I tell my son to hold his breath when we drive past row after row of banana
drive past row after row of banana
drive past row after row of banana plants in Central America the chemical
plants in Central America the chemical
plants in Central America the chemical pesticides that hang in the air smell
pesticides that hang in the air smell
pesticides that hang in the air smell like death and I get that same sinking
like death and I get that same sinking
like death and I get that same sinking feeling like when we drive by acre after
feeling like when we drive by acre after
feeling like when we drive by acre after acre of blackened hillsides slashed and
acre of blackened hillsides slashed and
acre of blackened hillsides slashed and burned to grow a few subsistence crops
burned to grow a few subsistence crops
burned to grow a few subsistence crops in other places the topsoil has already
in other places the topsoil has already
in other places the topsoil has already been lost the land reduced to a
been lost the land reduced to a
been lost the land reduced to a moonscape of baked red clay but we keep
moonscape of baked red clay but we keep
moonscape of baked red clay but we keep driving to visit the farms that are a
driving to visit the farms that are a
driving to visit the farms that are a green patchwork of trees rice paddies
green patchwork of trees rice paddies
green patchwork of trees rice paddies and garden beds alive with hummingbirds
and garden beds alive with hummingbirds
and garden beds alive with hummingbirds butterflies and human beings when my son
butterflies and human beings when my son
butterflies and human beings when my son and I are greeted by giggling children
and I are greeted by giggling children
and I are greeted by giggling children who spill out of small palm roofed homes
who spill out of small palm roofed homes
who spill out of small palm roofed homes with earthen walls and dirt floors I’m
with earthen walls and dirt floors I’m
with earthen walls and dirt floors I’m struck by how much we face losing to
struck by how much we face losing to
struck by how much we face losing to threats such as climate change but I’m
threats such as climate change but I’m
threats such as climate change but I’m also struck by what a wonderful solution
also struck by what a wonderful solution
also struck by what a wonderful solution is right under our feet the soil that
is right under our feet the soil that
is right under our feet the soil that grows our food is also key to
grows our food is also key to
grows our food is also key to regenerating the planet and a climate
regenerating the planet and a climate
regenerating the planet and a climate suitable to human life whether we’re
suitable to human life whether we’re
suitable to human life whether we’re talking about the threats or the
talking about the threats or the
talking about the threats or the solutions farmers are our future so how
solutions farmers are our future so how
solutions farmers are our future so how do we shift our eating habits away from
do we shift our eating habits away from
do we shift our eating habits away from unhealthy food grown on conventional far
unhealthy food grown on conventional far
unhealthy food grown on conventional far that degenerate the environment to food
that degenerate the environment to food
that degenerate the environment to food that regenerates healthy bodies healthy
that regenerates healthy bodies healthy
that regenerates healthy bodies healthy ecosystems and a healthy climate that’s
ecosystems and a healthy climate that’s
ecosystems and a healthy climate that’s the question I was asking when I
the question I was asking when I
the question I was asking when I graduated from college and when most of
graduated from college and when most of
graduated from college and when most of my friends were contemplating where
my friends were contemplating where
my friends were contemplating where they’d find a job that would pay the
they’d find a job that would pay the
they’d find a job that would pay the rent serving as a Peace Corps volunteer
rent serving as a Peace Corps volunteer
rent serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in Panama showed me how subsistence
in Panama showed me how subsistence
in Panama showed me how subsistence farmers could lead the world to a
farmers could lead the world to a
farmers could lead the world to a regenerative food system living in rural
regenerative food system living in rural
regenerative food system living in rural Panama I saw slash and burn farming
Panama I saw slash and burn farming
Panama I saw slash and burn farming firsthand a farmer cuts down some
firsthand a farmer cuts down some
firsthand a farmer cuts down some forests and burns it so the ash helps
forests and burns it so the ash helps
forests and burns it so the ash helps grow a few subsistence crops but burning
grow a few subsistence crops but burning
grow a few subsistence crops but burning also harms the soil and most of those
also harms the soil and most of those
also harms the soil and most of those nutrients that were in the forest they
