Wendell Berry, an American farmer, novelist, and poet, passed away on August 31, 2026, at the age of 92. Berry farmed in Port Royal, Kentucky, his home state, for over 40 years. Through his writing and farming, he emphasized the importance of community and environmental stewardship, advocating for small-scale agriculture as essential for both people and the planet. His extensive body of work includes books such as The Unsettling of America: Culture and Agriculture (1977), Why I Am Not Going to Buy a Computer (1987), and The Mad Farmer Poems (2008). Berry's writing has contributed to a growing interest in a literary genre known as the "georgic," which has gained renewed attention in environmental humanities. The georgic is a classical form of writing that originated with the Roman poet Virgil, who wrote Georgics, a long poem offering advice on farming, animal care, and horticulture around 29 BCE. For centuries, this form was popular, but by the late 18th century, it had largely fallen out of favor in English as scientific agriculture shifted to prose-based instruction. Farming and environmentalism have often been at odds, especially with the rise of industrial agriculture in the 20th century. Industrial farming practices have led to significant environmental damage, including the decline of insect and bird populations, deforestation in the Amazon, and the spread of diseases between animals. However, since the 1980s, interest has grown in agroecology and regenerative farming—approaches that seek to balance human and environmental needs. These practices, often small-scale and community-led, have gained traction globally, from the United States to Brazil and the United Kingdom, where government programs now support farming that benefits nature. This renewed focus on sustainable farming is reflected in contemporary literature and culture. Scholars and writers are exploring how the georgic form can address modern environmental challenges. Today, the georgic is not limited to long, instructional poems. It includes farming memoirs, rewilding projects, and even television shows like Countryfile. Environmental scholar Pippa Marland has described the "new georgic" as a genre where farmers actively engage in restoring nature. Wendell Berry, with his lifelong commitment to farming and writing, is seen as a foundational figure in this movement, blending practical knowledge with a deep ethical vision for living in harmony with the land. Berry's work, while not focused on technical farming manuals, taught readers how to coexist with nature and care for the planet while sustaining communities. In his poem Manifesto: The Mad Farmer Liberation Front (1973), he urged people to think about the long-term future of the earth, not just in terms of profit or short-term gain. His writings encouraged readers to see the land as something to cherish and respect, rather than merely a resource to be exploited. Berry's legacy continues to inspire both farmers and non-farmers, showing that the ideas of care, attention, and negotiation with the natural world are just as important as the act of farming itself.