Reflections on a Regenerating Landscape
Sifting through Trendy Terms & How to Get Started
Movements like “Permaculture” and “Back to Eden gardening” have been around for decades, but these terms have soared in popularity in the last few years. What I appreciate about these movements is their focus on caring for all creatures, while working with nature instead of against it so that every element in each of our ecosystems can thrive.
Before jumping into my reflections on regenerating our landscape and some ways to get started, I want to acknowledge that there are some solid benefits and critiques of these movements out there. This is a huge topic to tackle, and worthy of its own series. While I believe in the principles of permaculture wholeheartedly, there’s an entire conversation to be had about the value of making these sustainable farming ways accessible to the mainstream, but understanding that Indigenous people have been using them for centuries (while also being subject to colonization and being stripped of traditional practices). This conversation is too complex and ever-evolving for me to fully tackle here, but it is important to be aware of.
My partner, Damien, has worked on a few different farms that practice regenerative agriculture, so I asked for his thoughts on these concepts. It gets a bit dense for a moment, but I promise to offer a bit more optimism later on. Here is his take:
Each of these methods and movements has been instrumental in helping growers in modern society think critically about and push back against the industrial, chemical agriculture paradigm, which is proving to be unsustainable in the long run and does incredible damage to our ecosystems and relationships with our food as well as the other creatures who share our world. The principles communicated by growers practicing “no dig,” “no till,” “permaculture,” “back to Eden,” “soil food web, “regenerative agriculture,” and the like are so useful in helping individuals tap into the cycles of life at work in our immediate environments. In this way, they help us resist degradation physically and spiritually, sustain ourselves in a generative manner, and offer us an exciting, seemingly new pathway forward as stewards of land. At the same time, I believe it is so important that we also recognize the ways in which these methods are not really “new” even if the terms are recently invented.
For example, the term “permaculture” was coined in the 1970’s in Australia by Bill Mollison and David Holmgren. These practitioners were the first to present the term permaculture (permanent agriculture) as a novel approach to land management that mimics natural ecosystems. To contrast the dominant model of agriculture in “developed” countries in the twentieth century, which focused on isolated inputs for isolated outputs, phrases like “whole-systems thinking” were devised. Thank goodness for a movement like this which even went so far as to set up a “Principles of Permaculture” list, not unlike a 12-step program, to help initiates resist and reorder patterns of mind and action set in place by corporations and governments promoting the so-called “green revolution” in agriculture. In this sense, the term permaculture offered people a new kind of language to resist industrial agriculture, its physical, emotional and spiritual implications, and to cultivate a healthier relationship with their lands and communities; however, we would be remiss to assume that Mollison’s and Holmgren’s movement represented the first time a group of people sought to mimic natural ecosystems or practiced “whole-systems thinking” in their landscapes.
Permaculture and its principles directly confront and contrast a dominant model of agriculture that is purely extractive, relies on outside input, and focuses on isolated output at the expense of the environment; but the model of chemical agriculture, for all its widespread degrading effects, has been relatively short-lived in the history of the world. We might also argue that before the “green revolution” agricultural practice which ignored natural ecosystems and focused on isolated outcomes was most common in cultures of empire,and in those cultures which were divorced from their landscapes, through the violence of colonization and the like.
With these considerations in mind, buzz phrases like Back to Eden, No Till, and even the more rigorous terms like permaculture and regenerative agriculture can really only be a starting point, directing us towards a wider lexicon and a diverse body of land traditions which first inspired these examples of twentieth century resistance. The point is, people all over the world have been regenerating land, building permanent systems of food production, and living in balance with ecosystems for millennia. I suspect that these people have always been indigenous to their land, whether actually or consciously or both. I might also suspect that education centered on a typical interpretation of Western Civilization is part of what makes it difficult for some to imagine that these people exist and have existed. Maybe this is too much conjecture.
I know there is much to learn and relearn, and though the promise of newness or novelty is exciting and the temptation of “invention” real, what we are practicing at Fox Hollow is better described as an attempt to connect with those known and yet uncovered traditions of foodways and landways which offer alternatives to the dominant cultural models currently destroying our people and our planet. By fostering a deep connection with our ecosystem through daily practice, we see the land as a teacher, and as ourselves. After all, I believe we do not go into nature. We are nature.
So much of our planet’s ecosystems have been heavily degraded to say the least by unsustainable practices, development, complete neglect, and active destruction. Less tilling, emphasis on soil health, not using pesticides, herbicides, or insecticides, growing native plants for native pollinators– any/all of these are small steps toward restoring a planet where we can all thrive.
