74 Comments
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Raymond Kordonowy MD's avatar

I’m reading Luis Bromfield’s Malabar farm and learning that he announced to the world in the 40’s how to properly farm.

Additionally, his book explains that nutrient deficiency was already recognized and he linked the Appalachia population and poverty to poor soil and nutrient deficiency farming obvious in the 40’s.

My wife Margaret and I are embarking on regenerative pasture development for animal production in Tennessee.

As Dr. Malone points out - 40 BILLION in corn subsidies that maximizes commercial/chemical farming is current policy.

Bromfield pointed out monoculture and in his time corn and cotton cropping had depleted our US farmland.

If we pulled incentives to grow ethanol and instead learned high nutrition density farming, our nation would transform its health and national average IQ.

https://www.amazon.com/Malabar-Farm-Louis-Bromfield/dp/164837204X

Leo's avatar

Raymond, Yes! Our health and our intelligence would prosper...Opps...me thinks the pharmaceutical industrial complex would be unhappy with that change.

Barbara Charis's avatar

The crops the government promotes are not health-promoting foods that people need in order to maintain or promote health. Our government has not done the right research in order to get Americans healthy. It has depended on corporations that make their big bucks selling foods that need to be processed. I studied healthy people... their foods and lifestyles. I have been into personal health research for 65 years...It took a long time to learn, because of all the misinformation that exists, but I am healthier today at 92 than I was in my thirties, when I was fat and lethargic following the Standard American Diet (SAD).

Jean's avatar

We need to account the impacts of our One World Order types. They have set the Global goals with Agenda 2030 and the Gates interventions. One could conclude with AI, robots, et al they conclude less of the useless eaters would be a good thing. Certainly feeding us insects and weeds might imply a lack of interest in our physical wellbeing. Their efforts to convert farmland into properties housing invaders, furthers that impression.

At least we presently have an administration that is throwing out the UN, WEF, Gates approaches. May it be unstoppably successful and our Nation to have come to its senses by 2030 and before.

Leo's avatar

Jean, Perhaps it appears on the surface that we are throwing out those Globalists, but actions, choices, policies, suggest otherwise. Follow the money, not what is promised.

Jean's avatar

We definitively have our receptive subversives who welcome gifts in exchange for their duplicities.

The Great Santini's avatar

The Government has a lot of inertia and is difficult to redirect. This is a necessary but not sufficient step in the change agenda. If we want to maintain the momentum time to elect people to Congress who will see this through. That’s the only way it happens. The President can’t rewrite the laws or fund the change. The Congress can.

Thomas A Braun RPh's avatar

When the farmer can't use his own seeds, when drift poisons the soil and the corporate farmer is subsidized and the small farmer has to comply with unnecessary regulations, it is a uphill battle. You are right only Congress can fix and they listen to those with deep pockets. Similar scenario in medicine.

D D's avatar
Jun 27Edited

That is why these various offshoots of "Project Biome" are so important. connect@projectbiome.org A system that is not dependent on the government. (A non profit) Zach Bush M.D. is a powerful visionary with action beside, in front and behind him.

Thomas A Braun RPh's avatar

He understands we are natured by mother earth if we work in harmony with her. Unfortunately, we are on a destructive path that is violating the design of life itself.

D D's avatar

Not everyone is, here is an organization that is multi -functional and Zach knows full well what mountains need to be climbed.

Leo's avatar

DD, It doesn't take "everyone" to steer the boat off-course into dangerous waters. Batten down the hatches...

neli d's avatar

Our Congress is corrupt lazy and uniformed! Some have been there 30-50 yrs going to meeting after meeting sitting on committees they know little to nothing about!! BUT THEY HAVE LOTS OF HATE AND EXCUSES !

Micheal Nash, Ph. D.'s avatar

A good, pertinent article but not often mentioned in this type of analysis is the food imported from outside the US. We in Texas derive many of our vegetables and,fruits from Mexico.

Thomas Wedge's avatar

The USDA passed the Organic Food Production Act in 1990. In 2000 they published the final National Organic Program rule establishing national standards. It was not perfect, but I have seen it form, expand and finally work. Successful Certified USDA Organic Markets were created as a result. I have watched the USDA operate for 50 years as a conventional now fully non GMO /USDA Organic Farm Seed Company, 100 years old and the largest in North America. My brag. I actually believe the NOP is one of the best programs ever created vs programs like Payment in Kind,Farmer Owned Reserve, Set Aside Program. If you are a small to medium size crop or grain farmer in 2026 you diversify or move to town. This program could help, but it will take a while.

Garry Blankenship's avatar

Taking our human population trend into account, ( eight billion and climbing ), regenerative agriculture is not just a good idea; it is essential to our survival.

