Extra! Extra! Farming Goes Regenerative!

You can probably guess that I’m not going to tell you it’s okay to eat foods that have been nearly drowned in pesticides. Pesticides are poisons. They kill living organisms. Preservatives are also poisons. They are designed to kill living organisms that cause rot, a natural breaking-down of dead cells.

So, what do you do about it? Well, your options are limited mostly by the strength of your desire to be healthy and live a long, healthy life. Some organic vegetables and fruits are healthier than their conventionally grown counterparts not only because they don’t have as many pesticides, but also because they have more nutrients. This makes sense if you think about it. Organic plants have to work harder to survive. They aren’t sprayed with pesticides, so they have to have better immune systems. Also, organic produce is grown in soil treated only with natural fertilizers, so it contains more nutrients.

Unfortunately, BIG BUSINESS has wiggled its way into organic farming, and has lobbied (payed) lawmakers to water-down the requirements for organic certification. “Free range” might mean animals are allowed only a square foot of room to move, and they are fed processed feed. Big corporate farms are allowed to till the soil, and have to buy manure to replace soil nutrients.

Don’t get me wrong. Organic is the best we have right now, and it IS better than conventionally grown produce and CAFO meats. It’s good to buy organic fruits, vegetables and meats whenever possible. It’s even better to grow your own using no pesticides or chemical fertilizers.

There is something new coming!

The newest technology is “regenerative” farming, which actually restores the soil fertility and microbiome. It also greatly reduces weeds and insect pests and restores the watershed, basically restoring the soil and environment to its natural best. This is the method I use.

While it takes some experimentation because different soils and climates require slightly different approaches, regenerative farming is based on the best principles environmental scientists and innovative farmers have been able to identify:

1.  No tilling. Tilling the soil, or turning it over in preparation for planting, contributes to soil erosion, kills the organisms that aerate the soil and break bio matter down into natural fertilizers, encourages weeds, and is the number one contributor of carbon gases to the atmosphere. Tilling has reduced America’s farmlands to virtual waste land, useless without artificial fertilizers and pesticides.
2. Crop rotation. Planting the same crop year after year depletes the soil of nutrients and increases pest infestation. Crop rotation supports healthy microorganisms, and improves nutrients.
3. Cover crops. Planting cover crops increases nutrient content, moisture retention, and aeration. It also helps put global-warming carbon back in the soil.
4. Animals as part of the rotation cycle. Allowing animals to range freely on land increases the bio matter and reduces the need for fertilization. It also reduces pest infestations, helping to eliminate the need for pesticides.

Activists, businesses, Rodale Institute and others have established standards for regenerative farming that not only ensure a healthy product and environment, but require healthy working conditions and fair pay for farm workers. The certification organization NSF International has accepted the task of certifying farms that meet these strict standards. Look for the following certification to start showing up in your local markets beginning in 2018: