Looking for a way to kill the quarantine boredom? Gabe: Yes, I am very optimistic about our future if regenerative practices are widely adopted. BookstoreBook submissionsNewsNewsletter signupRecipesGardening, Our storyGet involvedJobs/FellowshipPartnersContact usPrivacy Shipping & return policy. Soil organic matter [SOM] is largely created through microbial necromass. I am alive!. In fact, the documentary claims that greenhouse gases are sequestered (stored/drawn down) in grazing herds, due to the generation of healthy soils, but released in feed lots where the animals are not a part of the natural cycle. Everyone can grow a bit of lettuce or chard, some leeks and some French beans in a small garden, or even most of these on a balcony! Theres nothing Netflix and chillabout that. Bare soils are at great risk of erosion by heavy rain, and its also been shown that bare soils vary in temperature much more, so the microclimate is changed. And this isnt just my own speculation. If we choose healthy foods, there is a reciprocation. Ray: I met the Kiss the Ground group in 2015. This process of soil destruction is detrimental to agriculture. I asked Finian Makepeace, the co-founder of the Kiss the Ground organization, to tell me more about how he and the films producers and directors selected our trio of regenerative experts to appear in the movie. For a climate change documentary its actually vey upbeat, because this is the way we can not only slow, but reverse global warming, sucking CO2 out of the air to stabilise our climate again. The fix is simple: Mimic nature, cover the soil andunderstand how soil is intended to function. The bonus being that plant-rich dietary patterns just so happen to also be whatmajor health institutionsand progressive Government departments likeHealth Canadaare advocating for to tackle rising rates of obesity and chronic disease, and improve quality of life. But here too Garnett doesnt understand the science. When receiving subsidies for crops like corn and beans, farmers know that they will make a profit. In COP21 in Paris, 2015. If you are wondering whether its worth your time to watch, or want to know the gist but dont have an hour and a half to spare, read on and Ill cover the key points simply and factually for you. There are three main points I want to make about holistic grazing that are important for you to understand. This carbon is then absorbed by plants, which use it in their cells and leak into the soils in the form of sugars. The good news is that soils can recover fast if they are allowed to and managed correctly. shabu shabu groupon. Regenerative agriculture describes farming and grazing practices that, among other benefits, reverse climate change by rebuilding soil organic matter and restoring degraded soil biodiversity - resulting in both carbon drawdown and improving the water cycle. But I wish people with platforms like documentary films or acting stardom would start framing issues with words that suggest physical work, like "repair" or fix or even "care for/take care of" (i.e. "All farmable soil could be gone in 60 years. There is not enough money in the world to get me to move from Gods country, North Dakota! Personally, I thought this was one of the better Netflix documentaries, mainly because, whilst theres a lot of negatives about where the world is heading, the overall message is one of hope. Kiss the Ground | Successful Farming Repeatedly using abstractions to sum up complex issues makes people comfortable talking about soil as if there is one entity, soil, that we (who is we, anyway?) But the #1 US crop is GMO corn, sprayed with Glyphosate, which is now found in their drinking water and kills the microbes in our guts. The French Minister for agriculture proposed a 4 in 1000 plan, to increase the organic content of our soils by 0.4% per year. (Source: Maggie Eileen Lochtenberg, freelance artist and transformational witch. In other words, his claims cannot be supported by data, replicated by others and he doesnt believe in science. Hopefully enough of them will see this movie and find enough alternatives to be able to make some real change. I promise not to sell your information, and if you don't like what I send, you can easily unsubscribe at any point. Either way, shifting the typical diet in such a way is a certain win for humanity and all life on Earth, and thus something that not only should have been made clearer in Kiss the ground, but something that everyone reading should strongly consider. And of course, havinginterviewedthe co-founders ofKiss the Ground, Ryland Engelhart and Finian Makepeace, in early 2020, I was particularly excited to watch theKiss the Grounddocumentary(and I recommend you watch it too if you havent already). Rumi. If youve heard anything about Tom Bradys lifestyle, you know that its extreme. ), Pollinator garden/market flowers at Copper Cricket Farm. This will not only better their own wellbeing because they will be consuming foods higher in nutrient density, but they will also support those who are making a positive impact on the