We Are Carbon

I'm delighted to be joined by Diana Denke who has generously offered to bring us an overview of what can be done to bring more financing towards nature.For generations wealth and financial markets have benefited from the extraction and depletion of the natural world to the extent that we're globally facing a crisis of biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse.There is a firm recognition of the need to protect, support and regenerate nature for the multi-faceted benefits that it brings to our economy, health, communities & climate.But companies are facing a barrier when it comes to moving significant finance into projects for nature so there's a need for new approaches and further learning. Diana is passionate about nature regeneration and has a wealth of experience exploring investment opportunities into nature based solutions. She is the perfect voice to help us all to get a better grasp of the barriers, the challenges and possible paths forward. (For a further breakdown of this discussion see the timestamps below)You can learn from Diana and her work with Fair Carbon here: https://www.faircarbon.org/Find a video version of this conversation over on the website: https://www.wearecarbon.earth/nature-based-solutions-diana-denke/-------------Related We Are Carbon episodes:Yesterday’s Sunlight or Today’s? – In Conversation with John RoulacRoots So Deep – In Conversation with Peter ByckUnderstanding Carbon Offsetting – In Conversation with Brennan Spellacy-----------Timestamps:00:00 - Intro04:34 - What are nature based solutions?07:42 - The need & benefits of investing in nature17:20 - Barriers to bringing finance into nature at scale29:28 - Investing in carbon removal technology vs investing in nature43:20 - Financing solutions for nature projects50:35 - Collaborating to scale up projects?54:20 - Diana's work with Fair Carbon [restoring coastal and marine ecosystems]

Join me for a group chat with four practitioners of Wayapa Wuurrk exploring the relevance of Indigenous wisdom & nature connection in our modern world.There are many reasons that our lives today have caused disconnection between us and the people and environments around us. And it's too easy to over look the importance of this. I'm joined by three guests in Australia, Jem Stone, Rebecca Dunn and Sara Jones, along with Debbie Mace in the UK. They've all come together to share about the power of nature connection for our personal, collective and planetary well-being.These four ladies are all practitioners of Wayapa Wuurrk which is an earth connection practice based on ancient Indigenous wisdom, originating in Australia.This is a relaxing chat between like-minded woman and yet at its heart it's also a powerful conversation which demonstrates the place of talking in circle, sharing stories and reconnecting to the world around us.You can learn more about Wayapa Wuurrk at the website: https://wayapa.com/If you're in the UK and would like to connect with Debbie Mace directly you can find her here on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debbie-mace-639a3b242/-----More from We Are Carbon:The Power Of Food: Connection & Community Group Chat - https://www.wearecarbon.earth/power-of-food-collaboration/Connecting with Textiles: in Conversation with Sharon Kallis - https://www.wearecarbon.earth/sustainable-textiles-sharon-kallis/What Even is Soil?! - a dialogue to support holistic thinking - https://www.wearecarbon.earth/soil-path-to-whole-systems-thinking/-----For a further breakdown of this episode see the timestamps below. 00:00 - Introductions06:50 - "Individual Journey to Collective Well-being"13:55 - Empowering through relationships23:07 - Observation, conversation & story33:58 - Addressing eco-anxiety41:14 - What is Wayapa Wuurrk?46:33 - Bringing Wayapa to the UK50:44 - Personal transformation & global connection

It's a pleasure to be joined by Niels Corfield who shares insights from his concept of 'The Weatherproof Farm'.It's hard to not have noticed the increase in standing water across farmlands in recent years; fields appearing to contain vast lakes during our wetter seasons.Whilst we might consider ourselves to be at the mercy of changing weather this conversation helps to underline why the cause and solution to this standing water can be much more within our control.Having monitored the soil and pasture health on over 200 farms in the UK Niels developed the concept of 'The Weatherproof Farm' which puts the focus on addressing compacted and unhealthy soils.Making changes to a farm management system can be complex and so I really appreciate the way that Niels breaks down the barriers with his practical and accessible approach to understanding both the problems and solutions around soil health.Niels works with producers and landowners to implement regenerative systems and has a  passion to help farmers to understand the root causes of the issues they work with day-to-day, enabling them to create low-input, profitable operations that are nature-friendly and productive.Learn more with Niels:Niels' website: https://nielscorfield.com/Farm Ed [17th Sept] 'Weatherproof Your Farm': https://www.farm-ed.co.uk/event-details/weatherproof-your-farm ----------Related We Are Carbon episodes:Roots So Deep  -In Conversation with Peter ByckUnderstanding Regenerative Agriculture - with Caroline GrindrodHolistic Management - with Sheila Cooke----------For a further breakdown of this discussion see the timestamps below:00:00 - Intro04:44 - The case for 'The Weatherproof Farm'06:50 - Soil type doesn't have to be the limit11:31 - What is aggregation in soil & why is it important?18:31 - Dairy management - soil health, resilience & profitability25:31 - Arable management - soil health, resilience & profitability32:43 - The soil doesn't lie!34:54 - An overview of the solutions36:22 - Grazing management for supporting soil health39:48 - Arable management to support soil health45:49 - Complimentary support approaches53:53 - Learn more with Niels

