What is Sustainable Eco-Extensible Horticulture?

In information technology, "extensible" describes something — such as a program, programming language, or protocol — that is designed so that users (or later designers) can extend its capabilities. Extensibility can be a primary reason for the system, as in the case of the Extensible Markup Language (XML), or it may be only a minor feature, such as a database extension. Approaches to extensibility include facilities (sometimes called hooks) for allowing users to insert their own program routines, the ability to define new data types, and the ability to define new formatting markup tags.

We view this concept as "sustainability" when applied to natural systems. Eco-Extensible Horticulture is designed, therefore, with a core set of principles or processes, but with the flexibility to permit growers, producers, and their collaborators to extend its capabilities when different or novel ways of addressing local environmental concerns in production unit management is necessary. This could mean revisiting more traditional ways of soil management, fertilizing, pest control, or crop management by obtaining, evaluating, and using local knowledge, as well as by promoting innovation in harvesting, processing, packaging and other food production practices.

Core goals include encouraging stewardship in the relationships of humans to the land and their communities by caring for and sustaining the productive capacity of native environments, including humans and the environment in which we live. This stewardship reflects values of sustainability not only in food production, but in energy, water management, work, housing, facilities, education, personal and familial relationships, as well as community; in short, the total ecosystem.

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