Regenerative Agriculture is a system of farming principles and practices that increases biodiversity, enriches soils, improves watersheds, and enhances ecosystems. Regenerative Agriculture captures carbon in soil and plants, increases crop yields, and reverses current trends worldwide.

In the spring of 2020, Rivers & Birds worked with local landowners to plant diverse cover crops on 21 acres of agricultural land as a soil regeneration effort. 

From 2018-2020, Rivers & Birds has built and maintained three bioreactor bins that have produced a powerful compost that will exponentially increase the biological diversity of our local soil.

Scientists say that soil regeneration is key in reducing carbon levels in our atmosphere as plants and soil microorganisms interact to sequester carbon. The process of soil regeneration also boosts food crop productivity and benefits pollinators!  

Films:

Will Harris, owner of White Oak Pastures, shares his evolution from industrial to regenerative farmer.

 

Gabe Brown, one of the pioneers of the current regenerative agriculture movement explains his five keys to building healthy soil.

 

Paul and Elizabeth Kaiser of Singing Frogs Farm in Sebastapol, California. Their vegetable farm is not just sustainable—it's also regenerative. It’s a living experiment in no-till, ecologically beneficial, and highly profitable farming.

 

A revolution in our understanding of soil has been taking place. "Conventional" agriculture requires ever-increasing inputs and energy into the system to maintain production, while natural systems reduce disturbances of the system, while increasing production.

 

Reading:

Composting Bioreactors:

In 2017, Rivers & Birds hosted world renowned soil scientists Dr. David Johnson and Hui-Chun Su Johnson to present their groundbreaking research on biological diversity in the soils we rely on. Click the image below or this link for more information on how to build your own amazing compost bioreactor.

From 2018-2020, Rivers & Birds has built and maintained three bioreactor bins that have produced a powerful compost that will exponentially increase the biological diversity of our local soil.