nutrients that were in the forest they
nutrients that were in the forest they go up in smoke contributing to global
go up in smoke contributing to global
go up in smoke contributing to global warming in a few months the ash and
warming in a few months the ash and
warming in a few months the ash and topsoil wash away so the farmer moves on
topsoil wash away so the farmer moves on
topsoil wash away so the farmer moves on and burns more forests after this cycle
and burns more forests after this cycle
and burns more forests after this cycle is repeated a number of times the
is repeated a number of times the
is repeated a number of times the topsoil is completely lost along with
topsoil is completely lost along with
topsoil is completely lost along with its capacity to store the water and
its capacity to store the water and
its capacity to store the water and carbon plants need to grow over time
carbon plants need to grow over time
carbon plants need to grow over time this d generates the planets ability to
this d generates the planets ability to
this d generates the planets ability to sustain human life the farmers in panama
sustain human life the farmers in panama
sustain human life the farmers in panama wanted a better way of farming they just
wanted a better way of farming they just
wanted a better way of farming they just never had the opportunity to learn one
never had the opportunity to learn one
never had the opportunity to learn one they couldn’t transform how they’d
they couldn’t transform how they’d
they couldn’t transform how they’d farmed for generations with only a few
farmed for generations with only a few
farmed for generations with only a few months of technical assistance
months of technical assistance
months of technical assistance especially from a gringa who had just
especially from a gringa who had just
especially from a gringa who had just recently learned the language well
recently learned the language well
recently learned the language well enough to stop saying three fleas when I
enough to stop saying three fleas when I
enough to stop saying three fleas when I meant three inches they needed long-term
meant three inches they needed long-term
meant three inches they needed long-term support from a local expert if they were
support from a local expert if they were
support from a local expert if they were going to grow an abundance of food that
going to grow an abundance of food that
going to grow an abundance of food that would regenerate the planet
would regenerate the planet
would regenerate the planet so after Peace Corps I went to work for
so after Peace Corps I went to work for
so after Peace Corps I went to work for an organization that I thought could
an organization that I thought could
an organization that I thought could provide that kind of assistance but just
provide that kind of assistance but just
provide that kind of assistance but just a few weeks after I hired the first two
a few weeks after I hired the first two
a few weeks after I hired the first two field trainers in Honduras my boss
field trainers in Honduras my boss
field trainers in Honduras my boss announced that he wasn’t gonna pay their
announced that he wasn’t gonna pay their
announced that he wasn’t gonna pay their salaries
salaries
salaries so naturally I quit that day and gave
so naturally I quit that day and gave
so naturally I quit that day and gave myself 24 hours to figure out another
myself 24 hours to figure out another
myself 24 hours to figure out another way to pay their salaries I thought you
way to pay their salaries I thought you
way to pay their salaries I thought you know if I can’t figure it out quick I
know if I can’t figure it out quick I
know if I can’t figure it out quick I might as well stop wasting everybody’s
might as well stop wasting everybody’s
might as well stop wasting everybody’s time well the next morning a miracle
time well the next morning a miracle
time well the next morning a miracle happened even though it seemed like
happened even though it seemed like
happened even though it seemed like there’s no way I’d start a new nonprofit
there’s no way I’d start a new nonprofit
there’s no way I’d start a new nonprofit with no money I got an email that
with no money I got an email that
with no money I got an email that morning from a Swiss tourist I’d met on
morning from a Swiss tourist I’d met on
morning from a Swiss tourist I’d met on my last trip to Central America he’d
my last trip to Central America he’d
my last trip to Central America he’d seen the reforested farms from my Peace
seen the reforested farms from my Peace
seen the reforested farms from my Peace Corps days and so on the very day when I
Corps days and so on the very day when I
Corps days and so on the very day when I was either gonna start a new nonprofit
was either gonna start a new nonprofit
was either gonna start a new nonprofit or give up and get a real job this man I
or give up and get a real job this man I
or give up and get a real job this man I hardly knew offered to wire me some
hardly knew offered to wire me some
hardly knew offered to wire me some startup money I ran right to the bank