environment. However, given the notable absence of well qualified environmental scientists discussing evidence to support their ambitious claims, in favor of anecdotal experience from ranchers, just how much of the information in this documentary can we trust and reliably use to shape our food system and inform our food choices? One of my favorite elements of the documentary is the perspective that Earth has always been managing and sequestering carbon we just need to mimic that. A soil without organic matter becomes dirt, a mix of rock materials and cannot support life. Other soil-based carbon capture solutions like composting are crucial to regenerative agriculture. Kiss The Ground: Just A Last Ditch Effort To Keep Meat Relevant? BOOM found that the viral video has been cropped from a longer conversation during a press conference where Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned a hypothetical scenario of Ukraine losing the war and Russia invading other NATO countries including the Baltic states in Eastern Europe which would force the US to get involved and send troops. The movie funders wanted to make this movie all about organic farming, but Gabe and I worked on him and showed him that organic farming can be as destructive as conventional farmingand to his credit, Josh learned what regenerative farming was all about. If you have found your way to this article, I can only assume that we have something in common: both of us want to see a better world where humans and all life on earth is thriving. Im sure we can all agree that factory farming is a blight on humanity, and there is far too much mono-cropping, but assuming that its either this intensive form of animal agriculture or holistic grazing, is not accurate. Or this breakdown of the many myths he perpetuates inThe International Journal ofBiodiversity. After 14 years, it is lush farmland again. Soil is the solution and we have numerous options and opportunities to actualize this solution as consumers, farmers, ranchers, and environmentalists by focusing on the integration of biological processes. Forages and Pastures Symposium: Cover Crops in Livestock Production: Whole-System Approach: Managing Grazing to Restore Soil Health And farm livelihoods. While Morgan Freemans voice might have been a better match for shots of billowing fields of grain, perhaps Harrelsons raspy tone is an appropriate fit for the seriousness of the climate crisis. Ganrett also doesnt have a clue how tropospheric hydroxyl oxidation works. On one hand, the use of celebrity ambassadors is an unsubtle but effective tactic to draw casual viewers and followers. Where I think the documentary falls short is in three critical areas. All chemical soils are almost devoid of microorganisms, so the plant roots cannot get the nutrients they need. Which would net off the existing emissions we make, at least stabilising things. Theres no sense in wasting a precious resource like attention by skirting the truth that transitioning to regenerative agriculture, or changing any entrenched industrial-economic system, is a lot of work. Awesome! This idea reminded me of what I learned from Cradle to Cradle. The problem is, the lay viewer who is not across the science, and blinded by the message of hope, is likely to confuse the role of cows in holistic grazing with instruction that we should continue eating meat at current rates (as long as its grass-fed) and perhaps even double down on our meat consumption. can scoop up and heroically rescue. We need to talk about agriculture in a way thats meaningful to people with boots on the ground and enumerate specific steps that lead to material change. But I also experienced the same misleadingparadigms from the conservative groups like Farm Bureau and other commodities groups. I just heard of the movie and wanted to find out a little more about it until I get time to watch it. Yes, theres no doubt ruminant poop can help improve soil quality, butthere are many types of regenerative agriculture that do not involve animalsoranimal manureand others that act as sanctuaries using animals on their land without sending them to slaughter. If youve seen The People vs. Larry Flynt in all of its obscenity, like I did in Constitutional Law last semester, youll be a little surprised to hear the voice of actor Woody Harrelson narrating a documentary about social and environmental issues. Modern agriculture was not designed for the betterment of the soil, instead for the short term maximisation of yield. Check out this map for farms local to you Regenerative Farm Map Regeneration International. Why? Regenerative agriculture is a more resilient system based on principles of soil health and biodiversity that integrates multiple crops, cover crops, and livestock animals. The message gets across, but the film downplays a meaningful call to action. Whats glaringly clear from Hawkens report is that when it comes to our food and greenhouse gas emissions, thetwo areas we can make the biggest impactare reducing food waste (number one solution)and moving to a plant-rich diet (number three solution). Also, I must confess that I did not fully understand the implications of a film crew following me all over the country. are needed to help heal the earth. I was interested in clicking through at there are many types of regenerative agriculture that do not involve animals for more information, but that currently just links back to this article. If you cant get them into a council waste system, there are a variety of small compost bins you can put in your garden at home. 