This post is more of an awareness post… I want to touch on a huge topic that is very important, but will need so many individual posts to even get started.
Sustainability, in the agricultural sense. Mostly…
Recently, we had a reporter come to the office to chat to us about what we do and why.
Basically this reporter was working on a story about fertiliser and chemical price rises and we got to talk a little about how we help farmers reduce the need for those inputs.
I love that my workplace, the people I spend so much time with who share a passion for regeneration and sustainability, got to have a few minutes on the radio talking about what we love.
I really feel sad that there is a need to have those discussions so much to “normalise” holistic/sustainable/regenerative/natural practices.
One of the things I want to do with this page is to share my thoughts and experiences about sustainability.
To a lot of people, that means energy use and single use plastic.
That stuff is super important, and I try to do my bit with that as well. My post today is just really covering my feelings of needing sustainable farm practices to be as common as Qld shops not providing free single use plastic bags at the super market anymore.
My job gives me so many opportunities to connect with amazing people and learn so much about things in the world a lot of people never even know exist.
Continuously seeing our current situation with plants, soil and biology is so poor though, makes me genuinely scared for my kids future.
Global warming is a thing. To whatever degree, it’s a thing.
Farmers can fix that.
Global food shortage will be a thing, very soon.
Farmers can help with that.
Everyday people, can help with that.
Current industrial farming systems use chemical to keep paddocks “clean and tidy” from plants they don’t want growing in a certain paddock (“weeds”)… and more chemical to keep pests and disease off the plants they do want to grow in a certain paddock.
Real life – Mother Nature, keeps shoving these “weeds” in all the bare gaps we leave in the degraded soil we work, while sending pests to come and eat away the “trash” (unhealthy plants).
Kinda sounds like we are working against each other a little to me…
There is research that clearly shows the majority of nutrients that plants access comes from biology, not fertiliser – regardless how much is put on.
There is research that show how natural systems work to cycle nutrients, so we don’t need to rely on fertiliser.
Most current farming practices degrade our soils, reducing their ability to produce.
Most farmers have no idea, they’re just doing what their father said, and what his father said.
Our generation is creating deserts. Droughts. Food shortages. And most people don’t even have a clue.
Fun fact #1
Becoming vegan doesn’t save the planet.
Meat is healthy. Humans have some canine teeth , we are designed to eat meat as part of our diet.
Poorly managed livestock is unhealthy.
Unhealthy for the animal, the environment, and the human that consumes it.
Well managed livestock can rejuvenate the land, and provide nutritious food for humans… all while the animal has a happy and healthy life.
Fun fact #2
You can grow a grain crop without having to use fertiliser. Farmers might be able to push yield higher some years when you use lots of water soluble fertiliser… but what’s the nutrient density of that grain? What’s your actual profit after spending so much on inputs and chemicals?
Building our soil organic matter and carbon levels is so important to the health of our soil, and the ability for our plants to access nutrients.
Manage my practices that support and encourage biology is detrimental to the health of our soil and plants.
There are so many management practices in both cropping and grazing systems that can make a huge difference to our planet and personal health. We just need to open ourselves up to learn and acknowledge that changes need to happen, and that change can be good.
There are so many paths I want to go down on this huge topic. I am going to have to do a few individual blogs to touch on a few
In the mean time, please keep in mind that every every bit helps make a difference to the environment and our health. There are so many resources helping teach us different options for healthier and more sustainabledecisions.
Go to your local markets and find a farmer that is using sustainable farming practices.
I would be very keen to hear your favourite sources of information, food, tips and tricks or stories
J X