This talk with Ed Huling, a U.S.-based organic farmer, introduces the concept of nutrient density and the impact of soil health on nutrient-dense food. Ed also describes the farming and forestry systems that he developed using restoration practices. Lastly, this talk also touches upon the benefits of regenerative agriculture and gardening when it comes to…
Soil vs Dirt with Fred Magdoff
In this talk, Fred Magdoff, Professor Emeritus of Plant and Soil Science at the University of Vermont, describes the difference between nutrient- and life-depleted soil and nutrient dense, carbon-capturing, and water-storing soil. Fred Magdoff’s research was on ecologically sound ways to improve soil fertility, especially focusing on the critical role of soil organic matter. He…
The Environmental Benefits Of Grass Fed Beef with Ridge Shinn
Grass-fed beef producers in the U.S. have begun a movement to restore soils and stabilize the climate with a fundamentally different approach called regenerative grazing. This method builds on nature’s own system of pulling carbon from the air and storing it in the soil. Sixty million buffalo lived on the Great Plains at one time.…
The Remarkable Success Of India’s Natural Farming Movement with Vijay Kumar & Didi Pershouse
Learn about a movement that grew from over 40,000 farmers in 2016 to almost 800,000 farmers in 2020 in one of the driest states in India. This work has been successful in part because of a community supported approach where women-run self help groups are in charge of operations. Vijay Kumar, advisor to the government…
Nature’s Solutions as National Policy with Walter Jehne, Vijay Kumar & Rep. Chellie Pingree
A panel discussion among Walter Jehne, Climate and Soil Scientist; Vijay Kumar, government advisor for the Andhra Pradesh Community Managed Natural Farming Movement; and Chellie Pingree, Congresswoman from Maine and organic farmer. A remarkable look at the potential future of farming. This discussion took place June 5, 2021 and is the first installment in a…
The Remarkable Success of Community Managed Natural Farming in Andhra Pradesh
Vijay Kumar and Didi Pershouse joined our Life Saves the Planet series to speak on community managed natural farming in Andhra Pradesh, India and the hopeful prospects of regenerative farming for the future of our planet. Watch the video.
Youth, Gardening and Food Security Workshop with Anna Gilbert- Muhammad
This workshop follows Anna’s talk “Youth, Gardening and Food Security” Anna Gilbert-Muhammed: Food Access Coordinator of NOFA/Mass Learn more about Biodiversity for a Livable Climate: https://bio4climate.org/ Connect with usFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/bio4climateTwitter: https://twitter.com/bio4climateInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/bio4climate/ Presented at Blessed Unrest conference via online, extending across weekends in April & May of 2020 #foodsecurity #gardening #nutrition
Edible Landscaping Workshop with Sven Phil
This workshop follows Sven’s talk “Edible Landscaping” Edible landscaping is the use of food-producing plants in the residential and public landscape. It combines fruit and nut trees, berry bushes, vegetables, herbs, edible flowers, along with functional ornamental plants into aesthetically pleasing designs. Sven Pihl: Founder of CT Edible Ecosystems, LLC, Regenerative Land Planner/Designer and Permaculture…
Agraria – Agriculture as More than Farming Workshop with Susan Jennings
This is the workshop that followed Susan’s talk: Agraria – Agriculture as More than Farming Susan Jennings: Executive Director of The Arthur Morgan Institute for Community Solutions (AMICS) Learn more about Biodiversity for a Livable Climate: https://bio4climate.org/ Connect with usFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/bio4climateTwitter: https://twitter.com/bio4climateInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/bio4climate/ Presented at Blessed Unrest conference via online, extending across weekends in April…
Agraria – Agriculture as More than Farming with Susan Jennings
In this generational dark night of the soul, what are our opportunities for personal and national redemption? Drawing on her inspiring organizational experiences, as well as recent trips to regeneration projects in England and India, Susan will discuss how re-localization, especially of food systems, can, like Gandhi’s March to the Sea, radically transform our personal,…
Agroecology: The Low-Hanging Fruit for Climate Stability and Biodiversity
January 27, 2019, 6:00 p.m., Potluck, Presentation and Discussion in Cambridge: “Agroecology: The Low-Hanging Fruit for Climate Stability and Biodiversity.” View event details.