From Our Food ForestsDiscovering Climate Action in Our Gardens & CommunitiesJoin us as we embark on a learning journey of regeneration from our growing spaces across the globe. From Our Food Forests is a new light touch network hosted by Helen Fisher for connection and co-learningRead the newsletter on LinkedInSubscribe to the newsletter on LinkedInJoin us for our monthly live call – find the latest sign up link at the websiteContact me to share ideas & explore opportunities | email: helen@wearecarbon.earth------------Episode highlights for further listening from the podcast:Understanding Regenerative Agriculture with Caroline Grindrod https://www.wearecarbon.earth/podcast-episode/caroline-grindrod-regenerative-agriculture/Holistic Management with Sheila Cooke https://www.wearecarbon.earth/podcast-episode/holistic-management-transition-mindset-farming/Connecting with Textiles with Sharon Kallis https://www.wearecarbon.earth/sustainable-textiles-sharon-kallis

Jackson Buzingo is a multi-generational small holder farmer who grew up facing the challenges of a changing landscape in Tanzania, East Africa.As he witnessed rivers running dry and crops failing he set out to find a solution.In Season 1 of the podcast Jackson shared his journey of learning about regenerative practices in agriculture. He brought his passion to the communities around him, educating hundreds of small holder farmers and establishing small demonstration farms and food forests that have since inspired with their ability to produce when surrounding lands are dry and struggling.In this episode we catch up with Jackson over two years later. We speak at a turning point in his journey where he's taking the first steps to establish his own regenerative farm in Western Tanzania. This time to become an example of a profitable business model for small holder farmers rather than as purely a demonstration for regeneration. Jackson offers a wide range of insights into the steps that he plans to take with his farm along with exploring some of the barriers that are holding back a wider spread transition within the communities around him.Find a video version of this episode on the website: https://www.wearecarbon.earth/jackson-buzingo-farming-transition-in-east-africa/For a further breakdown of this discussion see the timestamps below:00:00 - Intro02:57 - First steps on the new farm05:23 - Why this farm differs from the demo farms07:52 - Trees and layers in the new farm09:18 - Climate struggles & barriers to transition14:03 - Conventional farming struggles - tobacco dominance and deforestation16:39 - Hope & inspiration from food forests23:51 - Plan and progression for the new farm31:23 - Access to seeds36:25 - Access to food for local communities37:36 - Building awareness & momentum for regeneration

Join me for a conversation with Peter Byck exploring the incredible opportunity that land offers to us as a tool for re-balancing the climate.Peter is the director of the four part documentary series Roots So Deep (You Can See The Devil Down There)There's a huge contrast that we often talk about on this show; how regenerative farming can tip all the detriments of conventional practises on their head and actually turn agriculture into one of the biggest healing tools for the planet.And this is why I'm so incredibly excited about the work that Peter has been part of. He's been working with a team of pioneering scientists who have conducted research to compare the outcomes of regenerative cattle grazing directly with their conventional farming neighbours.It's an extensive multi-discipline project bringing a whole systems look and putting data behind the claims. And the results are in! Find a video version of this episode on the website: https://www.wearecarbon.earth/peter-byck-roots-so-deep/For a further breakdown of this discussion see the timestamps below:00:00:00 - Intro00:04:42 - Climate solution discovery journey00:12:36 - Break down of the science for Roots So Deep00:19:23 - AMP Grazing; easier for the farmers?00:27:22 - The far reaching connections from how we farm00:29:33 - The game of knowledge sharing00:36:00 - What's next? Expanding transition00:41:06 - Comparing farming outcomes via dung00:47:19 - Focusing on solutions00:51:49 - Economies for farmers00:54:00 - Funders for the research01:07:24 - Inspiring change

