Becoming a regenerative farmer allowed me to give back to the land. Having lived in London for many years working as a broker at Goldman Sachs, I didn’t realize how much I missed being on the ground. I grew up on a rural farm in KZN and wore shoes only to go to school.
The more I experience the fertile world of renewable agriculture, the more I realize that we as humans need to be connected to the earth. Although urbanization has brought us a better standard of living over the past 300 years, people are not happy.
Barefoot connection with the ground
The easiest way to connect to the ground is barefoot on it. Not on concrete or asphalt pavers. In the real world. There is a wonderful book called Earthingby Clinton Ober. A big takeaway for me was that being barefoot on the ground helps restore our body’s natural electrical system. If you can land early in the morning and catch the rising sun, even better.
The miracle of planting
There are many benefits to gardeningbut I want to focus on two: the relationship with soil microbes and connection with the growth rhythm of plants.
Anyone can garden. If you don’t have land, you can even grow herbs on your windowsill.
There are more microorganisms in a handful of healthy soil than there are people on earth. This is a shocking and shocking fact. Conventional agriculture is at war with these microbes. When you start gardening and put your hands in the soil, you will realize that organic farming, which does everything to increase the diversity of those soil microbes, will be the only way you want to plant or grow plants.
Getting dirt under your nails is very healthy for you. The more different microbes you are exposed to, the better.
Connection to your garden
Connecting to a growing plant is an exhilarating experience. The wonder of planting a seed in fertile soil, watching it grow, feeding it, eliminating competition in the form of weeds, planting companion plants (like people, plants don’t like to be alone), seeing a flower form, seeing the metamorphosis from flower to seed/fruit, producing a plant part that you will enjoy when you prepare it. Our Bill of Rights.
Check out this experiment I did with my kids many years ago. In two separate windows facing the same direction, place a few grains of wheat between the cotton wool, which you will keep moist. Several times a day, go to that batch of eggs and say only positive things. Show them as much love as you can. Then, go to the next group and focus as much negative energy on them as possible. Hate that group.
See what happens with the growth in the two groups and then think about connecting and returning to the ground.
If you’re lucky enough to have more land than your window, please consider bringing animals into your orbit. The reconstruction of the land is carried out only with the animals of the system. Five egg-laying hens in a safe backyard in your yard, moved daily and fed kitchen scraps, will give you the best eggs you’ll ever eat. Plus, their fertilizer ensures that your lawn is never fertilized with store-bought fertilizer.
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Farmer Angus is reflected in our cover. This article is in our latest issue, along with other amazing articles and features. Our “Back to Earth” edition is a must-read in Longevity for anyone ready to think about what we put in our bodies.
Get expert insight from Dr. Zach Bush, Ash Kapoor. Oscar ChalupskyDr. Maureen Allem, Dr. Anushka Reddy, Dr. Des Fernandes, Dr. Craig Golding and many others. This issue explores everything from clean food and beauty to sustainable living, fashion, travel and other smart choices.
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