Yes, you read the subject correctly! There is reason to be hopeful about our planet, right now in 2020, even as we are bombarded by fear and uncertainty. We have been eagerly awaiting the release of this project for several years now and are encouraged by the growing awareness it represents.
So what is it??
Well, for starters, it’s a film. Introducing Kiss the Ground – a new documentary that premiered on Netflix last week. So break out the snacks and settle in for movie night! And there’s even an abbreviated version available that’s suitable for all ages. (See the link at the end of this email for free educational resources, available to schools and homeschools.)
But it’s so much more! It’s a movement, a book, a growing community, a non-profit, and it all started with a group of friends who gathered weekly to talk about soil.
The last few years we’ve been talking about soil health and regenerative agriculture here at Jako Farm.
Regenerative Agriculture is a system of farming principles and practices that increases biodiversity, enriches soils, improves watersheds, and enhances ecosystem services. Regenerative Agriculture aims to capture carbon in soil and aboveground biomass, reversing current global trends of atmospheric accumulation. At the same time, it offers increased yields, resilience to climate instability, and higher health and vitality for farming and ranching communities. The system draws from decades of scientific and applied research by the global communities of indigenous people, organic farming, agroecology, Holistic Management, and agroforestry. (Definition credit: Terra Genesis)
Our health is intertwined with the earth — from the soil beneath our feet, to the food we eat, to the water we drink, to the air that fills our lungs.
Those are nice words on a page, but I understand it’s still hard to really see how all the pieces fit together. I’m the farmer and I still don’t comprehend everything.
We’ve talked about soil health impacting our human health, but did you know that healthy soil can lead to reducing carbon emissions?
This beautiful film highlights how regenerative agriculture is a way to use the planet’s own natural systems to rebalance our climate. There IS a way leave a healthy planet for my children and future grandchildren.
As a mother with young children, I often find myself becoming paralyzed by statistics such as the UN currently reporting we only have 60 years of food-growing top soil remaining if current soil degradation continues. That means at current rates, when my eight-month-old son is sixty, our planet would no longer be able to grow food. That is terrifying.
BUT, we can change that.
The regenerative agriculture movement is growing.
◾ You cannot pick up a farming magazine today without reading about soil health. Five years ago that was not the case. This spring Jako Farm, along with Brown’s Ranch (owned by Gabe Brown, who is featured in the film), was even featured in John Deere’s magazine, The Furrow, discussing how implementing soil health principles leads to making a family farm successful.
◾ Last fall our farm hosted Stand Up for Soil which brought over 350 people together to talk about soil health and another film, Farmer’s Footprint.
◾ General Mills launched a program that encourages regenerative agriculture. They picked our local Cheney Lake Watershed community as an area for a pilot project. The last two years Jako Farm has served meals for those farmers when they gather for educational meetings. It has been SO encouraging to see real changes happening in our own community!
YOU are already a part of the solution. Your dollars directly support regenerative agriculture at Jako Farm and contribute to offsetting carbon emissions. When you choose to eat a beautifully seared ribeye, raised following regenerative practices, you are helping fight climate change!
Yep, it’s true!
Kiss the Ground has already received many outstanding reviews and was an official selection of the 2020 Tribeca Film Festival, but we’d like to add our Jako Farm five-star review to the list. Three of the farmers featured in the film – Ray Archuleta, Gabe Brown, and Doniga Markegard, have each visited Jako Farm in the past two months. We know these people and fully support the message they are presenting. You don’t want to miss this film!
From all of us at Jako Farm,
Robyn
P.S. Schools (including homeschools) can request a DVD or download the film for free, along with an abbreviated educational version suitable for all ages, and resources for teaching and discussion. Get it here!
Stay informed, help spread the word, and follow
Kiss the Ground (the non-profit) and the film on social media.