Join us in this special episode that brings together a range of voices to explore their developing collaborative project; The Power of Food. Together these four guests bring a diverse range experiences and knowledge to unite around the common goal of building social cohesion by harnessing the connective power of food. Connecting with where our food comes from, and also with community, with health, with nature and with the world around us. Holistic and expansive.It was a delightful conversation to be engaged with and I'm so excited to announce that during our chat a decision was made to fast forward plans and move forward with a pilot right away! If you're serious about taking action to connect and enrich the local food system around you I'm sure the team here would love to hear from you. Here's Nick's email - do reach out: nick@openfoodnetwork.org.ukThe Guests and links out:Nick Weir - Co-founder, Open Food Network UK https://openfoodnetwork.org.uk/Kay Johnson - Director, The Larder https://larder.org.uk/Flora Gathorne-Hardy & Miche Fabre Lewin - Founders, Living Justice https://livingjustice.earth/With insights from Serenity Hill - Co-founder, Open Food Network [Full episode with Serenity: https://www.wearecarbon.earth/serenity-hill-open-food-network/ ]For a further breakdown of this discussion see the timestamps below.See the video version of this episode here: https://www.wearecarbon.earth/power-of-food-collaboration/-------More Formats from We Are Carbon: [Shorter Video Format with Animations] - Can All Food be Regenerative. With Patrick Holden: https://www.wearecarbon.earth/can-all-food-be-regenerative/[Story Telling Audio Format] - Soil (My Common Sense Take) : https://www.wearecarbon.earth/soil-path-to-whole-systems-thinking/Explore ways to support this content: https://www.wearecarbon.earth/your-support/----------------------Timestamps:00:00:00 - Overview00:03:12 - Guest intros00:12:00 - Collaboration - benefits & reasons for coming together00:28:28 - The Open Food Network; an ambition to connect people with their food00:34:34 - Insights from Serenity Hill - Co-Founder, The Open Food Network00:36:30 - Benefits of shorter supply chains00:41:00 - Connecting through food (self, community, nature)00:50:20 - Learning to cook - addressing this obstacle to fresh local food00:58:21 - Coming together to practice change01:04:18 - An invite; get involved today!

Watch a short video from the food forest here: https://www.wearecarbon.earth/food-forest-small-project-of-regenerationIn a change from our usual conversations this episode introduces my own small project of regeneration at my food forest in Lincolnshire, UK.Winglewood is both my home and place for imagination & I started the food forest before reaching out to start any of the conversations for this podcast. After learning so much from my time spent here co-creating with Nature I'd like to start sharing more of the journey with you.I've created a video to go alongside this episode so you can see a short intro to the food forest. You'll also find an invite to join for some growing space discussions on the same page. Find the video and invite here: https://www.wearecarbon.earth/food-forest-small-project-of-regeneration

Join me for a conversation with Sharon Kallis who brings us thought provoking insights from her work exploring the place of textiles within our lives. Inspiring us to reconnect with ourselves, community and heal the world around us through rediscovering the materials which we wrap around ourselves and our homes.Sharon is the founding director of EartHand Gleaners SocietyAlongside her artistic and practical endeavours transforming fibres into clothing, Sharon's work also includes community projects that layer up the opportunities for people to reconnect with one another, with plants and with place.  Combined with a personal challenge of 'growing her own clothing' this all comes through to bring us a story of re-finding what it means to be human; exploring a slower, more purposeful pace of life as an outcome of acting more sustainably in the creation of the stuff we use and depend upon. For a further breakdown of this discussion see the timestamps below.See the video version of this episode here: https://www.wearecarbon.earth/sustainable-textiles-sharon-kallis/-------More Formats from We Are Carbon: [Shorter Video Format with Animations] - Can All Food be Regenerative. With Patrick Holden: https://www.wearecarbon.earth/can-all-food-be-regenerative/[Story Telling Audio Format] - Soil (My Common Sense Take) : https://www.wearecarbon.earth/soil-path-to-whole-systems-thinking/Explore ways to support this content: https://www.wearecarbon.earth/your-support/----------------------Timestamps:00:00:00 - Intro00:07:00 - Sharon's work integrating textiles within community gardens00:16:40 - Connectivity, well being & complexity00:28:08 - Challenges of community land access00:34:26 - Invasive plant species for textile use00:37:52 - Modern disconnection & unsustainable textiles00:48:08 - Growing your own clothes! Sharon's journey01:02:27 - The steps we can all take towards more sustainable textiles

