will not poison Earth community in the present or in the future.
• We will promote conservation and reduction of consumption by recycling and purchasing recycled materials.
• We will practice conservation and restoration of land through food production, management of forests and wild spaces, and healing and re-habitation of diminished areas.
• We will be advocates for ethical principles in resource use at local, state, national and global levels.
• We will explore options and possibilities as we seek both environmental and financial sustainability.
• We will research options such as: land trusts, easements, deed restrictions and the transfer or selling of development rights, for the protection of our resources and will investigate their ramifications.
• We will provide educational opportunities and share our own lived experiences, both individually and communally, in our efforts to live in right relationship within Earth community.

(This article originally appeared in the Spring 2015 issue of HOPE magazine.)