Regenerative Farming

Farming for Nature
 
It can be all too easy to sink into the depths of despair lately. No one needs me to point out the obvious on that one. With the seemingly endless bombardment of, oh, I don’t know, pandemics, wars, skyrocketing cost of living, potential fiery death of planet and all life along with it, to name a few, it can feel impossible to see the light at times. With good reason, a lot of us are spending a lot of our time in survival mode, barely concealing anxiety, panic and terror. It can be argued that this is, in fact, a rational response to a broken world.
 
But, the nature of fear and panic is that it can become all-consuming. It is also contagious. Once sparked, it spreads like wildfire. It can become increasingly difficult to maintain precisely what is needed when things around us feel like unmanageable chaos: balance, hope, or , dare I say it, optimism. A steely focus on what we can do instead of drowning in a sea of everything outside of our control. Of course there will be days where we have to let ourselves submerge a little bit - we can’t pretend that those things outside of our control, those things capable of knocking the breath from us, don’t exist. But, without a sense of hope, we lose the ability and strength to pull ourselves up out of the water, take deep lungfuls of air, and start the battle afresh. Anecdotally, it seems that those who try to manage their reactions to the wildfire, those who maybe aren’t outwardly panicking, who maybe are even trying to remain hopeful, immediately raise suspicion. Others wonder whether this person is existing in some sort of alternate reality, unaware of what’s actually going on. Am I exaggerating? There must be few among us whose daily interactions and encounters don’t include some version of doom discussion, some questioning of whether there is any good news out there to cling on to.
 
Against all odds, yes there is. It isn’t as ubiquitous, maybe not even as powerful, as the rest. But, it’s there. For my part, I would like to share something that is feeling a little bit like some calm among the chaos: the upsurge in interest in regenerative farming.
 
Regenerative farming encompasses ways of farming according to principles which place the health of soils and ecosystems at the centre of the process. Rather than traditional methods which have plundered and depleted to serve increasingly unsustainable food supply demands, a symbiotic relationship between farmer and land, nurtured to provide for both human and nature, is at the forefront here. Regenerative farming is slowly making its way from the fringes.
 
Over time and with patience, switching to and investing in regenerative farming practices will benefit us all. Farmers’ input costs are lower and not so reliant on volatile external systems. The food we, as consumers, have access to is much more nutritionally dense. Nature, the land, the soil, wildlife starts to return to full health. Psychologically, we start to return to the knowledge of us as part of the earth and the earth as a part of us. This feeling of disconnect from nature that so many have grown up with is, in my mind, in desperate need of attention. This has just been a criminally brief overview - the benefits are, in fact, endless.
 
I’m not the only one who can see the benefits of making these changes. I can’t seem to stop coming across grassroots projects aimed at enhancing this awareness. Projects and groups finding ways of giving back to this earth, at working with it instead of taking from it, at fiercely pushing back against the damage we have done, at protecting and enhancing biodiversity, at finding ways to gather together and figure out how we can best serve this earth we have so hurt. It’s like when you learn a word for the first time - suddenly, you’re seeing it everywhere. I wrote about Doon Social Farm here previously. Now I hope you’ll join me in learning a little bit about Farming for Nature.
 
Farming for Nature was set up as a storytelling vehicle, and a support network, for farmers nationwide to document and share their relationship with managing their lands according to regenerative practices.
 
There can often be a narrative that farmers are locked in battle with nature, subduing it to their will in order to make their living in the most efficient way possible. The premise for Farming for Nature is the importance of understanding why that may be the case, while also spreading awareness that this is an unfair and reductive view. In the experience of many within this sector, farmers’ sometimes complicated relationship with the land does not come from an inherent disrespect for it. It’s unlikely anyone could be a farmer without a love for, and appreciation of, the land.
 
Instead, consider that, in order to make as stable a living as possible in an increasingly volatile sector, farmers have long turned to the support of government strategies and funding, many of which have not had biodiversity and soil health on its list of priorities. Competing for resources and customers, all else falls by the wayside, a survival mode and panic can kick in. When we are struggling to meet our basic needs, our brains switch off to everything other than the quickest and most efficient way to get those basic needs met. Maybe we don’t have the space or support or time to think about the ripple effect of the methods used to get there. Mirroring the problems with our global food systems at large, the top-down narrative that output and yield is king, and that this necessitates plundering the land for all we can get without repair and restoration, has done immeasurable damage. It has run its course. The Farming for Nature network, its members and ambassadors, its comprehensive library of written resources, YouTube videos and podcasts, are an invaluable resource to direct us forward from this point, to guide farmers and public alike to a more enlightened and harmonious relationship with farming, with our food provenance, with nature.
 
