Farmer's Footprint

Did you know that the British and French governments spent the twenty years between the First and Second World Wars investigating the possibilities of electrifying plants? And did so in almost complete secrecy. The method, which is premised on the idea that you can stimulate plant growth using electricity, is not new. In fact, it's been around since the 1700s! It was just the first sign of a completely new science or, as many others would have it, pseudo-science… Electroculture 🌱⚡ Think of Electroculture as giving your garden a little zap of energy, supercharging plant growth and health. From enhancing nutrient uptake to improving seed germination, Electroculture promises a greener, more bountiful garden. Who knew that a little electricity could do so much? So, why hasn’t Electroculture become the next big thing? Just as Electroculture was ‘sparking’ interest, Big Ag was gearing up with synthetic fertilizers and chemical pesticides. The allure of quick, consistent results from chemicals overshadowed the experimental and unconventional methods of using electricity. Electroculture was left in the dust, overshadowed by the rise of industrial farming practices. Are you curious about how Electroculture might transform your garden? Join us for Orto Hour with Andrew from The Garden Club! This monthly gathering is a delightful homesteading variety show where Andrew dives into unique gardening topics, cooks up delicious dishes, entertains, and shares a whole lot of wisdom and fun. Mark your calendars and don’t miss out on this unique experience! This session is completely FREE for everyone! Join us at 9am PT / 12pm ET tomorrow, July 17th. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just getting your hands dirty for the first time, Orto Hour is the perfect place to get inspired and learn something new. And, if you're loving the vibes and want to dig deeper into all things land-based living, why not join The Garden Club? It’s the ultimate community for garden enthusiasts, offering tips, tricks, and a wealth of knowledge on land-based living. Head to https://lnkd.in/g4cAs2fq  to join 🌱⚡ #Electroculture #Gardening #LandBasedLiving #OrtuHour #GardeningCommunity #FarmersFootprint  #GardenClub

Have you ever come across an animal in the wild, in your backyard or even on your window sill and felt it appeared at that precise moment and place to deliver a special message to you? Forming an intimate relationship with a place and its inhabitants creates a deep connection that is both felt and reciprocated. This connection is not just about the physical environment but also about the emotional and spiritual bonds that develop. And, as we listen to the land and its creatures, we realize that we are not isolated beings but part of a larger, interconnected web of life. We live in fragile worlds. One is the outer habitat of land, air, water, and flesh, supporting the biological needs of humans and other animals. Another is our highly individualized and private inner life. Then there is a mysterious third world, the shared habitat of the heart. This is the deep connection between a person and another animal. It is the permeability of awareness. It is the connection that extends from within us, across the mysterious between, and into the other being. If we’re lucky, we feel something almost indescribable in return. We can learn to enter this habitat at will. This transportive leap can change our lives and the lives around us for the better. This interconnectedness is supported by modern science, which echoes what indigenous knowledge has always known: animals are indicators of ecosystem health. The presence of amphibians like frogs can signify clean water and a healthy environment, while the behaviors of pollinators such as bees reveal the richness and diversity of plant life. Understanding animal behaviors deepens our connection with nature and helps us foster healthier ecosystems. Observing these patterns can provide valuable insights into the state of our environment and guide how we care for the land and its inhabitants. As we strive to reconnect with the natural world, consider: What animals do you notice in your surroundings, and what might their behaviors be telling you about your environment? How can we integrate the wisdom of animals into our daily lives? The tree of life ties all organisms together. By caring for one, we care for the whole. Slide 4 photography by @hollow.sun

