"It is this sort of external accounting that deals with connections and thus inevitably raises the issue of quality. Which, I take it, is always the same as the issue of propriety: how appropriate is the tool to the work, the work to the need, the need to other needs and the needs of others, and to the health of the household or community of all creatures?" [p51]

"…the problems of propriety are never 'solved' but are ceaselessly challenging and interesting." [p 51]

and as a sort of restating of the 'fault line:'

"…in any culture that could be called healthy or sane we find a much richer, larger concept of intelligence. We find, first, some way of acknowledging in action the existence of 'higher intelligence.' And we find that the human mind, in such a culture, is invariably strongly placed, in reference to other minds in the community and in cultural memory and tradition, and in reference to earthly localities and landmarks." [p57] (emphasis in the original)

It strikes me that your call in this essay could be a way for us to begin rebuilding the culture that defines (yes, subjectively) flourishment in each of our home places. And that while I may be able to come down to the ranch and recognize the flourishment you've created, it's not until I've immersed myself in the culture, economy and ecology of your place (not to mention sufficiently humbling myself) that I could possibly possess the intelligence to create flourishment as part of my efforts to feed myself.

Thanks for another thoughtful essay.