A Sand County Almanac Review: Good Business Practices

WK9-2Q
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WK9-2Q
In his book titled “A Sand County Almanac,” Aldo Leopold criticizes how people view land. Leopold considers that there might be different definitions for what is good or business when he explains the nitty-gritty behind land ethics. He uses various examples to define the excellent behavior individuals can engage in to showcase their love and respect for the land. He says, "One should plant a garden, preferably where there is no grocer to confuse the issue" (Leopold, 1989, p. 6). In this statement, he encourages humans to plant a garden to recognize that what they eat daily does not just appear in the grocery store. It requires effort and dedication before it lands on a shelf for sale.
He evaluates various inventions regarding being good and says that they are a double sword. He cites the shovel as a good invention as it brought about tree planting. The invention of the axe meant that this same tree could easily be chopped off. Therefore, he goes on to state, "Whoever owns the land has thus assumed whether he knows it or not, the divine functions of creating and destroying plants" (Leopold, 1989, p. 67). In this statement, he indicates that to be considered good, man must choose whether to create or destroy plants by their actions. When describing the business nature of the land, Leopold indicates that the government is in charge of regulating the land. However, he states that nature seizes to have any value besides economic value to the government. He states that man looks at land as a resource that can be manipulated and extracted for its economic value. He criticizes those that favor preserving land with plants and trees that are economically advantageous. "Land relations is strictly economically entailing privileges but not obligations" (Leopold, 1989, p. 203). He indicates that people are more likely to take care of land if it gives them economic advantages and feels no obligation to ensure that they do not pollute it.
When defining the practices that man can engage in that are good for the land. Leopold calls upon man to preserve nature by taking care of it. He believes that each plant and tree is beneficial to animals or humans. He indicates, "Every slap of dead bark is, to them, a treasure of eggs, larvae, and cocoons” (Leopold, 1989, p. 76). In this statement, Leopold defines the anxiety of chickadees waiting for a diseased or dead tree to be cut down. He also encourages humans to chop off any diseased tree as a responsible activity in conserving nature.