This Old Farm. I’m sure you folks have already thought of this, but I think a Television program like “This Old House” that has been on for over 40 years, might be a great way to change public opinion about farming and farmers. Television is starving for content. If people can be entertained by watching drywall mud or paint dry. Or cement cure, how much more entertaining would farm life be? Imagine a show about the rehabilitation of an old worn out, overgrown, neglected farm. Hopefully near a university that is pro regenerative agriculture, pro rotational grazing, pro cover crop, pro no-till etc. Take measurements of the organic matter, the topsoil, soil microbes, insects, birds and other wildlife in the first episode and show the improvements every year. This show could show the world how profitable and rewarding farming is and improve the image of farmers. The sponsor or crowdfunding could buy or lease the farm to be renovated. The show would follow the host/farmer as he or she and the interns clear land, install infrastructure, build ponds, fences, barns, sawmill etc. Then bring in the livestock, showing how they are essential for soil health and improving the land year after year. This would help combat the anti-cow movement. Build a studio and editing suite on site so the video crew gets first hand exposure to all aspects of the farm. Following the interns would be a big part of the show. Where do they come from, what are their goals, what happens to them later on etc. Think how many people follow the contestants on shows like America’s Got Talent”. Show the host/farmer dealing with USDA and state and local regulations that limit the public from access to the best food. Hopefully to start a movement to change them. As the years progress, set up some of the interns with their own leased land, livestock etc. Maybe a “Fund a Farmer” campaign to get young people into farming and up and running. The show could also feature interviews of experts in these fields either on the show farm or at the farms of the experts. Showing how they use cover crops, rotate livestock, how they market the end product etc. No end of material for this show. As the farm grows over the years, more and more people would want to visit and hear the word about regenerative farming. More young people would consider farming as a career field and hopefully this would change the world.
Thank you so much for pioneering and proving nature knows better than DuPont. I am currently working on a business plan to purchase a farm of my own. Agroforestry is a huge part of the business plan. I can't thank y'all enough, this info is priceless to ppl who want to be the difference.
Brutis Bear how is the plan going? I am thinking of doing a review of agroforestry business plans for my capstone in business school and if you’re up for sharing, I’d love to see it!
Black Locust .. yeah, beneficial, but its a chore to keep it in check, and those thorns seem to reach out to cut you. Technically, Acacia would be better, but bigger thorns. Alders are good - like the Acacia, they utilize both ectomorphic and arbuscular mycorrhizal networks, and no thorns.
Can confirm. Alder in the Pacific Northwest creates incredibly fertile soil beneath. It grows relatively fast, although not as fast as things like poplar.
Honey locust lacks the poisons of black locust and so is suitable as a source of high protein livestock feed as well as producing edible beans for people. Diversity matters as well. Native elderberrys are great at enriching soil, while not technically a great nitrogen fixer, the soil has become black beneath mine in just ten years.
Be aware honey locust is high in protein and can be hard on horses, but it is a good livestock fodder as well as a source of beans for people. Tree hay is a thing.
The crop grows better where subsoiler went through because of humus mineralization - loss of soil organic matter, which is not a sustainable long term strategy.
There was little loss of organic matter. He does it before a rain so the lighter bits flow into the substrate. This is why he is gaining more organic matter deeper than he is losing it. The dirt around his farm is red but where he has been subsoiling along with other actions the soil is turning black with carbon and humus. You are quibbling about splinters while ignoring the logs...