Agroecology and agroforestry are my favorite terms in the world of regenerative agriculture. Agroecology is simply the practice of growing crops and tending animals in a sustainable way that works with nature. It is a broad concept, but it includes building healthy soil by utilizing rotational grazing with animals, conserving/collecting resources, composting, increasing biodiversity, reducing input, and sequestering carbon from the atmosphere. Agroforestry is the practice of managing land by incorporating trees with crops and animal farming to create environmental, economic, and social benefits. I think these terms encompass almost everything we try to do here and what we’re working towards.
Learning the Land
Our first year on this land was spent in observation of each season. We needed to know which spots were sunny, less sunny, which spots were shaded, and when. We had to find out what the soil was like, how rain and other weather affected different areas, and more. There’s so much to observe– what do you need to pay attention to most and which questions do you need to ask?
Notice how much sun different areas get throughout the day. This will help you figure out where to make your garden beds and it will dictate what types of plants will grow well in each area. (This changes throughout the year so plan accordingly.)
Find out how rainfall affects the landscape. It’s important to know which areas on the land hold water, where the water flows from and where it goes. Use the areas that hold the right amount of water for what you want to plant. Doing so will help you conserve water throughout the growing season and will keep your plants full of nitrogen-rich rainwater (depending on your climate, of course). If you decide to build swales, it’s absolutely critical to understand how water moves across the landscape. There seems to be a phenomenon where many folks move to some land and immediately build swales. Make sure you do plenty of research and spend lots of observation hours before you go building swales, as they create huge change for the ecosystem.
Take note of the flora and fauna already living there. Do you see deer paths, armadillo dens, or other habitats? What birds do you see and hear? It’s important to know who already inhabits the land before we go about changing it. If you see native wild plants growing, make a note to leave those in place and let them reseed for the following year. Watch to see which creatures use them for food or shelter. On the other side of the coin, make note of any invasive plants you see. Despite what you read and hear in some native plant spheres, you do not need to spray invasive plants to be rid of them. People have opinions that vary about this, but the intensity of these opinions do not vary. I believe very strongly that spraying invasive plants does more harm than good, and that a combination of removal and management is very effective. We’ve removed (without herbicides) several of the dreaded Bradford pear trees, trees of heaven, and privet since we’ve been here. It’s an ongoing but manageable task that has worked well for us.
Ripple Effects
Over the past three years, much has changed at Fox Hollow. This is not to brag, or say that we are doing everything right. This is to just show, and to note for myself, that positive change happens where there’s passion and consistency. We are simply two people with no big equipment, limited materials, and day jobs, working to do our part in the ways we can. Akiva Silver says in his book, Trees of Power:
“I have been inspired to plant trees and create a new kind of agriculture, one that builds soils, slows climate change, feeds people, and increases biodiversity. I cannot work on that and work on nukes or the oceans or prisoner rights. I don’t ignore those issues, but I would be less effective if I thought I needed to fix everything. I trust that there are people who care deeply about the Appalachian Mountains and are working to stop mountaintop removal. I trust that there are people who are working on the rights of prisoners and working on the acidification of the oceans.
My sphere of influence is determined by my inspiration and my reach. I speak to people who might plant trees. I don’t waste my time on congresspeople. I trust that someone else in the environmental movement is following their passion [...] We can create real changes if we are not overwhelmed. I can work efficiently and productively within my sphere. The ripple effects of my work may carry much farther than I imagined, but I cannot get caught up in trying to save the whole world. I stay on point and plant tree after tree, all the while inspiring others. My sphere of influence may have started small, but by staying committed to my inspiration, it spreads and grows just like my trees do. Working from a place of inspiration is very different than working out of anger.”
While I personally use my feelings of rage to fuel inspiration for this work, I like Silver’s approach of working small with what you’re capable of doing and eventually seeing its positive effects. That is how I feel about what we do here. We started with a few garden beds and let wildflowers and meadows regrow to feed wildlife. Now, we see an increase of wild flora and fauna. I see the positive effects from our work restoring a healthy ecosystem, and it inspires me to keep at it. I was a self-proclaimed comfort-seeking, anxious young girl who was terrified of all insects in a big way (I am still working on not being afraid of insects but I have made good progress!). However, after realizing my passion for this work, I have been surprised to find that early mornings and evenings in the garden bring me more comfort and calm than anything else, even if I come away with limbs covered in mosquito bites. I felt that calm when I was living in apartments sitting on the balcony amongst potted herbs with a cup of coffee and when I would work on our plot in the community garden. Now, I feel it while sitting on the porch watching birds and fireflies in the evenings.
Perhaps the most obvious, positive effect I’ve seen here is more diverse wildlife. Cardinals, finches, red-bellied woodpeckers, mockingbirds, carolina wrens, indigo buntings, and many more birds live here throughout the year, building nests in spring and eating seeds from the field grasses throughout the winter. Crows are ever-present, and have been since we moved here and probably before that, too. They deter hawks that may want to snatch our chickens which provide us with food. In the springtime, bluebirds nestle in and spawn the next generation. Starlings and blue jays start their families here too.
