Off-Grid Living and Christian Community with Jack Dody of Abundaculture

Food and farming matters to God because they are part of his design and creation and impact the life and health of every person on earth. But Satan also cares, because the control of food and farming brings opportunities and power for his agenda of death, theft, and slavery. As we seek to be faithful to steward the land and serve others, it is important that we understand the battle we live in so we can accurately walk in truth and live effective lives. In this episode I talk with filmmaker and speaker Curtis Bowers about the dangers we face in this day and age,  the joy of walking in radical obedience to God, and the opportunities we have as Christian land stewards.

I highly recommend that you check out Curtis' resources and consider subscribing to his weekly newsletter.
https://agendaweekly.com/

If you would like to support the show please visit: https://redeemingthedirt.com/support/ 

As we seek to follow God, even in stewarding the land, we must be motivated by faith in his wisdom and guidance. Many people are feeling called to build 'ark' homesteads as a protection against times of judgement and difficulty. Sometimes it can be discouraging and be easy to second guess what we are doing, but we must always return to acting in faith, even when it seems foolish. The roles people are called to may be different, and not everyone is called to 'build an ark', but we must persevere in faith and faithfulness in whatever part God has given us in building his Kingdom. In this podcast episode I share some of my recent thoughts and encouragements that I hope will be a blessing. 

In the United States most of us receive our daily necessities of food, water, energy, shelter and sanitation from the 'grid', a complex system of production and distribution. This grid is a historically unprecedented economic system that is characterized by specialization, centralization, complication, and communication. It is incredible in its ability to create and supply a wide range of services and products. However, it also creates a society of consumers who don't need many practical skills or relationships with local people. Many of us would likely die if the fragility of the 'grid' resulted in its total or partial collapse if the conditions of peace and stability it relies on disappears. But even if it doesn't collapse, the benefits of decreasing dependency on that grid can help us create families and communities that experience greater freedom and health. In this podcast episode I talk with Kemble Hildreth of Acorn Land Labs about practical thoughts and simple solutions for decreasing our dependency on unhealthy, vulnerable industrial systems.

"Then I heard another voice from heaven saying,

“Come out of her, my people,
    lest you take part in her sins,
lest you share in her plagues."

Revelation 18:4 ESV

Links:

https://shop.liveoakcs.com/pages/acorn-land-lab

To support the Show go to www.redeemingthedirt.com/support

We live in an age where the family is viewed primarily as a unit of consumption. Families consume entertainment together, take vacations together, eat out together, and buy gifts for each other on birthdays and holidays. And these are great things to do together. But historically and biblically families were also productive and worked together to create valuable products and services through family households, homesteads, businesses and farms. Families that worked together with a common desire to serve others had unity and were at the foundation of healthy economies. 

For many of us one of the attractions of agriculture is the ability to do meaningful work together with the people that we love most in life: our family.  Fewer and fewer jobs today allow for the participation of multiple ages and generations and agriculture is a space particularly suited for building and investing in relationships. And while this is the intention for many of us, the reality of learning to do this on a daily basis while coming from a culture of fragmentation, efficiency, and production can be challenging.

In this episode I speak with Rory Groves, author of the book Durable Trades, about the blessing and challenge of learning to be productive families that work as a team as we learn to listen to and follow Jesus together.

Rory's Book Durable Trades: https://a.co/d/8uENOz3

Upcoming Agricultural and Discipleship Training: https://redeemingthedirt.com/training/

Lamplighter Guild Horticulture Course: https://themastersguild.net/summerguild

The new opportunities and potential of artificial intelligence are making waves in the digital world even as many of us are busy working in our gardens in the world of nature. We can ignore AI tools like ChatGPT, but they will impact our families and farms directly or indirectly whether we like it or not, the same way the internet and cell phones have. It is important that we understand the technology,  it's ramifications, and intentionally engage or disengage from it so that we avoid negative consequences and view it as the powerful tool that it is. My friend, Kevin, joins me on the show today to discuss how we as Christians should view any new technology like this and how we should respond to it. The AI generated picture that he created for a project with his boys is the artwork for this episode. Pretty crazy. 

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It can be exciting to think about using gardens to serve and teach people in our community. But it can also be daunting. The good news is that we aren't designed to do it alone! In this episode I do a panel interview with members of the leadership team of the Well-Watered Gardens of Johnson County . They have created a wonderful model of collaborating with local organizations, volunteers, and churches to impact their community through a half dozen Well-Watered Gardens. I hope that their story will inspire you to gather your own team! 

You can check out their Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/The-Well-Watered-Gardens-of-Johnson-County-104591021242781

You can download the free Well-Watered Garden Handbook at www.wellwateredgardenproject.org

If you are interested in our May 2023 In-Depth Training you can use this link to learn more info. https://redeemingthedirt.regfox.com/foundations-for-farming-training-for-trainers-may-2023

To find out about other upcoming trainings go to www.redeemingthedirt.com/training

To support the show go to https://redeemingthedirt.com/support/

In 2021 Scott and Beth Sherman were sent by their pastor to a Foundations for Farming training where they learned about the Well-Watered Garden Project. After returning to their church in Naples, Florida they started a church community garden where they have trained over 200 people to 'Garden God's Way'. As a result they have created a vibrant community, grown the church, and introduced people to Jesus for the first time. Imagine what it would be like if churches all over the country were able to start similar projects? 

To learn more about the Well-Watered Garden Project go to www.wellwateredgardenproject.org

To support the show go to www.redeemingthedirt.com/support

Does agriculture have a place in ministering to and helping the poor and marginalized in developed nations? In this interview I speak with Nick and Anna Heasman, whose family has been using gardening to work with long-term unemployed people. They have a vision and calling to implement the principles of Foundations for Farming in the UK and we get to hear some of the amazing journey God has them on. 

Support the show at www.redeemingthedirt.com/support

Does the lifestyle that we lead really matter as a Christian? How can we be good stewards not only in agriculture, but in the choices we make as consumers? In this episode I talk with Sarah and Nelson Phero about their journey in starting Hospitality Spring Farm and how their lifestyle has enabled them to share Christ with their community and people from abroad.

You can purchase Sarah's book, Stewards of the Earth: A Call to More Sustainable Living at the following link. 
https://www.hospitalityspringfarm.com/hospitality-spring-publications/

You can learn more about their farm at:
www.hospitalityspringfarm.com

Support the Redeeming the Dirt Podcast at https://redeemingthedirt.com/support/

As many of us look to grow some of our own food in these times of threatening food shortages, energy often comes up on our radar as something else we depend on. In this episode of the Redeeming the Dirt Podcast Noah speaks with Jack Dody who has been living off-grid and helping others design off-grid systems around the world for decades. Jack shares practical advice and tips on real world systems and helps us recognize the importance of Christian community for true resilience. 

Check out Jack Dody's website at: http://www.abundaculture.org/atm/
Here is Jack Dody's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/Abundaculture
And here is the house church website Jack mentioned on the show: https://lk10.com/