It was a great pleasure to spend some time discussing a new paradigm for our built environment with David Nicholson; considering how the construction of our buildings can actually support the drawing down of carbon. David is the director of Natural Building SystemsHis work not only explores how we can transform the impact of our buildings upon the climate, but how the use of natural materials is key to both creating and maintaining a healthy living environment for ourselves too.Natural Building Systems is working directly with farmers to develop a supply chain for the hemp fibre utilised within their unique prefabricated system. Combining the best of nature and technology to work towards an affordable, adaptable system of building for a more regenerative future.For a further breakdown of this discussion see the timestamps below.See the video version of this episode here: https://www.wearecarbon.earth/carbon-sink-homes-david-nicholson/-------More Formats from We Are Carbon: [Shorter Video Format with Animations] - Can All Food be Regenerative. With Patrick Holden: https://www.wearecarbon.earth/can-all-food-be-regenerative/[Story Telling Audio Format] - Soil (My Common Sense Take) : https://www.wearecarbon.earth/soil-path-to-whole-systems-thinking/Explore ways to support this content: https://www.wearecarbon.earth/your-support/----------------------Timestamps:00:00:00 - Intro00:06:10 - Embodied carbon in buildings - the size of today's problem00:13:30 - The transition needed00:17:30 - Synthetic insulation - look at the bigger picture00:22:00 - The properties of hemp & short life cycle crops00:29:00 - Utilising short life cycle crops as a more sustainable resource than timber?00:34:30 - Working & developing with farmers00:43:30 - The biobased modular system of Natural Building Systems00:54:10 - The experience for a builder / developer to work with NBS & adaptability01:00:00 - The experience to live within a NBS construction 01:05:00 - Collaborating / getting in touch / learning more

I had the wonderful opportunity to chat with Serenity Hill about building an alternative, fairer and more resilient path within our food systems.Serenity is the co-founder of The Open Food Network.She comes from a long line of farmers on both sides of her family and has grown up with a keen awareness of the challenges and contradictions of balancing the needs of nature and the needs of farmers within a centralised food system that does a poor job of supporting either.We talk about the motivations that led to the creation of The Open Food Network alongside the ongoing ambitions and evolution of this now expansive enterprise.For a further breakdown of this discussion see the timestamps below.See the video version of this episode here: https://www.wearecarbon.earth/serenity-hill-open-food-network/-------More Formats from We Are Carbon: [Shorter Video Format with Animations] - Can All Food be Regenerative. With Patrick Holden: https://www.wearecarbon.earth/can-all-food-be-regenerative/[Story Telling Audio Format] - Soil (My Common Sense Take) : https://www.wearecarbon.earth/soil-path-to-whole-systems-thinking/Explore ways to support this content: https://www.wearecarbon.earth/your-support/----------------------Timestamps:00:00 - Intro02:51 - Motivation & background to start the OFN08:40 - Farming with nature - influences from both parents13:42 - Challenges faced by farmers in current food system17:07 - What is a social enterprise?18:50 - What is the Open Food Network?24:00 - Input from Nick Weir (Open Food Network UK)27:54 - Shared learning, resource & investment30:21 - OFN success stories and uses36:00 - Evolving the investment and subsidy schemes for greater food access for all39:39 - 'The Power of Food'- valuing food beyond a basic commodity44:25 - Serenity and Kirsten's farm46:11 - Learning more

