regenag – Zero Emissions Byron https://zerobyron.org Working towards a carbon-zero future Fri, 19 Nov 2021 05:59:41 +0000 en-AU hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0.2 https://zerobyron.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/l80RfDm7_400x400-150x150.jpg regenag – Zero Emissions Byron https://zerobyron.org 32 32 Rex’s Recommendation #6 : Book – Soil by Matthew Evans https://zerobyron.org/2021/11/19/rexs-recommendation-6-book-soil-by-matthew-evans/ Fri, 19 Nov 2021 05:59:33 +0000 https://zerobyron.org/?p=5849

Soil is the unlikely story of our most maligned resource as swashbuckling hero. A saga of bombs, ice ages and civilisations falling. Of ancient hunger, modern sicknesses and gastronomic delight. It features poison gas, climate collapse and a mind-blowing explanation of how rain is formed. For too long, we've not only neglected the land beneath...]]>

"What we do to the soil, we do to ourselves."

Soil is the unlikely story of our most maligned resource as swashbuckling hero. A saga of bombs, ice ages and civilisations falling. Of ancient hunger, modern sicknesses and gastronomic delight. It features poison gas, climate collapse and a mind-blowing explanation of how rain is formed.

For too long, we've not only neglected the land beneath us, we've squandered and debased it, by over-clearing, over-grazing and over-ploughing. But if we want our food to nourish us, and to ensure our planet's long-term health, we need to understand how soil works - how it's made, how it's lost, and how it can be repaired.

In this ode to the thin veneer of Earth that gifts us life, commentator and farmer Matthew Evans shows us that what we do in our backyards, on our farms, and what we put on our dinner tables really matters, and can be a source of hope.

Isn't it time we stopped treating the ground beneath our feet like dirt?

Matthew Evans

What Rex said about Soil

This book is available widely from book sellers, but I highly recommend purchasing it as a member from Audible for $14.95.  Mathew narrates the book himself.

I have followed Mathew for many years as a food critic in the early 2000’s for the Sydney Morning Herald.  Then again, watching the 3 series SBS television show “Gourmet Farmer”.   Following his journey when he moved to Tasmania and became a Farmer at Fat Pig Farm.   It was enjoyable to follow Mathew developing the Farm, attending farmers markets, food festivals and helping raise funds for good causes at the local CWA Halls and becoming a family man.

 Mathew has written 9 books on food.

Farmers and gardeners who are interested in reducing emissions by using regenerative practices this most recent book “Soil” is a must read.  A wide and diverse array of subjects are covered, and I was amazed at the amount and quality of research that Matthew has done for this book. 

Rex Harris, Piccadilly Park, Bangalow

Macadamia Farmer, Change Maker & Guest ZEB Blog Writer

]]> Rex’s Recommendation #5 : Book – Dirt to Soil by Gabe Brown https://zerobyron.org/2021/11/12/rexs-recommendation-5-book-dirt-to-soil-by-gabe-brown/ Fri, 12 Nov 2021 07:54:39 +0000 https://zerobyron.org/?p=5716

Soil health pioneer Gabe Brown did not set out to write a book on no-till, regenerative agriculture but that was the end product of his research into a new method of farming that would bring back life to his farm, rather than taking away from it. As a series of weather-related crop disasters put the...]]>

One Family's Journey into Regenerative Agriculture

Soil health pioneer Gabe Brown did not set out to write a book on no-till, regenerative agriculture but that was the end product of his research into a new method of farming that would bring back life to his farm, rather than taking away from it.

As a series of weather-related crop disasters put the Brown family farm on the brink of financial ruin, Brown took the bold decision to cut costs by omitting the use of most pesticides, insecticides and synthetic fertilisers. This was the catalyst that led to Brown experimenting with regenerative agriculture, a method of farming that undid the damage of conventional agricultural practices. He switched to no-till planting, started planting diverse cover crops mixes and changed his grazing practices. In doing so, Brown transformed a degraded farm ecosystem into one full of life starting with the soil and working his way up, one plant and one animal at a time.

The Brown's Ranch model, developed over twenty years of experimentation and refinement, focuses on regenerating resources by continuously enhancing the living biology in the soil. Using these principles, Brown's Ranch has grown several inches of new topsoil in only twenty years! The 5,000-acre ranch profitably produces a wide variety of cash crops and cover crops as well as grass-finished beef and lamb, pastured laying hens and pastured pork, all marketed directly to consumers.

The future is regenerative, no-till, organic farming and Dirt to Soil is the perennial bestseller to start you on that journey, for the betterment of the food we consume and the state of our shared planet.

Gabe is one of the great leaders of the regenerative agriculture movement in USA. He has visited Australia on several occasions and is in awe of the work done by Australia’s Colin Seis (Recommendation #2).

He is one of my mentors and I really enjoy listening to his story, advice and observing his incredible achievements.

