Your April Dose of Balance

Regenerative Agriculture: A Holistic, Symbiotic Solution for a World in Crisis

Our food supply is in crisis. Over the past few decades, the food crisis has been growing exponentially due to soil erosion, chemical pollution, conventional farming methods, and decarbonization of the soil that food is grown in. The result is an overall deterioration of the variety and quality of food available for us to eat. Research shows food now has lower vitamin and mineral content along with an increased antibiotic and chemical content which is detrimental to human health. A solution to this crisis lies in Regenerative Agriculture, an approach to developing crops and sustaining the land in a way that replenishes the organisms that support the growth of nutrient-dense food. This is more than just growing and choosing organic food. Regenerative Agriculture is a solution that has the power to restore organic carbon to the soil, reverse climate change, and improve the health of the population.

Regenerative Agriculture and Organic Farming/Gardening

Regenerative Agriculture (RegAg) rebuilds organic matter and living biodiversity within the soil so the land can consistently produce nutrient-dense food year after year. Farming methods used in RegAg effectively store more water in the soil and rapidly draw carbon out of the atmosphere, trapping it underground, resulting in a significant reversal of damage to the climate. How significant? The National Academy of Sciences estimates that Regenerative Agriculture can sequester 250 million tons of carbon dioxide in the U.S. annually, or around 4% of the country’s emissions. This is why RegAg is sometimes called “carbon farming.”

Organic farming and gardening are a part of RegAg. Organic soil helps produce more nutrient-dense plants and foods. When these plants naturally biodegrade, are harvested, or are manually turned over into compost, they improve the nutrition of the soil and make it more hospitable to a wider variety of beneficial organisms (fungi, microbes, insects, etc).

This increase in soil biodiversity is the “soil cycle of life” (hence the term regenerative) which gives back not just to the growth and sustainability of crops but to the entire ecosystem. Regenerative Agriculture “works” for the smallest organisms living in the soil up through the ecological chain, supporting the health of all creatures including humans.

Key facets of Regenerative Agriculture are:

• Increased organic matter in the soil brings insect biodiversity which helps control invasive species and pests that would otherwise destroy crops
• RegAg does not harm the land; rather, it improves it using farming methods that revitalize the soil and the environment
• The shift towards holistic ecosystems functioning symbiotically leads to more productive farms, healthier communities, and stronger economies

Methods of Regenerative Agriculture include:

• conservation tillage
• cover crops
• crop rotation
• composting
• free range grazing
• mobile animal shelters and pasture cropping

How Everyone Can Contribute to Regenerative Agriculture

You don’t need acres of farmland to contribute to RegAg. Your backyard garden, your shopping choices, and what you do with food waste can all impact RegAg. If we do our part to grow food and eat sustainably, then we will be contributing to a holistic and symbiotic solution for the good of the planet and our health.

1. Find a local regenerative farm in your area and support their cause by buying direct or through a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) program, if offered.
2. If you don’t have a regenerative farm nearby, look for humane animal farms that raise animals in a way that is good for the environment. This would include pasture-raised farms, many of which will sell directly to consumers.
3. Choose to buy local and organic whenever feasible for you.
4. In your own garden:

1. Use organic soil and natural fertilizer
2. Compost food waste
3. Learn to mulch properly
4. Learn to plant the right plant, in the right spot, at the right time of year
5. Use natural pest deterrents such as botanically-based (instead of chemical), chicken wire, or netting
6. Plant native and disease-resistant plants rather than trying to grow things not suited to your climate zone
7. Maintain plant diversity, which will nourish the soil and encourage ecosystem biodiversity
8. Prune and weed the garden weekly, at minimum.

Regenerative Agriculture, whether implemented in your back yard or on a grand scale, holds the potential to transform farms and farmers into planetary heroes as they rebuild the land and grow the economy that supports life in all its forms.

References

Medicinal and Practical Uses for Rosemary

Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus) is a fragrant herb that has many practical uses and medicinal benefits. In botanical medicine, rosemary has been used to reduce inflammation, boost mental focus, and help lower stress. In the garden, growing rosemary can help to keep away deer and rodents. In the kitchen, rosemary is well known for lending a warm, bitter flavor and aroma to a wide variety of foods.

Rosemary contains antioxidants, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory compounds that are thought to help boost the immune system and improve circulation. Among the nutrients found in rosemary are vitamins A, C, B6, iron, and calcium.

When used medicinally, dried rosemary leaves can be made into powder for use in capsules or tea. Rosemary can also be extracted to create an essential oil or a liquid extract (tincture). Some of the many uses of rosemary for health enhancement include:

• Aromatherapy with rosemary essential oil is useful for enhancing mood, memory, and focus.
• Essential oil of rosemary is useful to stimulate the scalp to help reduce dandruff. *(Not the same as rosemary-infused cooking oil).
• Rosemary in both tea and capsule form have been used to alleviate digestive distress such as heartburn, gas, and constipation.
• Tinctures prepared with rosemary have been used to combat bacterial infections, including staph infections. In lab analysis, the antioxidants in rosemary have been shown to protect cells from damage that is caused by free radicals (the byproducts of molecular processes in the body that are linked to many chronic illnesses).