SR Miller's avatar

No, world population is NOT on an ever increasing rise, in fact, last I read the RATE of growth has been slowing since the 60s/70s.

What’s concerning for ( 🤔 to?) me is that much/most of that decrease in growth comes from the industrialized (first world) nations while problematic nations/countries/regions still continue to grow. Take western civilization/society out of a dominant position and, yes, there will be food issues.

Garry Blankenship's avatar

Roughly 300,000 years to reach one billion. The last 300 years to reach eight billion. Unsure of the short game statistics but the long game trend is not sustainable. The USA might have that trend under control, but it's a much bigger world.

SR Miller's avatar

The numbers disagree: population growth in decline since 60s/70s, projections look to 2080 as the peak with another couple billion added. But that’s 50 years and who knows how many pandemics there’ll be between now and then./s

Garry Blankenship's avatar

So the plumertting populations of all other land, sea and plant life on our planet is because of climate change ? I'm seeing human population numbers and and all other life populations numbers as inversely proportional.

SR Miller's avatar

Garry, believe what you want, make your own conclusions, but I’m curious about a couple things: 1) what are you doing to prevent/stem/turn around the impending doom you’re preaching, and 2) what’s with the 2 ‘r’s?, one wasn’t enough. Now there’s some dude out there trying to get by missing his own ‘r,’ poor fella’s been called Gay his whole life solely due to your hogging one of the finite ‘r’s in existence.

As for human population numbers, you haven’t recognized that your asymptotic population growth projections have drastically slowed and are projected to decline in the next 50-70 years.

As for humans impacting their environment, this is nothing new. Apex animals (predators if you wish, herbivores sometimes) have always impacted their environment, as does the sun, our solar system silently sliding through galactic spokes, Milankovitch cycles, CME events, etc. Oh yeah, climate change, whatever da hell that really means.

But, you do you, I’ll continue to live responsibly but not ascetically unless it’s warranted. While I was only blessed with a single surviving child, I’m praying that offspring more than makes up for my poor showing. I’m assuming from your comments your gene line ends with you? That would be the responsible action, eh?

Garry Blankenship's avatar

Fun. Regarding 1): I'm not preaching impending doom. I'm providing band width to what appears to be an unsustainable trend which is my activism on the prevent side. Not asking anyone to walk into an extermination chamber. If we become proactive, it will be relatively easy to insure another eight billion does not manifest in the next 300 years. My population concern came from being a strong advocate for our anadromous fish populations. I came to the conclusion it was not any one the published myriad of overfishing and environmental challenges they face. It was and remains too many of us. 2) The two r's are a parental misunderstanding. At birth Mom mistakenly recorded Jerry. Dad intervened with the G, but the two r's remained. When I tell people it is Garry with two r's it helps them remember my name. Hence, uniquely famous ;). I hope you are right about the trend stopping. No thing for this old dog, but for my lineage, ( one boy, one girl, one grand-daughter ), vastly different, if that trend does not change. Actually happy to chat about it. Hopefully more bandwidth translates to us voluntarily putting on the brakes. Doing my best to do me. Does the eh imply Canadian ?

Leo's avatar

SR, ...and wars...

James Schwartz's avatar

Ain’t it always the way things go? This money may entice some more farms to adopt these methods and principles but Big Ag is Big Ag for a reason. This leads back to how we should all build our own homesteads. Relying on anyone else to do for you is a fools errand. Growing and raising what you eat is the only way to insure you know what’s in your food. The small advantage to this program is you will possibly have a choice to buy the foods born through this method which no doubt will come with higher cost like organic does already. Still, it will be a choice. Which is still a minor victory.

neli d's avatar

but they label stuff organic BUT WHAT EXACTLY DOES THAT MEAN?! not always what you think🤨

James Schwartz's avatar

Just different pesticides. It’s why I grow my own.

Leo's avatar

neli, It depends on who certifies it as Organic. Oregon Tilth is very trustworthy.

Karrl Auffhammer's avatar

Over 100 years ago Rudolf Steiner initiated Biodynamic Farming. It is wholly organic and regenerates the life forces in matter. Those interested can go to https://www.biodynamics.com and discover its application(s) and the wisdom behind it.

Brandy's avatar

Do Americans really want health? Many still buy 'snacks' and 'desserts'. If people really wanted health, they would greatly reduce their consumption of junk food. Organic fruits/foods are more expensive, but they taste better and if you eat a normal amount and don't gorge, they can be affordable. Organic is also cheaper at a local farmers market. Your body is an engine, put in good fuel and it performs better. People need to practice self control.

LoverOfHills's avatar

Yes, Brandy, Self-Control. One of my mantras: Life is easy, I/WE make it difficult! With Self-Control comes personal dignity, which leads to living with integrity, which leads to Self-Control, ... etc. It works.

