Regenerative Agriculture Solutions

When the Univeristy of Colorado Boulder held its Conference on World Affairs for regenerative agriculture, I was exptecting strict soil science to be at the center stage. It was much more than I anticipated. I left the conference filled with vision, reflection, hope, and inspiration.

There’s so much I want to share with you about the sessions I attended on climate change, soil health, regenerative agriculture, and food security. It’s taken time to digest and condense everything into the most important highlights, concepts, and ideas. The expert panel of speakers surprised me with their intention of taking the science beyond the science and into matters of the heart.

First, here are some interesting facts:

Glyphosate is now detected in the rain.
There are 3,000 less chemicals in the organic food system than the conventional system.
We only know about 1% of what is in our food, and none of it is what we read on the nutrition panel on the side of a food package.
The same 200 + minerals that reside in soil, reside in us. Soil health is human health.
According to the 2017 USDA Census of Agriculture, less than 8% of our farmers are under 35 years of age.
Our current agricultural farming practices are built for yield over profit which has driven farmers into monocropping. This system has created a deficit in annual income for farmers as they continue to sink money into output such as industrial fertilizers and insecticides.

We are in trouble.

We, meaning the planet. We, meaning all living species on this planet. This is not new information. As a matter of fact, it’s old information. It’s so old that we have shoved it aside in denial, hopelessness, or apathy. Reversing environmental damage, along with the destruction of our farming practices, seems out of reach for most of us. Unfortunately, it only begins to have an impact when it hits close to home or becomes personal. The IPCC reports paint a grim picture for the future of our planet if bold actions aren’t taken immediately.

soil health — Rebuilding our connection to the soil and each other

It’s worrisome when we refuse to believe in the science. But, what is really troubling, is when we refuse to believe in our hearts. The saving of our land, our soil, our food, our ecosystems, our resources, and our health has to begin and end in the heart. Fear only leads to more of the same. Saving our planet isn’t an impossible task, but it requires us to dig deep into emotional connections and our faith in each other. Nobody is coming to save us except ourselves.

We have all the scientific data we need to prove the trouble we’re in, yet the urgency of action is severely lacking. We need to change our story about agriculture, food production, farming practices, climate change, and biodiversity. Until this becomes emotionally personal for people, change won’t take root.

From the speakers:

Nicole Masters, Director, Integrity Soils

“There’s a gap between what we’re committed to and what’s happening on the ground. There is so much fear in America and this causes the country to react and lose intelligence. This stops us from taking creative actions. Instead we become reactionary.”

Dr. Jonathan Lundgren, Agroecologist at notill.org

“Climate change isn’t the problem. It’s monocropping, tilling, insecticides, fertilizers, fungicides. We are losing what it is to be human with our connection to plants and animals. There is a gap between the scientific community and the people trying to help. There is a lack of trust. It all comes down to the relationships in communities that affect change.”

Maggie Fox, Co-founder, Global Biodiversity Narrative Project

“Human beings love data but it moves us to do nothing. Humans post-rationalize the information and don’t make decisions based on the information they receive. Decisions are emotional, not rational. We need to start changing the story of how we live on this planet. This is about generosity, purpose, and connection. If the world isn’t well, we aren’t well. We are not separate.”

Beck Christensen, President, Ecological Society of Austraila

“It’s the heart of people that moves us to change. Nobody listens to the scientist. Connecting people with a story and their hearts, that’s when we unlock change. We can start with the biodiversity in our own back yards.”

During the last session I attended, a man from the audience interrupted the speakers and claimed they were wasting his time. He wanted them to provide a list of specific actions he could take to stop climate change and the threats to biodiversity. Dr. Lundgren challenged him to share what he was personally doing to affect change. He couldn’t answer the question. The man was visibly upset as he repeated mulitple times how he’s a retired NOAA scientist turned land developer. As a scientist, he wanted concrete actions that could give him direction. As a land developer, what kind of solutions did he think he was offering? What if he invested in land instead of developing it? What if he purchased land and returned ownership to the Indigenous peoples for proper land stewardship? This man struggled to find the connection, demonstrating the perfect example of the gap the speakers were talking about. He was stuck in his own story. He’s not the only one.

We all need to take action and hold onto hope. We need the change to come from our hearts first. We have to go back in order to move forward and follow the teachings, farming practices, and respect for the land that our ancestors practiced.

So,what can we do?

The following are action items proposed by the panel speakers.

Grow food that restores the soil.
Invest in large scale land use change and manage land correctly.
Implement regenerative landscaping in urban areas.
Support organizations like the First Nations Development Institute to help Native land stewardship. In May, 2019, the Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services found environmental impacts were less severe or avoided in areas held or managed by Indigenous peoples and local communities.
Vote and get engaged in government and policies at the local level. Follow the Farm Bill and pay attention to how it affects local and regional policies.
Restore communities, especially rural environments.
Reconnect as a species as a part of this world, not separate from it. Get out in nature and take people with you.
Protect remaining habitats, such as our own back yards and soils.
Remain open to wonder and awe, and invite others to do the same. Dig in the dirt and grow a garden. Fall in love with bugs.

Here a few of my own suggestions.

Community Garden — Urban community gardening

Become a Soil Advocate through Kiss the Ground.
Get involved in your local gardening communities such as Denver Urban Gardens.
Support organizations like People and Pollinators, Wild Ones: Native Plants, Natural Landscapes, and The Xerces Society.
Support your local regenerative farmers and ranchers, local farmer’s markets, and farm to table restaurants.
Grow a garden in your back yard, with your neighbors, and at your local school.
Read my all-time favorite regenerative land, love and earth books.

Read these books:

Nature’s Best Hope: A New Approach to Conservation That Starts in Your Own Yard by Douglas W. Tallamay
For the Love of Soil by Nicole Masters
Regeneration: Ending the Climate Crisis in One Generation by Paul Hawken
Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer
Pastoral Song: A Farmer’s Journey by James Rebanks
Lawns Into Meadows: Growing a Regenerative Landscape by Owen Wormser
Call of the Reed Warbler by Charles Massy

Watch these documentaries:

This is the story of the soil beneath our feet and heart connections. It’s about filling the gap between science and the reality of the world we are living in. The only way to heal our planet, our land, our communities, and our health is together. What kind of ancestor do you want to be? We can change the story.

Honeywood Garden Design helps you create and build regenerative landscapes.

Soil Health & Actions for Change