Jim Laurie: FUNGI- Intelligent Strands Beneath Our Feet (The Real Worldwide Web)
Learn more about Biodiversity for a Livable Climate: https://bio4climate.org/ Please donate to our ecosystem restoration work: https://bio4climate.org/donate/ Mycorrhizal fungi connect billions of lives in the soil, bring communications and biochemical transformations to those that need it, and keep green plants healthy and abundant. More abundant than we may have seen for centuries. What’s the big…
Fred Magdoff: The Heart of Life- Soils, Microbes, Plants and Insects
Learn more about Biodiversity for a Livable Climate: https://bio4climate.org/ Please donate to our ecosystem restoration work: https://bio4climate.org/donate/ The diversity of soil organisms is stunning. Their interactions among themselves and with plants are at the center of healthy soils. Plants (as with humans and other animals) have associated microbiomes that can stimulate defenses against disease and…
Walter Jehne – Soil Carbon Sponge and the New Climate Solutions
Learn more about Biodiversity for a Livable Climate: https://bio4climate.org/ Please donate to our ecosystem restoration work: https://bio4climate.org/donate/ Please watch version with introduction here: https://youtu.be/123y7jDdbfY Biodiversity for a Livable Climate presentsHealthy Water Cyclesand the Soil Carbon Sponge:New Climate SolutionsA talk by Australian climate scientist and soil microbiologist Walter JehneDirector of Healthy Soils AustraliaIntroduction by Didi PershouseHarvard…
Kannan Thiruvengadam: Building Soil and Growing Food and Community
Learn more about Biodiversity for a Livable Climate: https://bio4climate.org/ Please donate to our ecosystem restoration work: https://bio4climate.org/donate/ The importance of community farms Kannan Thiruvengadam: Eastie Farm Presented at Revitalizing Ecosystems in Greater Boston to Survive Climate Change conference at Harvard University on March 31, 2018 #farm #soil #food
The ecology of soil carbon: pools, vulnerabilities, and biotic and abiotic controls, Jackson 2017
This review examines “the state of knowledge for the stocks of, inputs to, and outputs from SOM around the world” [Jackson 2017: 422], with a view toward developing better understanding of processes that stabilize SOM. It explains the biological processes involved in carbon cycling and storage, finding that “root inputs are approximately five times more…
National comparison of the total and sequestered organic matter contents of conventional and organic farm soils, Ghabbour 2017
An analysis of hundreds of soil samples collected from organic and conventional farms around the US shows higher average percentages both of total SOM and of humic substances – a measure of carbon sequestration – for organic farm soils compared to conventional farm soils. The mean percent humification (humic substances divided by total SOM) for…
Compost, manure and synthetic fertilizer influences crop yields, soil properties, nitrate leaching and crop nutrient content, Hepperly 2009
A sequestration rate of 2.363t C/ha/yr was demonstrated where compost made of dairy manure and leaves was applied to fields in a three year rotation of corn-vegetable-small grain, with leguminous cover crops. The same rotation treated with chemical fertilizer instead of compost resulted in a net loss of -0.317t C/ha/yr.
Legume-based cropping systems have reduced carbon and nitrogen losses, Drinkwater 1998
This study compared three corn-soybean cropping systems: (1) conventional 2-yr rotation with chemical inputs, and residues returned to soil; (2) a longer (than 2 years), organic rotation with grass/legume hayed and returned to soil in manure; and (3) a longer (than 2 years) organic rotation with grass/legume turned back into the soil directly. Even though…
Croplands
Cultivated land covers 1.6 billion hectares globally [FAO 2011]. About 62% of cropland produces food directly for human consumption, while 35% is dedicated to producing animal feed, and 3% to biofuel feedstock, seed and other industrial products [Foley 2011: 338]. Agriculture is a major source of emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous…
Holiday Potluck + Meetup: Reviewing 2015, the International Year of Soils
Join us from 6:00-9:00 p.m. at 1 Fayette Park in Cambridge for a Holiday Potluck + Meetup: Reviewing 2015, the International Year of Soils. View event details.
Jim Laurie: Local Keystone Species and Carbon Farming
Learn more about Biodiversity for a Livable Climate: https://bio4climate.org/ Please donate to our ecosystem restoration work: https://bio4climate.org/donate/ Biodiversity is the foundation of healthy, resilient ecosystems. We humans have the ability to create the conditions for biodiverse landscapes which restore water cycles, purify the air, grow nutritious foods and build soil carbon from the carbon dioxide…
Reversing Global Warming: Carbon Farming for Food, Health, Prosperity, and Planet!
Home Speakers Partners and Sponsors Reversing Global Warming: Carbon Farming for Food, Health, Prosperity and Planet! Program and Home page A conference for farmers, gardeners, government officials, city-town councils, civic leaders, school board members, educators at all levels, park/forest and environmental managers and stewards, nursery and landscape business owners, and all other folks…
Soil Ecosystem Health: From Fungi & Nematodes to Beetles & Earthworms with Jim Laurie
Mycorrhizal fungi are critical conduits moving photosynthetic energy to underground microbial communities. In return these microbes find minerals and water for their plant benefactors. In addtion, nematodes are essential nitrogen pumps in the soil, while dung beetles and earthworms can lock up tons of soil carbon, year after year. Jim Laurie illustrates and explains. Presented…
Thomas Goreau: The Down-to-Earth Solution to Global Warming- How Soil Carbon Sequestration Works
Learn more about Biodiversity for a Livable Climate: https://bio4climate.org/ Please donate to our ecosystem restoration work: https://bio4climate.org/donate/ Biogeochemist, restoration ecologist, climate scientist, and reef restoration expert Tom Goreau is passionate about soils as the primary way to address global warming at this late date, given that reducing emissions alone cannot prevent dangerous climate change unless…
Carbon Farming: Paying for Results, Not for Data (Soils Are Far Too Important for a Commodities Market!)
At Biodiversity for a Livable Climate, removing carbon from the atmosphere by regenerating ecosystems and restoring biodiversity is our non-profit mission. Supporting farmers, herders and ranchers around the world to work in ways that both sequester carbon in soils and provide major benefits in productivity is a key means to that end. Unfortunately, the resources…