VP JD Vance - he's got it. Sec RFKjr - he's got it. I'm so grateful for these 2 very public men.

j lanigan's avatar

Younger people definitely work out and try to eat better, and are more interested in food.

It must have skipped a generation.

D D's avatar
Jun 27Edited

Have you heard of "Farmers Footprint"? It is a piece of another focus of "Project Biome" with Zach Bush M.D. as the board chair and many other (mostly woman) people in positions of importance. There is a tax deductible donation system and "Rewild. Regenerate. Reconnect." as a slogan. connect@projectbiome.org (A non profit) There is a beautiful multi-faceted website, truly important information.

Traderfran's avatar

1992 I informed the local FDA office (where my husband and I had recently bought a foreclosed on farm) that I was not adhering to their list of ag products I was suppose to plant... I was planting wall to wall corn. I was their only woman farm operator in that county. They were depressed that I would not plant the allotted amount of oats, wheat, etc. and were not happy that I did not want their 'farm' money. BuI when I said I was planting by 'no-till'. the employees went wild... I was the only one they knew who was planting No-Till and they had a program for that. Long story. Mainly in 1992 there were regenerative ag programs on the books.

By the second year No till was productive. Of course requiring building of massive grain bins, etc.

Life is interesting and to be lived to its best. People die, and circumstances change. One moves mentally and physically to new locations. Now as a little old lady, (79 approaches but I am still up at 5 each day and feed the livestock and do all of my own 'farming'). I have moved and downsized. I still have acreage and raise livestock and chicks for enjoyment . I also am using hutilculture trying to rejuvenate limestone into productive areas. I refer to my acreage as 'my garden' and treat it as a farm,... running tests (on a small scale), and succeeding or failing with my projects.

When one has scaled down to raising the items she eats... raises the animals she consumes (or their eggs) or just enjoys their company..... and negotiates/barters with local ranchers for quarters or sides of beef in exchange for products she produces...

Life is good.

But, I do not list myself as in ag. because it would place me in the crosshairs of the govt... and I still have not desire to be under their auspices ... (probably because in my younger days I was a govt auditor and understand them.) None of the deductions the rich and famous pay millions to accountants and tax attorneys to keep their taxes as low as possible... but, who cares, food that is natural and you raise is the best.... and Never miss an opportunity to improve your health.. whether by working in the garden or eating fresh.

Karrl Auffhammer's avatar

Biodynamic Farming was initiated over 100 years ago by Rudolf Steiner. Totally organic as it restores the earth matter, it is a proven practice and methodology. A must see....https://www.biodynamics.com/steiner.html

D D's avatar

I even get wine from Benziger winery, based on Steiner biodynamics.

Handsome Pristine Patriot's avatar

When you come to depend on the government.....for anything, the government does what it does best.

ABSOLUTLY NOTHING!

Nobody is forced to eat ultra-processed foods, yet here we are.

It's a choice to either eat healthy or to eat garbage.

The government shouldn't be pushing people either way.

Leo's avatar

Handsome, Very Good Point! Really, it all comes down to the individual.

Paula Mitchell's avatar

Change takes time. I really appreciate the Drs. Malone articles on homesteading, information and education are very important for our healthier future. We all should share our individual farming/growing success with others interested in growing healthier food. I feel this is an important step in helping to change our world, baby steps before walking and then running. We all need to do our part.

LB (Little Birdie)'s avatar

Look to the Amish as a resource also. Approachable with respect.

Amish communities often share farming knowledge with outsiders through collaboration with non-Amish neighbors and participation in cooperative ventures, such as farmers' markets and organic cooperatives. They may also engage in informal exchanges, like borrowing tools or seeking advice, while maintaining their traditional practices.

D D's avatar

Paula, This is where connect@projectbiome.org comes in. Farmers Footprint connects all the dots you mention. A non profit to donate to, to make a difference. I would trust the leadership of zachbushmd.com over most organizations.

Leo's avatar

DD, Handsome, well-spoken, and intelligent, Zach is great at PR and education. Beyond learning where to donate money, many people are just trying to find sources for healthy food.

Meemanator's avatar

But then the Supreme Court protects Round Up from being sued for causing death and damage. All the good farming techniques aside = poison in the soil and water seems like we are done before we begin. 🥲

LB (Little Birdie)'s avatar

On another, but equally important, note. How's everyone preparing for a beautiful and patriotic 4th of July this year? I'm already wearing as much red, white, blue as I can! I think our President has some new tricks up his sleeve. My only disappointment is the moving away from a National (bipartisan) celebration. I hope there will be much joy coming!!!

Leo's avatar

LB, Yes, a National/bipartisan celebration would help lessen the polarization and encourage unity. Seems like that would be a good thing...