I was delighted to be joined by Daniel Deniaud-Powell for a conversation about the wonderful potential of our gardens for supporting both biodiversity and food production, and exploring the practical steps we might take to bring such enrichment into our own green spaces and lives.Daniel co-owns and runs 'Des Heures Dehors' with his wife Hélène.His passion and connection to nature is clear, and he has a wide range of experience producing food, designing gardens and food forests and running unique enterprises; such an edible flower farm, to make small scale growing profitable.We touch on all of this alongside gleaning some very practical guidance for anyone considering creating an edible, biodiversity garden. See the video version of this episode here: https://www.wearecarbon.earth/daniel-deniaud-powell-biodiversity-gardening/For a further breakdown of this discussion see the timestamps below, and use the references section to find links out to Daniel's work and a range of further resources that he mentions.-------More Formats from We Are Carbon: [Shorter Video Format with Animations] - Can All Food be Regenerative. With Patrick Holden: https://www.wearecarbon.earth/can-all-food-be-regenerative/[Story Telling Audio Format] - Soil (My Common Sense Take) : https://www.wearecarbon.earth/soil-path-to-whole-systems-thinking/Explore ways to support this content: https://www.wearecarbon.earth/your-support/----------------------00:00:00 - Intro00:05:12 - What is an Edible biodiversity garden?00:09:15 - Soil health & principles from regenerative farming00:12:44 - Supporting diversity / creating an ecosystem00:18:34 - Our bad relationship with creepy crawlies & creatures in our spaces00:24:33 - Nature isn't fully functioning - rewilding through standing back OR taking action?00:27:49 - Daniel's dream garden00:31:58 - Daniel's favourite species to include in a garden design00:35:50 - Including food in the biodiversity garden00:41:19 - How to produce food with low maintenance - approach and plant suggestions00:48:08 - Commercial business from a small growing space00:55:39 - Gardens at restaurants / working with chefs01:03:10 - Current focuses-------References mentioned by Daniel:Charles Dowding - Vast info on producing food 'No Dig'. Richard Perkins - Farming in small spacesHuw Richards - Video learning for self sufficieny / permaculture gardeningDr Elaine Ingham's Soil Food Web School

It was wonderful to be joined by Jason Freeman for a conversation that brings insights from his experience running a farmer owned co-op & organic retail brand which address the challenges of bringing fairer and more transparent connections between organic food producers and consumers.We discuss why our current large scale systems of agriculture and food supply create a barrier for transitioning to more sustainable farming approaches, along with the obstacles it causes for consumers who are seeking food choices that are healthy for themselves and nature.We also learn of Jason's journey in creating a farmer owned co-operative, the values and approaches that brought it success, and his later move to his current business 'Farmer Direct Organic'. You can find the Farmer Direct Organic website here: https://fdorganic.com/See the video version of this episode here: https://www.wearecarbon.earth/jason-freeman-regenerative-food-supply/-------More Formats from We Are Carbon: [Shorter Video Format] - Can All Food be Regenerative. With Patrick Holden: https://www.wearecarbon.earth/can-all-food-be-regenerative/[Story Telling Audio Format] - Soil (My Common Sense Take) : https://www.wearecarbon.earth/soil-path-to-whole-systems-thinking/Explore ways to support this content: https://www.wearecarbon.earth/your-support/----------------------Other We Are Carbon episodes focused on transforming food supply:Evolving the Local Food System  - A compilation with 4 guests in my home county of LincolnshireLocal Food Ecosystems - in conversation with Duncan Catchpole, Founder of the Cambridge Food Hub---------For a further breakdown of this discussion see the timestamps below:00:00 - Jason Intro & importance of soil health02:05 - Welcome to episode04:17 - Soil health, nutrition and human health07:18 - How our systems of agriculture can be a barrier to transitioning farming practices14:11 - Systems change from the bottom up22:57 - Connecting farmers and consumers - Jason's journey creating a farmer owned co-op36:21 - Stepping away from the co-op & the new business39:56 - Traceability and pesticide testing46:07 - The future of supply for organic and regenerative foods?52:33 - Learning more / connecting with Jason

This episode brings my own personal dialogue exploring our farming system through a regenerative lens.A stark realisation of not only how bizarre it is, but of the potential we have as humans to step in, turn the tide and become a beneficial element from this place forward.This journey is given life and rooted down by the insights and experiences of three wonderful guests from the podcast.Learn more from our guests:Agroforestry producer Bernadette Millard helps us appreciate the potential of perennial foods. She shares experiences from her journey transforming her farm in the desert borderlands of Oman into a thriving oasis.The full We Are Carbon episode with Bernadette can be found here.---Organic farmer Hannah Thorogood offers insights into why we should be imitating nature with our raising of livestock.She utilises permaculture and holistic grazing on her 130 acre farm, The InkPot Organic Farm in the UK.The original We Are Carbon episode with Hannah can be found here - as part of a compilation about building a local food system.---And filmmaker Peter Byck brings observations from his extensive project with a wide range of scientists who have studied nature side by side on farms using regenerative grazing compared with farms grazing conventionally.Peter's full interview for We Are Carbon will be published in early summer.In the meantime you can learn more about his extensive research project and the corresponding film series 'Roots So Deep, You Can See The Devil Down There'.----Watch the first episode in this format: "So... What Even is Soil??" - Listen here: https://www.wearecarbon.earth/soil-path-to-whole-systems-thinking/

