Why regenerative

"Of the many epic challenges that climate change is bringing to humankind, one of the most significant is surely the need to reinvent agriculture.

Can the world’s farmers find a way to shift from large-scale, carbon-intensive industrial farming that is destroying soil and ecosystems to smaller-scale bioregional systems that not only respect nature but regenerate it? 

Can we invent systems that grow enough nutritious food, distribute it fairly to all, and remake agriculture as a decentralized, place-respecting enterprise?

At this point in the unfolding climate catastrophe, these ambitions are not simply a nice fantasy to ponder. They are existential necessities. If humankind is going to avoid fatal disruptions to the planet’s ecosystems and civilization itself, agriculture must find ways to pursue some radical shifts.

In the short term, the top imperative must be new strategies for adapting to climate change: new cultivation practices, new crop choices, holistic commitments. Over the longer term, the art of farming must reintegrate itself with local ecosystems and the biosphere. Agriculture must do more than “sustain” an already degraded landscape. It must understand and improve the generativity of life itself.

Regeneration is not simply a set of techniques. It is a mindset and worldview. It is a deep priority and commitment. Regenerative agriculture is not only about improving crop yields and reducing harmful ecological impacts. It is about bringing new vigor to biogeoecological systems while enlivening us as humans.

The focus is not on beggar-thy-neighbor competition and market success that tends toward economic consolidation; it is about cooperative stewardship of dispersed, autonomous systems on a holistic scale. Everyone can flourish together."

Farmland access: key to flourishing organic food system in Wisconsin

Did you know Wisconsin is second in the nation for total number of organic farms? Only California has more. Yet, due to rising cost of land, new farmers struggle to get into the business and growth of existing farms is limited. Organic farms use more human-scale, sustainable growing methods which build healthier soils. In turn, … Continue reading Farmland access: key to flourishing organic food system in Wisconsin

New regenerative ag videos for chilly weather

When you need an excuse to stay inside and on the couch, you can say it's for educational purposes when you're watching these new regenerative agriculture videos, just published. First up: FoxRAP's Listen to the Land Community Story Project, where we get to know our local farmers who grow our food, steward the land, and … Continue reading New regenerative ag videos for chilly weather

Soil-health pioneer Gabe Brown tours Wisconsin

For more dates and locations see below the flyer. Clean Farm Families Presents:  Improving Soil Health & Farm Profitability  GABE BROWN  Gabe travels from his ranch in Bismarck, North   Dakota, where he is a pioneer of the soil health   movement, to discuss how he integrates pastures,   multi-species cover crops and no-till into his farm   to … Continue reading Soil-health pioneer Gabe Brown tours Wisconsin

Regenerative agriculture featured at Green Lake’s 4th Annual Freeland Film Festival

Joins us on September 10th and 11th at Green Lake Town Square for the annual film festival of another Green-Lake-based nonprofit, Freeland USA. This year the focus is "A Better World: Beyond Pandemics.” While the whole event sounds worthy of camping out at Town Square, we're particularly looking forward to the panel on Saturday at … Continue reading Regenerative agriculture featured at Green Lake’s 4th Annual Freeland Film Festival