Rex Harris, Piccadilly Park, Bangalow

Macadamia Farmer, Change Maker & Guest ZEB Blog Writer

]]> Rex’s Recommendation #4 : John Kempf – Regen Ag Specialist https://zerobyron.org/2021/11/05/rexs-recommendation-4-john-kempf/ Fri, 05 Nov 2021 09:09:56 +0000 https://zerobyron.org/?p=5666

John Kempf is an entrepreneur, speaker, podcast host and teacher.  He is passionate about the potential of well managed agriculture ecosystems to reverse ecological degradation. John believes regenerative agriculture management systems can: regenerate producer profitability and create economic incentives for producers produce crops that are inherently resistant to possible infections by insects, bacteria, fungi, nematodes...]]>

John Kempf is an entrepreneur, speaker, podcast host and teacher.  He is passionate about the potential of well managed agriculture ecosystems to reverse ecological degradation.

John believes regenerative agriculture management systems can:

    • regenerate producer profitability and create economic incentives for producers
    • produce crops that are inherently resistant to possible infections by insects, bacteria, fungi, nematodes and viruses, eliminating the need for pesticides.
    • produce food that can regenerate public health, with an elevated content of immune compounds that transfer plant immunity to livestock and people, providing food as medicine.
    • rapidly sequester carbon, build soil organic matter much faster than commonly expected, restore hydrological cycles, cool the climate, and reduce the water requirements of a crop.

Rex Harris, Piccadilly Park, Bangalow

Macadamia Farmer, Change Maker & Guest ZEB Blog Writer

]]> Rex’s Recommendation #3 : Book – The Call of the Reed Warbler by Charles Massey https://zerobyron.org/2021/10/29/rexs-recommendation-3-book-the-call-of-the-reed-warbler-by-charles-massey/ Fri, 29 Oct 2021 08:31:31 +0000 https://zerobyron.org/?p=5624

"We were extremely lucky to have Charles Massey discuss his book at the Bangalow A&I Hall in August 2018. I think this discussion between John Kempf and Dr Zach Bush at 01 hour 5 minutes and 26 seconds through sums up Charles Massey beautifully." Rex Harris, Piccadilly Park, Bangalow]]>

"We were extremely lucky to have Charles Massey discuss his book at the Bangalow A&I Hall in August 2018. I think this discussion between John Kempf and Dr Zach Bush at 01 hour 5 minutes and 26 seconds through sums up Charles Massey beautifully."

Rex Harris, Piccadilly Park, Bangalow

]]> Rex’s Recommendation #2 : Colin Seis – Outstanding NSW Farmer & Educator https://zerobyron.org/2021/10/22/rexs-recommendation-2-colin-seis-outstanding-nsw-farmer-educator/ Fri, 22 Oct 2021 10:21:25 +0000 https://zerobyron.org/?p=5518

"Colin Seis is a highly regarded leader in regenerative agriculture in Australia. His technique of pasture cropping is the first major change in the way crops have been grown for the last 10,000 years.   The technique has been shown to improve Farm Ecosystems, Soil Ecosystems, Farm resilience and much more.  Extensive soil testing on...]]>

"Colin Seis is a highly regarded leader in regenerative agriculture in Australia. His technique of pasture cropping is the first major change in the way crops have been grown for the last 10,000 years.   The technique has been shown to improve Farm Ecosystems, Soil Ecosystems, Farm resilience and much more.  Extensive soil testing on Winona has shown that eliminating all cultivation other than the direct drilling for pasture cropping, together with rotational grazing, has enabled dramatic improvements in soil condition.

Soil carbon has increased by 203% to 90 tonnes a hectare over a ten-year period. This equates to storage of around 170 tonnes of CO2 (equivalent) a hectare.  Seventy-eight per cent of newly sequestered carbon is in the humic fraction of the soil.  This is non-labile, therefore much more stable and significantly less subject to degradation."

Rex Harris, Piccadilly Park, Bangalow

 

Colin Seis grew up on the family property, called Winona, in the Central Tablelands of NSW. After a horrific fire in 1979 he lost everything, buildings, fencing infrastructure and 3000 sheep. That tragedy started Colin on a journey of rebuilding, with a focus on restoring native pastures, which ultimately led to his development of an innovative practice known as multi-species pasture cropping.
Film produced by Grow Love Project for Soils for Life

Soils For Life

 

Our Story

Soils for Life is an independent, not-for-profit organisation that works across Australia. Our work is possible thanks to the generosity of donors and grant-makers and the commitment of our farming champions.

Soils for Life was founded in 2013 by former Governor General Major General the Honorable Michael Jeffery, Australia’s first National Soils Advocate. As a highly respected public figure, with a passion for agriculture and ability to connect with Australians from all walks of life, Major General Jeffery put soil firmly on the national agenda.

For almost a decade, Soils for Life has worked tirelessly to uncover and promote the stories of farmer innovators across the country. We are now moving into a new phase, working to support and enable the next cohort of soil stewards to regenerate Australia’s soils and landscapes.

Read the case studies - See Colin's Case Study Below

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