startup money I ran right to the bank
startup money I ran right to the bank opened a new account and the next day
opened a new account and the next day
opened a new account and the next day there was six thousand dollars from
there was six thousand dollars from
there was six thousand dollars from Switzerland in that account and that’s
Switzerland in that account and that’s
Switzerland in that account and that’s how I was able to start sustainable
how I was able to start sustainable
how I was able to start sustainable harvest international within a few years
harvest international within a few years
harvest international within a few years we had a half dozen Central American
we had a half dozen Central American
we had a half dozen Central American field trainers teaching farmers what I
field trainers teaching farmers what I
field trainers teaching farmers what I considered sustainable farming practices
considered sustainable farming practices
considered sustainable farming practices I encouraged an organic ecological
I encouraged an organic ecological
I encouraged an organic ecological approach but sometimes the field
approach but sometimes the field
approach but sometimes the field trainers told me that chemical
trainers told me that chemical
trainers told me that chemical fertilizers were the only thing that
fertilizers were the only thing that
fertilizers were the only thing that would work on such poor soils so I went
would work on such poor soils so I went
would work on such poor soils so I went along with this because I didn’t have a
along with this because I didn’t have a
along with this because I didn’t have a lot of confidence in my farming know-how
lot of confidence in my farming know-how
lot of confidence in my farming know-how and I figured hey it’s better than
and I figured hey it’s better than
and I figured hey it’s better than running more forest right well over the
running more forest right well over the
running more forest right well over the years my colleagues and I have gained a
years my colleagues and I have gained a
years my colleagues and I have gained a lot more knowledge and we’re now certain
lot more knowledge and we’re now certain
lot more knowledge and we’re now certain that chemical fertilizers degenerate the
that chemical fertilizers degenerate the
that chemical fertilizers degenerate the environment just as much
environment just as much
environment just as much burning does and we’ve seen how organic
burning does and we’ve seen how organic
burning does and we’ve seen how organic practices can outperform conventional
practices can outperform conventional
practices can outperform conventional farming so by 2007 sustainable harvest
farming so by 2007 sustainable harvest
farming so by 2007 sustainable harvest international was promoting 100% organic
international was promoting 100% organic
international was promoting 100% organic practices it was a year later in 2008
practices it was a year later in 2008
practices it was a year later in 2008 that de metrio Martinez a farmer in
that de metrio Martinez a farmer in
that de metrio Martinez a farmer in membrillo Panama joined our program he’d
membrillo Panama joined our program he’d
membrillo Panama joined our program he’d grown up seeing his family burned more
grown up seeing his family burned more
grown up seeing his family burned more forests every year to grow their crops
forests every year to grow their crops
forests every year to grow their crops but still not have enough money to send
but still not have enough money to send
but still not have enough money to send him to school beyond the 6th grade when
him to school beyond the 6th grade when
him to school beyond the 6th grade when de metrio became a father himself he
de metrio became a father himself he
de metrio became a father himself he wanted more for his own children so he
wanted more for his own children so he
wanted more for his own children so he went to work on a conventional rice
went to work on a conventional rice
went to work on a conventional rice plantation where his co-workers got sick
plantation where his co-workers got sick
plantation where his co-workers got sick and died from exposure to agro chemicals
and died from exposure to agro chemicals
and died from exposure to agro chemicals it hardly seemed worth the 6 dollars a
it hardly seemed worth the 6 dollars a
it hardly seemed worth the 6 dollars a day that he earned but de metrio didn’t
day that he earned but de metrio didn’t
day that he earned but de metrio didn’t see a better option until our field
see a better option until our field
see a better option until our field trainer offered to visit his family
trainer offered to visit his family
trainer offered to visit his family every week to share knowledge that would
every week to share knowledge that would
every week to share knowledge that would allow Dimitrios family to produce an
allow Dimitrios family to produce an
allow Dimitrios family to produce an abundance of food without burning and
abundance of food without burning and
