When I was young I didn’t know the benefits of having a niece.
Then my sister had Laura and all of that changed into dance, and joy, and peace.
© Forrest W. Heaton 14Jul21
At eighty-three, I’m still learning how much fun having a niece can be. Including surprises. When Laura learned of the Blog Guest Author opportunity, she immediately volunteered and Mary & I immediately said “Yes.” Laura has been writing her first book over the past year. It is now published and she has offered an overview for our readers. Those of you who chose to read it will come away with fresh learning re foods and agriculture and, perhaps, fresh appreciations in eating. Thank you, Laura!
SOIL
“Where does your food come from? Is it coming from soil that has life growing in it? If you cannot confidently answer this question, you might want to ask yourself why you do not believe you are worthy. Because you are worthy. . . . You are worth food and nourishment that is raised on soil with life giving force.”
—Niti Bali; Farm to Fork Riot founder, author
I have a black thumb. It is unfortunate because I love watching plants grow. “Moderate moist with indirect light” does not seem that difficult, right? I just don’t have the knack, or really, the practice. Luckily, others do. I’d love to grow my own food.
Speaking of, have you watched the documentary, The Biggest Little Farm? I believe it is one of the most important stories. Ever. It is the story of soil. And I imagine it represents the experience of many new farmers: buying or taking over dead dry rocky dirt and transforming it into healthy, viable soil to support hundreds of species. Wendell Berry, author and environmental activist, stated in his collection of essays Bringing it to the Table, “most people nowadays lack even a superficial knowledge of agriculture, and most who do know something about it are paying little or no attention to what is happening under the surface.” Therefore, watching the documentary opened my eyes to what is required to build a farm one microbe at a time, and now I know what is happening under the surface.
Source: BrightVibes.com 1
Righteous Regenerative Agriculture
I am biased toward regenerative agriculture, but I believe in eating fruits and vegetables, period. And so, I don’t want you to feel like I’m ganging up on big agriculture. I believe when nature is manipulated too much, things backfire.
What I know to be important and to prevent another Dust Bowl is what many farmers are adopting these days: regenerative agricultural practices that focus on crop rotation like nature intended. Some farmers have been doing this from the beginning. This is “beyond organic.” This includes rotational cash crops with cover crops and holistic grazing to ensure healthy soil and to preserve what’s “under the surface.”
The farmers who have moved away from what we presently think of as “conventional”—focusing solely on yield, free use of chemicals, no focus on crop rotation or cover crops—to regenerative agriculture admit the upfront expenses including nutrient management and composting. Eventually, they demonstrate higher yields because each cycle creates healthier and healthier soil. These practices protect the groundwater with improved infiltration, decreased run-off and erosion that results in reduced overall water needs, and lowered overhead costs. In general, unfortunately, people believe that this way of farming is not sustainable enough to feed the world because of the amount of seed and resources required for each successful harvest. But cover crops benefiting the cash crops and feeding the soil with carbon is not an arbitrary outcome measure. The more carbon in the soil, the healthier the environment and the less amount of excess carbon dioxide emitted as a greenhouse gas.
It seems so easy.
The above brief review states my view on an important and growing problem/opportunity.
For those of you who might consider reading my book, you have two options. For a signed paperback, please send me a check in the amount of $20 and include the name to whom you wish the book inscribed, and your mailing address. I also have Venmo, handle @laura-isham; please include in the comments section the name to whom you wish the book inscribed, and your mailing address.
For those of you who wish to read or order the book online, you can order here.
I want to thank you, the readers of Uncle Wally’s & Aunt Mary’s Blog, for your interest in my work and send my best wishes!
Laura Isham
509 Sertoma Way
Buellton, CA 93427
Lbisham79@gmail.com