'Kiss the Ground' Review: Celeb-Studded Doc on Fixing - IndieWire The movie doesn't just dive into the microbiology of soil and soil carbon interactions, it also covers the four main principles of soil health: increasing diversity, minimizing soil disturbance, keeping above ground covered and below ground active at all times, and animal integration. Unfortunately, overtly telling people they need to cut down on their meat consumption for this change in agriculture to work isnt going to help with the documentarys popularity. So ifKiss the Groundhad taken a more evidence-based approach and included dietary recommendations what would it have looked like? For teachers, educators, schools, community organizers and home schoolersthanks to a generous grant from the Bia Echo Foundation and Triptyk, there is a free 45-minute-long Educational Version of the Kiss the Ground movie and also a free DVD with both the 85 minute long feature and the educational cut on one disk. This seems like pretty important information that was left off the table. Unless we save our soils, we have 60 harvests left! But what good is hope if its false? Heres what he said: From the beginning stages of pre-production for the movie, Ray and Gabe were proposed because of their profound passion and dedication to soil health and their amazing ability to share it with others. Whats very interesting is the ability of grazing animals to regenerate grasslands from desert, and reduce desertification. (PLEASE VOTE November 3rd or earlier!! Josh Tickell, the director of the movie, was associated with Kiss the Ground and was making a film on organic farming when I met him. Ryland Engelhart is a philanthropist. The movie has an optimistic tone, do you share that optimism? By 2050, it is estimated that 1bn people will be refugees of soil desertification. Her main aim is to help people to start making some small (but significant) changes to the way they eat so they can enjoy all the benefits, like more energy, less sickness, reduced risks of future disease and less guilt - because we all need less stress and guilt in our lives! Its a good vibe, like a 90-minute team-taught TED Talkindustrious, sensible, leaning into the future. Take the Inflammation quiz - what's your level? Juries have now even started to pay out to people who have developed cancer after using glyphosate!! It would be great to see what was meant to be there! A group of activists had gathered to see what could be done about Climate Change. These cookies do not store any personal information. So cows can actually be used to reverse desertification. Its avoidable if we take better care of our soils and pay more attention to where and how our foods are grown! Over the years, tilling causes the soil to dirt, leaving it vulnerable to erosion and desertification. The animal point here is controversial I know. Its clear to see that levels of CO2 in the atmosphere above the main agricultural areas increase significantly in the main tilling/ploughing months, and then as plant cover increases in the fields, it drops! This means that compared to factory farms, or traditional grazing where cows are overgrazing and destroying the soil, a regenerative farm using holistic grazing would require a lot more land for any given number of roaming cows. There are a few clues within the documentary that speak to this but they are by no means overtly clear to the viewer. That sounds catastrophic. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on our website. Enterprise, AL 36330. kiss the ground fact checking - keagysbestpriceplumbingtn.com Narrated and featuring Woody Harrelson, Kiss the Ground is an inspiring and groundbreaking film that reveals the first viable solution to our climate crisis.. Many of the pesticides and fertilisers have been derived from poison gases used in warfare (chemical warfare and poison used in gas chambers). But the agreement is that all of the richest grasslands in the world have large grazing animals. Byck, P. (2016). Regenerative farming restores soils; storing carbon and reducing the need for chemical help to improve yields by harnessing natural processes. After all, its communities of color, low-income communities, and immigrant communities who do the majority of the essential work of growing food and yet are most exploited and harmed by the agroindustrial complex. Doing just one will make a difference!! Share this article or talk about the importance of soils to your friends. I dont know a single holistic management practitioner that advocates cutting down forests to grow more cattle. There is a large