November 2019’s column was entitled “The whole truth about soil.” But after listening to a Rich Roll podcast called “The Biggest Little Farm,” it became clear to me that there’s a lot more to the story of soil, whether one is planting 200 acres or one. Rich Roll is a well-known podcaster, who represents a wide range of human interest stories brought to life through his interviews, like the one he conducted with John and Molly Chester of Ventura County, Calif.
When it comes to the study of gardening and farming, it’s a common fallacy that name-brand fertilizers, pesticides and water retention products, made from synthetic ingredients, are the only products to trust. With the help of green movement supporters, the use of natural methods to achieve high-producing plants that withstand insect damage and fend off disease is gaining traction. These “best practices” go beyond organic gardening as discussed in the podcast on John and Molly Chester’s movie, “The Biggest Little Farm.”
Our forefathers and mothers made the most of natural mulches, increasing organisms found in the ground, and animal waste around 100 years ago. This was before they understood them to be the most effective way to keep the earth they worked supple and healthy, as well as sustaining it. Providing healthy food for their families was the goal, as they used trial-and-error to discover the most effective gardening practices.
As the scale increased to much larger farms over the course of time, the landscape of farming changed. Farmers began mass-producing single crops of vegetables like corn, soybeans and tomatoes. The mantra “feed the world” replaced “feed the family.” Fertilizer and pesticide companies promised farmers easy-to-apply, effective methods for the highest-producing plants and most attractive, pest-free produce as farming entered the realm of big business.
This shift came at a price. If crops weren’t rotated, acres and acres of farmland became stripped of soil nutrients; crop yields suffered. Synthetic fertilizers and pesticides provided short-term plant protection, but couldn’t cover the full range of soil requirements; the loser in this scenario became the soil itself.
The Chester’s film, which may be called a nature documentary with a twist, brings a simple and clear message to lead us into the 21st century: we must feed the soil to feed the people. The three principles of the Chester’s’ formula for success are (1) planting cover crops, (2) the use of animal manure and (3) the use of vermiculture, or worm waste, made into a spreadable “tea.”
The movie’s cinematographer, John Chester, had this to say after Rich Roll asked him, “Who’s the hero in the movie?” He answered, “The hero is our humility within the admission of our vulnerability … and need for nature. We’re entering a phase of the generation that goes beyond simply farming…”
The Chesters had learned that habitat creation worked hand-in-glove with their aim to regenerate their farm. They also knew that the message had been received and was appreciated when individuals, after touring the farm, reacted to what they saw with, “Wow, so it’s all connected!”
After six years of gradually building up the soil in the 200 acres that they transformed for maximum water retention and productivity, originally skeptical neighboring farmers started coming around and asking questions. John Chester finds additional encouragement in the fact that land trust organizations now are taking an interest in partnering with regenerative farmers like him and Molly. Right before the film was released last year, he made it possible for 650 middle-school kids to view the film, to encourage youth interest in natural methods. The fact that the film has now been released in over 22 countries is sure to also expand its impact.
If you would like to see the podcast, and find out more about obtaining both the film and educational resources, visit: https://www. youtube.com/watch?v=dRB.XE3pw80.
Becky Pinto has been a Master Gardener since 2002 and the Master Gardener newsletter editor since 2005. She’s a Silver Level Master Gardener, based on cumulative volunteer hours served in the program. All opinions expressed are those of the writer. Send comments to therepublic.com.
