I already enjoy Liz Carlisle's book. I appreciate the accessible language and personal anecdotes. I snickered after I read the part about "artificial trees", and then Carlisle said, "Or, of course, you can use real trees".
I was reflecting on how the narrative of deforestation has changed throughout my life. When I was younger, I sometimes heard about all the rainforests being cut down. Now, I have read so much research on environmental issues and am happy the issue is being addressed more holistically by many people.
I was excited to read about the regenerative agriculture techniques I've learned about previously! The chapter even mentioned the Rodale Institute. Obviously, this is a regen ag course but we've been focused more on the social/economic aspect, but I am excited by the more hands-on agricultural side.
I liked the checking vs savings account analogy for soil carbon deposits!
This statement stood out to me: we've ruined agriculture and the climate with racial violence. I just think that's a heavy realization to make. I often think of how the opposite is true: agriculture and the climate exacerbate racial injustice. Also, this comment: how regenerative agriculture has always been here, but just on the margins, just like the minorities we've pushed to social margins. There were so many great quotes I wrote down from this chapter!
I did not know "bison" is what scientists call this bovine species and "buffalo" is what the indigenous people named it.
I love the random facts, like how buffalo have an enzyme in their saliva that stimulates plant growth! Also, how Hawaiian native populations matched the current numbers, but the former were self-sufficient and the latter imported 90% of their food.
I LOVE learning about indigenous ways of life. Holistic, humble, ecocentric, and responsible. I've always wished I was born at a different time because I love that way of life.
Carlisle points out that cattle are easier but require more than bison. This made me think of the chickens at the farm I work at. There are the cornish cross, white, large-breasted birds; they get so fat and lazy they get run over sometimes. There is another breed that is brown, smaller, and has less meat; but they are much more intelligent (relatively, obviously. They are no Einstein).
Finally, I appreciated the mention that "no-till" isn't necessarily good. In my soil class, we learned the benefit of "some tilling".
1 comment:
Firstly, I want to say I love how excited you are about this topic It's great to see that there are people that are excited about this and want to see things change for the better.
The beginning when she commented "Or, you could use real trees" was definitely funny to read. I feel as though it helps make reading it more personal. I totally forgot to mention in my response but the savings account analogy was fantastic! There are just so many analogies like this that help explain the situation to people who may not be all that familiar with a topic as heavy as this.
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