TomKat Ranch manager Mark Biaggi talks about dealing with winter floods, summer droughts, and degraded landscapes––and the process of continual experimentation that leads to dramatic regeneration of damaged land.
Landscapes evolved with animals and need animals to thrive. “Goatscaping” substitutes animals for machines and toxic chemicals to produce more resilient and healthy soil, plants, and even beneficial insect populations. They’re also incredibly cute.
The name of Pamela Tanner Boll‘s new film, To Which We Belong, comes from the great naturalist and conservationist Aldo Leopold, who understood the interconnection among all living beings, and the need to treat land with respect––and a deep sense of belonging.
Biologist Eva Stricker works with hog farmer Zach Withers and rancher Emily Cornell to study—and quantify—how compost works to heal degraded agricultural lands. So far the results are promising.
Jesse Smith‘s work aims for the opposite of planned obsolescence—the goals at Jalama Canyon Ranch are resilience and perennial productivity, through restoration of ecosystems and a truly regenerative vision of agriculture.
Getting certified for grassfed meat can be challenging–but the American Grassfed Association supports producers in regenerative practices that are good for the earth, the farmer, and the eater.