After digging the spring-fed pond deeper, we have frogs living and laying their eggs there for the first time since we’ve lived here. Frogs eat mosquitos, flies, beetles, slugs, and snails, which are populations of insects that can become troublesome to a garden.
Native wildflowers abound throughout the field that was once consistently brush-hogged and baled at least twice per year. Those fields are full of wild passionflower, black-eyed susan, yarrow, fleabane, goldenrod, wild phlox, coneflowers, cinquefoil, milkweed, and more. I see bees, butterflies, and a host of other insects enjoying these each day.
Ways to Get Started On Any Scale
If you’re feeling inspired but don’t know where to start, pick one or two of these actions and get to work! It will take time, but it will be so worthwhile.
Grow native plants wherever you can– in the ground, on your porch, or balcony. It takes a bit of research and forethought, but it’s a wormhole worth falling into. Generally, native plants can be sown directly into the ground or into pots and don’t require much attention. If you have access to a field and some patience, you can wait to see what pops up. Skip cutting the grass at least until late fall, and leave a patch of earth undisturbed. We’ve seen a huge increase of native plants by doing less and leaving the field to grow. Less is more in many cases, though the wildflowers do appreciate a human hand to clear invasive grasses and trees and collect and spread seed in the fall.
Visit farmer’s markets and talk to the growers about their farming practices. If you can, buy from local farms that you know are using sustainable practices. Even a local grower that isn’t perfect is more sustainable than an industrial agriculture farm.
Research native plants in your area. Determine what kind of ecosystem yours is: A prairie, woodland, grassland, desert, forest? I’ll drop a list of great learning resources here:
The National Wildlife Federations’ guide to keystone plants by ecoregion
This guide to keystone species container gardening
Resources like the Missouri Prairie Foundation’s Grow Native program
Find your local Wild Ones chapter to learn region-specific information and connect with others.
Seed saving is a great way to reduce costs related to gardening. It’s also a way to increase productive crops by collecting and replanting seeds from plants that do well. Over the generations, these plants will become more and more adapted to your place and its environmental conditions. This is called “starting a landrace” and it’s a seed-saving method that’s as old as time. In contrast to heirloom seed saving, the landrace method creates plants that are adapted to a specific place. Both methods produce a collection of open-pollinated seeds, or seeds pollinated naturally by insects and birds. Open-pollinated plants are more genetically diverse and have more variation, creating stronger and better adapted, healthier crops.
Improve your soil by covering bare soil with cover crops or mulch, swapping chemical fertilizers for locally sourced compost or manure, and tilling less if at all. The base of a healthy ecosystem is its soil. Soil grows plants, insects and wildlife eat and decompose the plants, and they eventually return those nutrients to the soil. Become a caretaker of soil and healthy plants and animals will follow.
Use what’s available before outsourcing materials to get started. If you have access to things like fallen leaves, small logs, or cut grass, use those to build up your garden beds. Use recycled wood, metal, or other materials to build structures like coops, greenhouses, or raised beds. Lessening our impact means using what’s available, even if it isn’t always *exactly* what we might envision on paper and even if it isn’t *pretty*. When your budget is small, getting creative with what you have is a way of life. Even if your budget is large, you should still always use what you have over outsourcing for the perfect thing.
Remove invasives. It’s even better if you can replace them with natives. Got a Bradford pear tree in your yard? Cut it down, dig out the stump (if you can), and plant a redbud in its place. Learn about the invasives before taking action. Are they edible? Eating weeds is a great way to make use of them while also removing them from the ecosystem. My advice about removing invasive plants is this: Don’t spray them, it’s not worth it. Eat them if you can. Research and make sure they are actually invasive and not just non-native. Those are two totally different categories! Non-native doesn’t always mean invasive. Remove them and encourage native plant growth instead by controlled burning and planting seeds.
Integrate trees with your garden. Why? Trees provide food and shelter for wildlife, attracting birds that will help control unwanted garden pests. They also help create a healthy garden ecosystem by turning carbon into oxygen and improving air quality, conserving water, and creating structure within the soil with their roots. Trees provide a wind barrier for smaller garden crops and can take the brunt of damaging weather. You can integrate fruit and nut trees that will also provide you with food!
You do not have to be a farmer or have land to play a role in regenerative agriculture. Container gardening for keystone species and pollinators, buying locally grown food and other products, saving seeds, and simply learning about native plants, regenerative ag, indigenous food ways, and why they’re important for our future are all great ways to get involved. Though not perfect, movements like permaculture and its counterparts have been a catalyst for changing the way society thinks about land and farming– for the better. Regardless of trendy terms, I’ll keep planting trees, growing food, and encouraging the health wild native species.
Cheers,
Allyson