abundance of food without burning and without chemicals after five years de
without chemicals after five years de
without chemicals after five years de metrio had the confidence to continue on
metrio had the confidence to continue on
metrio had the confidence to continue on his own and share what he’d learned with
his own and share what he’d learned with
his own and share what he’d learned with other farmers by then he was comfortable
other farmers by then he was comfortable
other farmers by then he was comfortable using compost cover crops and mulch to
using compost cover crops and mulch to
using compost cover crops and mulch to regenerate healthy productive soils and
regenerate healthy productive soils and
regenerate healthy productive soils and he knew how to create an agro ecosystem
he knew how to create an agro ecosystem
he knew how to create an agro ecosystem of fruit hardwoods spice and nut trees
of fruit hardwoods spice and nut trees
of fruit hardwoods spice and nut trees growing together with coffee and sugar
growing together with coffee and sugar
growing together with coffee and sugar cane around rice plantations that are
cane around rice plantations that are
cane around rice plantations that are weeded and fertilized by fish more
weeded and fertilized by fish more
weeded and fertilized by fish more fruits and vegetables grow on a terraced
fruits and vegetables grow on a terraced
fruits and vegetables grow on a terraced hillside so now his farms ecosystem
hillside so now his farms ecosystem
hillside so now his farms ecosystem takes care of itself with birds bees
takes care of itself with birds bees
takes care of itself with birds bees soil microbes and all sorts of creatures
soil microbes and all sorts of creatures
soil microbes and all sorts of creatures that have come back to the land each
that have come back to the land each
that have come back to the land each playing their part
playing their part
playing their part and now Dimitrios family grows enough
and now Dimitrios family grows enough
and now Dimitrios family grows enough for a healthy diet and income to meet
for a healthy diet and income to meet
for a healthy diet and income to meet their other basic needs plus since they
their other basic needs plus since they
their other basic needs plus since they grow in the same land every year they
grow in the same land every year they
grow in the same land every year they don’t have to burn more forests they
don’t have to burn more forests they
don’t have to burn more forests they don’t burn more forests now this might
don’t burn more forests now this might
don’t burn more forests now this might not mean a lot if we’re just talking
not mean a lot if we’re just talking
not mean a lot if we’re just talking about the four acres that Demetrio farms
about the four acres that Demetrio farms
about the four acres that Demetrio farms but Demetrio is one of 3,000 sustainable
but Demetrio is one of 3,000 sustainable
but Demetrio is one of 3,000 sustainable harvest international farmers who’ve
harvest international farmers who’ve
harvest international farmers who’ve transformed twenty five thousand acres
transformed twenty five thousand acres
transformed twenty five thousand acres of degraded land to regenerative organic
of degraded land to regenerative organic
of degraded land to regenerative organic farms planting four million trees over
farms planting four million trees over
farms planting four million trees over the last twenty years
yeah I’m psyched that’s great but you
yeah I’m psyched that’s great but you know what it’s not nearly enough and
know what it’s not nearly enough and
know what it’s not nearly enough and that’s what keeps me up at night our
that’s what keeps me up at night our
that’s what keeps me up at night our current food system is responsible for
current food system is responsible for
current food system is responsible for about half of the world’s greenhouse gas
about half of the world’s greenhouse gas
about half of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions and even if we stop all
emissions and even if we stop all
emissions and even if we stop all emissions tomorrow our planet is going
emissions tomorrow our planet is going
emissions tomorrow our planet is going to keep warming because of what we’ve
to keep warming because of what we’ve
to keep warming because of what we’ve already put into the atmosphere we’re
already put into the atmosphere we’re
already put into the atmosphere we’re gonna continue down the path towards
gonna continue down the path towards
gonna continue down the path towards extinction but there’s still something
extinction but there’s still something
extinction but there’s still something that can save us and it’s the soil on
that can save us and it’s the soil on
that can save us and it’s the soil on farms like Dimitrios all we have to do
farms like Dimitrios all we have to do
farms like Dimitrios all we have to do is increase the carbon in the world
is increase the carbon in the world
is increase the carbon in the world soils by four parts per thousand or 0.4%
soils by four parts per thousand or 0.4%