There is ongoing research to better understand the extent of the beneficial effects that rosemary has on health. Though generally considered safe for most people to use, there are a few precautions to take with rosemary–particularly the oil which should only be used topically and must be diluted. If you take other medicines, rosemary can interact and change the way those medicines work in your body. Check with your holistic health practitioner before using rosemary for a medical condition or health concern.

References

Bee Pollen: Nature’s Superfood

The busy bee provides us with three superfoods that we can enjoy in both food and supplement form: bee propolis, bee pollen, and royal jelly. Let’s learn how these are different and take a closer look at the health benefits of bee pollen.

BEE-autiful Gifts for Health

Of the many gifts we receive from the bee, royal jelly is possibly the most familiar to people.

Royal jelly is a substance produced by worker honey bees. If fed to an ordinary female bee in the larval stage, royal jelly will transform her into the queen bee. The queen then goes on to outlive other worker bees, including those who fed her, by five or more years. How’s that for a “magical elixir?” Royal jelly contains a mix of protein, fat, sugars, vitamins, and minerals. Royal jelly has had many uses in folk medicine (as a skin and hair tonic) and has received some attention in modern research for its antimicrobial properties.

Bee propolis is sometimes referred to as “bee glue” as it is used to construct, seal and repair the beehive. Propolis is a resinous substance that bees collect from various plants. Propolis contains many vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and other plant compounds that give it antibacterial and antifungal power. In modern research, propolis has been found to prevent the growth of bacteria that causes dental cavities.

Nutrients found in Bee Pollen

Bee pollen is truly a superfood and, as you may have guessed, it is derived from the pollen that bees collect as they buzz about from flower to flower. Bee pollen contains many amazing components:

• Essential amino acids (Up to seven times the amount found in the same weight of traditional high protein foods)
• Vitamins A, D, E, K, C, and several of the B vitamins (particularly B5 and niacin)
• Bioflavonoids

What are the uses of Bee Pollen?

Bee pollen has been used as an anti-aging food and an energy supplement. It has been used to support the health of the adrenal glands which are most affected by stress. The antioxidants in bee pollen (vitamins A and C, for example) help protect our cells from damage caused by free radicals, a primary culprit in both the aging process and the onset of chronic disease.

The health protective benefits of bee pollen make it an excellent addition to your diet. Bee pollen comes in many different forms. You can sprinkle it onto foods such as salad, cereal, or yogurt. It can also be provided in capsule form. Since bee pollen is derived from bees and from plant sources, there is potential for an allergic reaction. Always check with your holistic health provider before taking any nutritional supplements.

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References

Wound Healing with a Carrot Poultice

Have you ever wondered how wounds were treated “back in the day” before the wonders of modern emergency medicine when a person couldn’t travel to a medical center and a doctor couldn’t get through a storm to make a house call? In all likelihood, a poultice was used. A poultice is a traditional medicine remedy applied to the body to relieve soreness and inflammation, or to facilitate wound healing. Carrot poultice has been used in herbal medicine for treating quite a few different ailments.

What is a Poultice Made From?

A poultice is a moist mass of organic matter, typically derived from plant material. Depending on the type of injury, wound, or degree of inflammation, a poultice can be composed of different types of material (crushed leaves, petals, pulp, ground bulb) and could be applied warm or cool. Typically, the concoction of plant matter is formed into a paste and spread over the area of concern. A wrap or bandage is then applied to hold the paste in place. Cool or warm cloths may be applied over top of the bandage.

Why Use a Carrot Poultice

Carrot poultice is a good option for a closed wound that has a high risk for becoming infected.

It also is a good option for making a light compress to reduce inflammation associated with cold sores, eczema, sore throat and swollen glands, and even to reduce swelling of breast tissue related to childbirth and breastfeeding.

Easy-to-Make Carrot Poultice

A cool or warm carrot poultice can be prepared the same way.

• A cool carrot poultice is recommended for inflammation and pain, such as a sore throat.
• A warm carrot poultice is typically used for a closed wound.

1. Grate the carrot and combine with crushed or shaved ice. Place the shavings in the center of a thin, durable cotton cloth such as a cheesecloth.
2. Fold the cloth to enclose the shavings and knot the ends.
3. Apply to the affected area with the knotted side facing out.
4. Cover the poultice with a bandage wrap or thin towel. Leave on for 30-60 minutes.

A warm carrot poultice is typically applied to a closed wound within the first 24-48 hours. To warm the poultice, simply apply a heat source (e.g., moist heating pad or rice pack), over the towel or bandage wrap (e.g., a hot moist heating pad or rice pack). Leave this on for 20-40 minutes.

Watch Dr. Peter Swanz make a carrot poultice.

A poultice is a simple technique that can be incredibly effective when the proper substances are applied in the appropriate manner. To learn more about poultices, speak with your holistic health provider.

References

Guiding Principles