It was a great pleasure to be joined by Patrick Holden for a conversation exploring the challenges and paths to creating food and farming systems that work in closer harmony with nature.Patrick is the founder and CEO of 'The Sustainable Food Trust' and he has a great range of insights to offer around this topic.We discuss what our diets would need to look like if we were to achieve a transition to sustainable and regenerative farming across the whole of the UK, along with the problem of dishonest pricing within our food system.We also touch on why Patrick is optimistic that change is possible due to a trend of more and more people taking an interest in the story of their food.Learn more about The Sustainable Food Trust here: https://sustainablefoodtrust.org/See the video version of this episode along with additional references mentioned here: https://www.wearecarbon.earth/patrick-holden-sustainable-food-trust----------------------More Formats from We Are Carbon: [Shorter Video Format] - From Healthy Soil Comes Healthy Food. With Claire Mackenzie: https://www.wearecarbon.earth/soil-health-and-regenerative-farming/[Story Telling Audio Format] - Soil (My Common Sense Take) : https://www.wearecarbon.earth/soil-path-to-whole-systems-thinking/Explore ways to support this content: https://www.wearecarbon.earth/your-support/----------------------For a further breakdown of this discussion see the timestamps below:00:00 Intro02:20 About Patrick03:27 Why is cheap food not really so cheap??11:50 True Cost Accounting15:16 The impact of food production on our energy & vitality22:55 Would we have enough food if all farming became regenerative?26:06 What does a sustainable diet look like?34:46 Multiple Approaches of The Sustainable Food Trust 44:59 What steps can a farmer take if they'd like to transition?48:07 Do you feel we're on track to move things forward?

Welcome to this new additional format for the podcast!We'll still be having fresh interviews alongside but today's episode is a bit different; a personal dialogue that I've written and recorded to (hopefully) help birth an appreciation of soil through the lens of whole systems thinking.I'm joined throughout with guests from our other episodes -You'll hear from Tony Rinaudo and his struggles trying to reestablish life in the degraded soils of Africa, along with his development of F.M.N.R that completely turned things around. The full episode with Tony can be found here: https://www.wearecarbon.earth/podcast-episode/regenerating-hope-fmnr-tony-rinaudo/Jason Freeman of Farmer Direct Organic joins us to help us understand the impacts that chemical agriculture has on our soils and food. The full interview with Jason will be published later this Spring so subscribe for notifications!Sheila Cooke of 3LM (The Savory Network Hub for UK and Ireland) shares her wisdom of holistic management to take our knowledge deeper when understanding the complexity and functions within a healthy ecosystem. The full interview with Sheila can be found here: https://www.wearecarbon.earth/podcast-episode/holistic-management-transition-mindset-farming/It has been great fun to produce this episode - I'd love to know what you think!Here's a breakdown for reference:00:00 - Awe for the Soil Microbiome & it's connection with all life02:20 - Introducing the format04:05 - Zooming out to see what's missing in the ecosystem07:20 - How are we surrounded by so much bare ground?!11:27 - Soil is a factory (ecosystem analogy)18:18 - Tony Rinaudo - Degraded land in Africa25:05 - Tony Rinaudo - Regenerating with F.M.N.R29:06 - Impacts of agriculture in temperate climates32:44 - Jason Freeman - Chemical farming and the detriment on soil and food35:50 - Nature's complexity and abundance38:18 - Sheila Cooke - Holistic thinking and ever evolving ecosystems

I'm delighted to be joined by Claire Mackenzie for a conversation focused on soil!Claire is the producer of the documentary 'Six Inches Of Soil' and she helps us to get a grasp of this significant topic.We discuss why the way that we farm impacts our soils, and why the health of those soils is so important to our futures.We also touch on some politics, the challenges and need for change and the joy and transformation that regenerative farming can bring to people alongside the land.For a further breakdown of this discussion see the timestamps below, and use the following links to explore this episode & season of We Are Carbon: Learn more about Six Inches of Soil here: https://www.sixinchesofsoil.org/See the video version of this episode along with additional references here: https://www.wearecarbon.earth/claire-mackenzie-six-inches-of-soil/Get Involved with the New Formats of We Are Carbon here: https://www.wearecarbon.earth/get-involved/Support This Content: https://www.wearecarbon.earth/your-support/Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction03:27 - About Claire05:30 - Why a film about soil?08:50 - Why how we farm is critical to soil health?14:13 - Why is healthy soil important to our future?19:40 - Are farmers leading the change?26:45 - Does regenerative farming attrack a younger generation of farmers?31:50 - Regenerating land = regenerating people38:20 - The diversity of regenerative farming45:04 - Screening the documentary & 'Digging Deeper'52:09 - How does Claire feel about the future of soil?