soils by four parts per thousand or 0.4% and we can totally do that there are 500
and we can totally do that there are 500
and we can totally do that there are 500 million small-scale farms that produce
million small-scale farms that produce
million small-scale farms that produce most of the world’s food with almost no
most of the world’s food with almost no
most of the world’s food with almost no resources if we help these farms become
resources if we help these farms become
resources if we help these farms become regenerative like Dimitrios farm they’ll
regenerative like Dimitrios farm they’ll
regenerative like Dimitrios farm they’ll draw down 6 billion tons of carbon out
draw down 6 billion tons of carbon out
draw down 6 billion tons of carbon out of the atmosphere into the soil every
of the atmosphere into the soil every
of the atmosphere into the soil every year which is equivalent to shutting
year which is equivalent to shutting
year which is equivalent to shutting down every coal-fired plant on earth and
down every coal-fired plant on earth and
down every coal-fired plant on earth and they’ll create yeah all the good food
they’ll create yeah all the good food
they’ll create yeah all the good food and not only that they’ll also create 3
and not only that they’ll also create 3
and not only that they’ll also create 3 billion acres of habitat for more
billion acres of habitat for more
billion acres of habitat for more biodiversity that’s 30 times bigger than
biodiversity that’s 30 times bigger than
biodiversity that’s 30 times bigger than all our country’s national parks
all our country’s national parks
all our country’s national parks combined and of course they’ll produce
combined and of course they’ll produce
combined and of course they’ll produce delicious nutrient-dense poison free
delicious nutrient-dense poison free
delicious nutrient-dense poison free food for all of us and these 500 million
food for all of us and these 500 million
food for all of us and these 500 million farmers are ready to do their part but
farmers are ready to do their part but
farmers are ready to do their part but they can only do it if we do our part so
they can only do it if we do our part so
they can only do it if we do our part so here’s a couple easy ways that you can
here’s a couple easy ways that you can
here’s a couple easy ways that you can join them first by as much food as you
join them first by as much food as you
join them first by as much food as you can from regenerative organic farms
can from regenerative organic farms
can from regenerative organic farms preferably in your own community Eliot
preferably in your own community Eliot
preferably in your own community Eliot Coleman my favorite farmer here in Maine
Coleman my favorite farmer here in Maine
Coleman my favorite farmer here in Maine likes to point out that we happily pay
likes to point out that we happily pay
likes to point out that we happily pay more for better car
more for better car
more for better car furs TVs shoes but when it comes to the
furs TVs shoes but when it comes to the
furs TVs shoes but when it comes to the food that will either degenerate or
food that will either degenerate or
food that will either degenerate or regenerate our bodies and our planet why
regenerate our bodies and our planet why
regenerate our bodies and our planet why won’t we pay a little more for something
won’t we pay a little more for something
won’t we pay a little more for something so much better and second support
so much better and second support
so much better and second support programs that help farmers make this
programs that help farmers make this
programs that help farmers make this transition to regenerative farming it’s
transition to regenerative farming it’s
transition to regenerative farming it’s time for all of us to come together to
time for all of us to come together to
time for all of us to come together to build the fertile ground for a more
build the fertile ground for a more
build the fertile ground for a more abundant future when I see my son’s face
abundant future when I see my son’s face
abundant future when I see my son’s face light up when he pulls a bright orange
light up when he pulls a bright orange
light up when he pulls a bright orange carrot out of the rich earth I know
carrot out of the rich earth I know
carrot out of the rich earth I know his children won’t have such a joyful
his children won’t have such a joyful
his children won’t have such a joyful life unless humanity digs in and gives
life unless humanity digs in and gives
life unless humanity digs in and gives it all we’ve got in the next ten years
it all we’ve got in the next ten years
it all we’ve got in the next ten years if we want a happy healthy future for
if we want a happy healthy future for
if we want a happy healthy future for our children will support regenerative
our children will support regenerative
our children will support regenerative farms because farmers are our future
farms because farmers are our future
farms because farmers are our future thank you
”
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