focus on America, but the issues here in the UK (and the rest of the world) are similar, so it is applicable to all. It also doesnt spend most of its time talking about whos to blame, and its actually mostly about looking for solutions for our futures, and did include suggestions about what we, as ordinary people, can do. Ryland co-founded Kiss the Ground in his living room with a friend ten years ago. The evidence for this claim is research-based, clearly communicated, and visually supported with animations that illustrate submicroscopic events like carbon cycling and expansive drone shots for grand reveals, like the actual desert plateau that is turned back into rolling green farmland. Sustainability, 7(10), 13500. http://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/7/10/13500, Teague, W. R., Dowhower, S. L., Baker, S. A., Haile, N., DeLaune, P. B., & Conover, D. M. (2011). 'Kiss the Ground' review: The soil may save us, but it's not that Unfortunately, these incredibly superior solutions are less sexy because they are not tying livestock, and more specifically the consumption of beef, to the solution. HaHa! Any plans to hire an agent or move to L.A? Having gone from being a vegetable hating, stressed out and sick corporate mum who felt constant guilt for not feeding her family properly and not doing enough for the planet to a healthy, veggie loving and eco-minded mother with much less stress, she's been where you are and can definitely help you overcome your barriers! Heal the planet is a phrase that implies not only the existence of some kind of natural balance to which we can return, but the existence of a cure that human benevolence can deliver. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Heres below are just a handful of recent PEER REVIEWED papers supporting HPG. Rising animal production and consumption, whatever the farming system and animal type, is causing damaging greenhouse gas release and contributing to changes in land use. Check out Kiss the Ground website, where you will find other ways to be involved and even learn how to Become a Soil Advocate! While the efforts of Archuleta and others are slowly gaining traction, crop subsidies fuel a system that depletes the soil and leaves farmers dependent on the government for aid. Hi there to all, for the reason that I am genuinely keen of reading this websites post to be updated on a regular basis. Farmers, scientists, cows, and celebrities work together in this documentary to spread the good word about regenerative agriculture and its potential to mitigate climate change. There was mention of a regenerative diet but what does that mean? This website uses third party cookies to improve your experience with your consent. Check out their simple yet profound Soil Story: Thanks for a well-referenced and easily readable article this seems like a great resource to send to people. Many countries signed, including the UK, but not the US, China or India, the biggest agricultural and CO2 producers. A revolutionary group of activists, scientists, farmers, and politicians band together in a global movement of "Regenerative Agriculture" that could balance our climate, replenish our vast water supplies, and feed the world. Less meat to go around and significantly higher prices per unit. Anecdote and expert opinion or theories are at the bottom of the evidence hierarchy, and its not until we see the findings from higher levels of science, reproduced on scale, that we can begin to have confidence in what we are observing. Kiss the Ground is a full-length documentary narrated by Woody Harrelson that sheds light on an "new, old approach" to farming called " regenerative agriculture " that has the potential to balance our climate, replenish our vast water supplies, and feed the world. Tilling and chemical agricultural methods have disrupted this cycle and increased the rate of carbon release. There seems to be an incredibly fine line between grazing just enough and overgrazing, which speaks to potentially whycrediblepeer-reviewed science has to date, failed to produce results that come close to what Alan Savory claims. Grow your own veg using your home compost! They are both such impactful leaders in this movement because they are called to bring these concepts to farmers and ranchers everywhere. Because whereKiss the Groundlacks in science, it makes up in celebrity power with the likes of Woody Harrelson, Jason Mraz, Ian Somerhalder, Gisele Bndchen, and Tom Brady all featured. This is actually seen using satellites which monitor the CO2 levels. 2021 Plant Based News is a UK-based digital media outlet publishing content about veganism and plant-based living, including news and current events, health, personal transformation stories, features, and recipes. It carries pleasant stuff. San Francisco have an amazing system, and are the most sustainable city in the US! Its the misbalance of carbon that is the issue. Plus FCRNs paper simply ignored the existing peer reviewed science with its claim that no such science exists. No spam, we promise just our best articles.