Connect with Joshua: Email: joshua(@)weareblacksheep.org (without the brackets)Joshua's LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-hughes-68a338169/Support the products: https://rewildorganics.org/Spend time in Costa Rica! https://www.verdenergia.org/----A recycler and activist from Oregon, Joshua arrived in Costa Rica almost two decades ago to begin an agroforestry project that has evolved in multiple directions.It's a location that just sounds like paridise but it hasn't always been that way, and with much of the primary rainforests cleared for intensive agriculture over the decades this is a conversation that's as much about restoring the population, community and livlihoods, as it is about restoring nature.And what an incredible place to be working with nature. Take 20' of rainfall per year and put it to good use, and instead of devastating errosion you have the most extroidinarily fast growth and abundance.This is a collaborative agroforestry project with several farms that are building community and self sufficiency alongside the ongoing development of supply chains for a range of value added products. Every step of the way Joshua has opened up to working with a wide range of people and continues to do so. His email address is in the description and he welcomes you to get in touch especially if you're regenerating in the tropics. You can also support this work in Costa Rica through their retail brand Rewild Organics.Watch this episode on the We Are Carbon website: https://www.wearecarbon.earth/podcast-episode/agroforestry-community-costa-rica/

Anete and Kristjan are combining a blend of legal and financial expertise to bring forward a for profit company that's large in both scale and in benefits for people and planet.One Million Tonne Nation (1MTN) is focused on land restoration across East Africa, where deforested sites are being planted with bamboo polycultures as a starting point to establish new growth for the local economy, habitat and community.It's an ambition that involves accelerating the development of carbon markets for nature based carbon removals and the team brings together experience from across the globe and across sectors to navigate what are ever evolving and pretty challenging areas of business.Large scale land restoration. And large lumps of money being brought into land restoration.Those two things may go hand in hand, but they tend to require very different mindsets as restoration can't simply be scaled up with a one size fits allRestoration needs to be contextual, adaptable.So I was very interested to learn about this project's approach and see how it offers unique insights and inspiration for others that aspire to scale up regeneration and really weave together benefits for people, planet, profit.It has huge potential and both Anete and Kristjan have a wealth of knowledge to share.I hope you enjoy having a listen!---------------------Episode Links:1MTN website - https://www.1mtn.com/LinkedIn 1MTN - https://www.linkedin.com/company/1mtn/This episode on the We Are Carbon Website - https://www.wearecarbon.earth/podcast-episode/people-planet-profit-1mtn/

In this interview I'm joined by Taimur Malik to hear about the journey that brought him to founding Drawdown Farm in Pakistan, and the work they're doing there to produce foods regeneratively despite the challenges of desert soils and an arid climate.Taimur's background is not in farming. His move to develop regenerative agriculture in Pakistan is his response to having his eyes opened to the mix of crises surrounding him in the world; from climate to biodiversity loss, and even the roots of civil war.After much dedicated research the conclusion that he reached was that our most impactful solution is regenerative agriculture.I feel hugely inspired by the work that has been done here - not only in the successful regeneration of soils and cultivation of crops (including bananas which were thought impossible to grow in the Thal Desert); all of which you'll hear about towards the latter half of the discussion.But also by the range of research and influences that have guided Taimur in his learning, it's an incredibly varied set of wisdom that's been brought together and somehow provided clarity and focus rather than conflicting ideas.What a wonderful place we're in as a world to have so much information available to us, and I hope you'll feel as uplifted and motivated as I do by this story that demonstrates quite clearly that we have the knowledge we need to regenerate!And with the right approach, using many tools side by side Taimur concludes that a transition to regenerative agriculture can actually be really quick!He's very articulate at walking you through his journey so you'll hear very little from me with the questioning through this one. I hope you'll enjoy having a listen through.Episode Links: Learn more at Taimur's website: https://www.drawdownfarm.com/Find this episode on the We Are Carbon website: https://www.wearecarbon.earth/podcast-episode/regenerative-agriculture-pakistan/