One family’s journey into regenerative agriculture
Gabe Brown, one of the 25 most influential agricultural leaders in the United States, together with the SOIL Sangre de Cristo community, will provide an interesting and informative virtual evening on Jan. 11.
Brown and his family own Brown’s Ranch, a holistic, diversified 5,000-acre farm and ranch near Bismarck, North Dakota. While farming is a year-round passion, Brown takes the time each winter to visit other farms, write, consult, and speak with groups like SOIL Sangre de Cristo.
Learn how this family has converted thousands of acres of old-school farmland to native perennial rangeland, perennial pastureland, and productive, yet healthy cropland. Their efforts have resulted in farming and ranching in nature’s image instead of serving the “big ag” petrochemical fertilizer producers.
How to attend
RSVP here to receive an emailed Zoom link.
This virtual event will be from 7-8 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 11; RSVP here to receive an emailed Zoom link.
Brown’s book “Dirt To Soil, One Family’s Journey Into Regenerative Agriculture” is the focus of the presentation and Brown will also answer questions from participants. “This book Is a must-read for anybody who thinks that the ‘Green Revolution’ has been a success,” says Stephanie Seneff, senior research scientist, MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory.
“The industrial agriculture complex is an insatiable furnace of consumption that devours soil, leaving farm families destitute, and impoverishes rural communities – ultimately destroying nations,” said Ray Archuleta, “The Soil Guy” and retired USDA/NRCS soil health specialist.
Brown has important experiences to share with farmers and ranchers of Central Colorado – lessons that can be adapted for our own foodshed. He is an instructor with the nonprofit Soil Health Academy, which focuses on teaching the power and importance of healthy functioning ecosystems.
According to “Dirt To Soil,” Gabe Brown is one of the pioneers of the soil health movement which focuses on the regeneration of our natural resources. The Browns holistically integrate their grazing and no-till cropping systems, which include a wide variety of cash crops, multi-species cover crops, along with all-natural grass finished beef and lamb, and laying chickens.
Since converting from traditional “industrial” farming and ranching methods to no-till methods, and now to a complete system of “biological, regenerative” farming, their land has seen a dramatic turnaround resulting in not only a successful business, but also a benefit to future generations.
His diversity and integration has regenerated the natural resources on the ranch without the use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and fungicides. Brown believes that healthy soil leads to clean air, clean water, healthy plants, animals, and people.
About SOIL SDC
SOIL Sangre de Cristo’s mission is to unite the communities of South-Central Colorado through direct support of local farmers, ranchers and food producers, improving food security and resilience, and improving soil carbon and health for all residents.
SOIL Sangre de Cristo provides this support by granting zero percent interest loans. The board is an all-volunteer team, keeping operating expenses to the lowest possible. Dollars invested stay in the community, working over and over again through the revolving loan fund as loans are repaid and membership grows.
To date, SOIL Sangre de Cristo has loaned $41,000 to seven farms and ranches in the Central Colorado region. Contributions and memberships are fully tax deductible and matched 50 percent by the Mighty Arrow Family Foundation.
