YFC members were among the young people who took part in the final How Farming Can Cool the Planet project event at Groundswell, the Hertfordshire regenerative farming festival.
Young people from across the country took advantage of the supported places offered to learn more about regenerative farming. Stimulating positive messages from young people about food production and farming being part of the climate change solution are a key component for the project’s aims.
Career enhancement, future farming practice, practical examples of farming for degrees and PhDs were just a few reasons for exploring the variety of conference discussions, demonstrations, exhibits and interactions.
Being part of the How Farming Can Cool the Planet project group meant young people could meet during the day for networking and to share experiences.
One participant said: “We’re all at the age where we’re just trying to find our careers. We’re really at the beginning of where we want to go and it’s great to hear people’s stories and to give encouragement and for them to give encouragement back to you.”
Another said: “For me it was helpful to speak to young people my age that actually work in the farming industry or have families in the background.”
During the event, Groove Amada’s Andy Cato contributed discussed his Wild Farmed wheat and bread enterprise as well as performed a set for everyone to enjoy in the evening.
Groundswell organisers describe regenerative farming as “any form of farming, ie the production of food or fibre, which at the same time improves the environment. This primarily means regenerating the soil.”
1. Don’t disturb the soil.
Soil supports a complex network of worm-holes, fungal hyphae and a labyrinth of microscopic air pockets surrounded by aggregates of soil particles. Disturbing this, by ploughing or heavy doses of fertiliser or sprays will set the system back.
2. Keep the soil surface covered.
The impact of rain drops or burning rays of sun or frost can all harm the soil. A duvet of growing crops, or stubble residues, will protect it.
3. Keep living roots in the soil.
In an arable rotation there will be times when this is hard to do but living roots in the soil are vital for feeding the creatures at the base of the soil food web; the bacteria and fungi that provide food for the protozoa, arthropods and higher creatures further up the chain. They also keep mycorrhizal fungi alive and thriving and these symbionts are vital for nourishing most plants and will thus provide a free fertilising and watering service for crops.
4. Grow a diverse range of crops.
Ideally at the same time, like in a meadow. Monocultures do not happen in nature and our soil creatures thrive on variety. Companion cropping (two crops are grown at once and separated after harvest) can be successful. Cover cropping, (growing a crop which is not taken to harvest but helps protect and feed the soil) will also have the happy effect of capturing sunlight and feeding that energy to the subterranean world, at a time when traditionally the land would have been bare.
5. Bring grazing animals back to the land.
This is more than a nod to the permanent pasture analogy, it allows arable farmers to rest their land for one, two or more years and then graze multispecies leys. These leys are great in themselves for feeding the soil and when you add the benefit of mob-grazed livestock, it supercharges the impact on the soil.
An overview of Groundswell can be watched here.
