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Why is so much topsoil disappearing, and how can we reverse the trend?
Today’s program is from the Radio Cafe archives. David Johnson is a senior research scientist and molecular biologist at the Institute for Energy and the Environment at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces. We talk about the process of restoring soil, and how farmers, ranchers, and land managers can be incentivized to engage in healthy soil practices.
More Episodes
Episode 164 – From Suburban Chicago to Rural Montana: the Journey of a Bison Rancher
From Suburban Chicago to Rural Montana: the Journey of a Bison Rancher Matt Skoglund was an attorney with a conservation non-profit, but over time was drawn to work on the land. With no prior agrarian experience he started a successful bison ranch using regenerative...
Episode 163 – A Matter of Conscience: Will Harris on Regenerating an Industrial Ranch
A Matter of Conscience: Will Harris on Regenerating an Industrial Ranch In his new book, Will Harris describes the moment when he saw that his industrial ranch was cruel to animals and bad for the land. Before he'd ever heard the phrase "regenerative grazing" he...
Episode 162 – The Robber Barons of Today’s Food Industries
The Robber Barons of Today's Food Industries Iowan Austin Frerick saw his home state transform from a world of farms to one of toxic factory food and hollowed out rural communities. Yet he offers optimism and real solutions. Austin Frerick grew up in Iowa, which in...
Episode 161 – Farm Aid: Food, Festivity, and Fighting for Farmers
Farm Aid: Food, Festivity, and Fighting for Farmers In 1985 Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, and Neil Young organized a concert to benefit farmers and spread awareness of the crisis U.S. farmers were facing. Held in Champaign, Illinois, before a crowd of 80,000 people,...
Episode 160 – Healthy fish snacks––what cod be better?
Healthy fish snacks––what cod be better? Nick Mendoza grew up in a cattle ranching family in New Mexico, but when he moved to San Diego he fell in love with the ocean and got hooked on fish and marine science. Taking the lessons from regenerative cattle production to...
Episode 159 – The Carbon Credit Conundrum
The Carbon Credit Conundrum Carbon credits were designed as a market mechanism to incentivize projects that sequester carbon and reduce carbon emissions. The idea is to pay people who are doing climate friendly projects, and sell credits to carbon emitters. But do...
Episode 158 – At The Table: Chefs advocating for a better food system
At The Table: Chefs advocating for a better food system Katherine Miller, author of At The Table: The Chef’s Guide To Advocacy, began her work toward a healthier food system with a deep background in political advocacy. She trains chefs to use their position as...
Episode 157 – The six-legged livestock: Bees
The six-legged livestock: Bees Beehives take up little space on the land, but, like other livestock, bees need space to roam, and they need a varied diet. Beekeeper Melanie Kirby is a “landless farmer,” who sets up her beehives on farms and ranches, where the bees can...
Episode 156 – Bonus episode: Ask Me Anything!
Bonus episode: Ask Me Anything! Anica Wong is Quivira Coalition’s communications director and she had the idea for an “ask me anything” episode with Down to Earth host Mary-Charlotte Domandi… and here it is! Listeners asked questions and we answered as best we could,...
Episode 155 – Photographing grasslands: beauty, community, life
Photographing grasslands: beauty, community, life Photographer Sally Thomson‘s new book, Homeground, is a deep exploration of rangelands in the Southwest––landscapes, livestock, water, wildlife, and the stewards who keep the land thriving. With her background in...
Episode 154 – Land, sheep, and the inefficiency of being too efficient
Land, sheep, and the inefficiency of being too efficient Elena Miller Ter-Kuile is a sixth-generation farmer living in southern Colorado. At Cactus Hill Farm she and her father raise sheep for wool, grass-fed meat and organic grain and hay––practices held by her...
Episode 153 – Transforming 40 million acres of lawns into thriving ecosystems
Transforming 40 million acres of lawns into thriving ecosystems Erik Ohlsen has been working in permaculture and land restoration for 25 years. Founder and owner of Permaculture Artisans, he’s the author of the new book, The Regenerative Landscaper: Design and Build...
Episode 152 – Sheep and goats for healthy land, thriving businesses, and fire reduction
Sheep and goats for healthy land, thriving businesses, and fire reduction Cole Bush is a shepherdess, entrepreneur, and educator. Founder of Shepherdess Land & Livestock and Grazing School of the West, she uses a “flerd” (flock-herd) of sheep and goats to restore...
Episode 151 – Words of wisdom from a holistic veterinarian and regenerative dairy farmer
Words of wisdom from a holistic veterinarian and regenerative dairy farmer Dr. Hubert Karreman studied soil science in college, and working on the land he fell in love with dairy cows and organic farming. Working with large animals led him to study veterinary...
Episode 150 – Funneling federal ag money to the people who most need it
Funneling federal ag money to the people who most need it The Biden administration has allocated significant funding to promoting healthy and resilient food systems, and they’re directing it toward smaller and midsize businesses, not the huge conglomerates. But how...
Episode 149 – How to have family business meetings that are productive––and short
How to have family business meetings that are productive––and short Jenn Wheeling and her four siblings were raised at the James Ranch in Durango, Colorado. At 18 they were sent out into the world, but one by one four of the five came back to live on the ranch and...