Don’t get me wrong: individuals should not be tasked with taking on the responsibility and cost to change entire systems, while those in power sit back and watch on in comfortable complacency. Support is needed. I am, of course, conscious of the challenges that farmers face in even beginning to rethink all of this. It is not easy to completely change the way you’ve always done things, to pivot to new systems, especially without appropriate funding, resources, education, supports; and maybe even without the interest, or will. But, the mere existence of, and widespread interest in, Farming for Nature, and similar grassroots projects, is a huge bright point at a time when bright points can feel hard to come by.
 
So many of us now see that the benefits that come from regenerative farming can no longer be seen as a luxury in the midst of climate, food and biodiversity crises of our making. It is our responsibility, and more importantly, the responsibility of those in power, to rethink the ways we have always done things, and provide support for new, healthier ways forward. The only downside  is that this takes time; time many of us fear we don’t have.
 
But, that the awareness of our interconnectedness with this earth is increasingly important enough to a large enough group of people to begin to make these changes, even when it causes them discomfort, even with the niggle that time is running out, gives me hope.
 
Consider this an example of a tale as old as time. In the vacuum created by lack of support and guidance from above, individuals tend to band together. Community-building, and sharing of skills and knowledge, in the face of difficulties and disaster has long been a cornerstone of progress. Taking matters into our own hands, if you will, while we wait for the higher ups to catch on. If this type of thinking is being stoked in the farming and food supply world, a sector so integral to our island, to our whole world, it’s not quite time to throw in the towel just yet. From the ground up, the message will be heard.
 
Do the glimmers of hope outweigh the genuine reasons to be worried? I’m not sure. I do know that counteracting fear and hopelessness is essential. It isn’t a case of pretending the reasons to be afraid aren’t there. It isn’t a case of being delusional (although, a little healthy delusion can have its uses at times). It’s a case of trying to keep hope alive, alongside acknowledgement of, and, where possible, action to confront, the reasons to be worried. Searching for little glimmers of hope, connections and kindnesses doesn’t mean we are oblivious or indifferent to the harsh realities of the world we live in, the things to be reasonably upset and frightened about. But, hope is a powerful thing. And, losing hope is even more powerful still. We can’t challenge and question and push for change if we’ve lost hope. So, at the risk of being accused of toxic positivity, whitewashing, greenwashing, whatever other washing I might potentially be guilty of here - I invite us to keep trying to find our own reasons to be, if not cheerful, at least not hopeless.
 
 
 
Some resources for learning more about Farming for Nature:
 
https://www.farmingfornature.ie/resources/

• There are also farm walks going on all over the country throughout the summer hosted by members of the network, where all are welcome to attend and learn more about regenerative practices used on individual farms.

 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZjnC1-s1Rw

• A talk hosted by Irish Wildlife Trust, highlighting Farming for Nature, including fascinating discussion with three of its farming ambassadors.

 
 
 
 
A handful of local examples of farmers and groups practicing regenerative farming/ tackling biodiversity crisis (happily, the list nationwide is long and growing).
 
SeedSavers in Scariff, Co. Clare.

• A working farm with the objective of promoting biodiversity, and protecting and preserving heirloom seed and Irish heritage apple varieties.
• Workshops and Open Days happening throughout the summer.

 
Brookfield Farm on the banks of Lough Derg in Co. Tipperary.
https://www.farmingfornature.ie/nominees/ailbhe-gerrard-2/

• Have a look at the Field Exchange project on their website. You get to spend a day on the farm learning from experts on all sorts of topics from farm biodiversity to rethinking food systems - and then you all enjoy a meal together!

 
Hometree:  a tree planting conservation project in Ennistymon, Co. Clare.

• Bi-monthly tree planting days where all are welcome, including sharing a meal together when the work is done.

 
And, of course, our very own Jim Cronin!

Kelly Girardi
Instagram @kelly_girardi
Linktree kelly_girardi
 
 

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