Summer tastes sweet! Prepare to dig into the best July fruits and veggies (from berries and stone fruit to squash and corn). We're dishing out how to incorporate these seasonal produce picks into the best summer recipes. July is the sunny, sparkler-filled month when summer really kicks into full gear. Grilling season is on fire (hopefully just within the scope of the grill itself, of course), gardens are blooming with some of the year’s best produce, and there’s plenty of fun in the sun to be had! Curious about what’s in season in July so you can shop and meal prep with flair? Think of this seasonal produce guide like Farmer's Footprint joining you at the market or garden, pointing to what you should invest in or harvest to make the most of summer’s bounty. Your wallet and your taste buds both benefit when you seek out seasonal produce; unlike something that has been shipped in from across the globe, it’s far fresher and more affordable. (By the way, you’ll save even more if you grow your own 😉). Plus seasonal produce is packed with nutrients that are at their peak right now, providing you with the maximum health benefits! Win-win-win! Swipe on for some delicious inspiration about how to put what’s in season in July to use in meals and snacks for yourself, your family, or the entire neighborhood at picnics, potlucks, and parties. 🌱 Want to dive deeper into all things land-based living? Join our Garden Club for tips, tricks, and exclusive content on how to make the most of your garden and embrace a seasonal lifestyle. Learn more via https://lnkd.in/e_faRUB8 and become part of our thriving community! This post was inspired by the lovely Chelsey PeCoy, founder of Lighthearted Kitchen #FarmersFootprint #SeasonalEating #SummerProduce #EatLocal #RegenerativeLiving #Nutrition

We still have much to learn, in particular about the ongoing management of regenerative systems and the soil-food-web interactions that they rely on. Which is why we’re excited to share that Playa Viva is hosting their second annual Agroforestry and Permaculture Course, "Sembrando Agua," from July 31 to August 4, 2024. Imagine spending four days immersed in the natural beauty of Playa Viva, learning from Amanda Harris, the heart behind Playa Viva’s permaculture farm, and Namastê Messerschmidt, an expert in Syntropic Agriculture. This is your chance to reconnect with the land and learn how to nurture it alongside like-minded individuals. At Playa Viva, everything works in harmony, creating a thriving ecosystem—a way of life that embraces the interconnectedness of all living things. During this course, you’ll have the opportunity to explore blending permaculture principles with syntropic agroforestry theory and techniques, and discuss, understand, and install a 1/4 hectare food forest in the Juluchuca Watershed. You will work closely with Don Gabriel, a local regenerative farmer in their community, as well as with the local Women's Cooperative, to design an agroforestry system that meets their specific production needs. Amanda and her team use both local wisdom and scientific insights to set and achieve their goals. By planting native and beneficial trees, they aim to revive historic water cycles and enrich the soil with organic matter and microorganisms—creating a resilient and productive environment, benefiting both people and the planet. Sound like something you’d enjoy? This course offers a chance to be part of something bigger, gain hands-on skills, contribute to a legacy of regeneration, and deepen your connection with the land. But wait, there’s more! We’re thrilled to offer our community a special 10% discount. Use the code MAKINGFOOTPRINTS when you sign up. Visit https://lnkd.in/gc5Zb6iT to learn more and secure your spot. Plant the seeds for a brighter future 🌱 𐫰   photography by Leia Vita Marasovich #Permaculture #Agroforestry #RegenerativeFarming #RegenerativeLiving #CommunityBuilding #SoilHealth #FoodSovereignty #PlayaViva #FarmersFootprint

“Along the way you see a plant – by bringing them home you give them an opportunity to express themselves. Sometimes they are a little bit lost in this craziness that is nature, but when you take one single stem and bring it home you see it differently.” - Clément Bouteille⁠ ⁠ In Lyon’s rural outskirts, French flower farmer Clément Bouteille roots his philosophies on life in connecting with nature. Born and raised in the countryside on the outskirts of Lyon, French flower farmer Clément Bouteille has made a home for a wide range of wild flower species on his third generation family farm. Located in Saint-Maurice-sur-Dargoireon, this cultivated landscape has served as a constant source of inspiration for the wild botanical species he grows on-site – his plant nursery evolving into butterfly breeding, landscape design, and constructing floral arrangements. By only making rare botanical varieties available during their natural seasons, Bouteille has created a more regenerative practice that distinguishes him from other farmers – adhering to nature’s seasons and cycles. In the short film ‘Clément’, London and Copenhagen based artists Luke & Nik document Bouteille through his connection to flowers, exploring his philosophies on life, and how working in equilibrium with nature has shaped his outlook and his business. Walking the surrounding mountains with Bouteille – where he harvests new specimens to be replanted and cultivated in the nursery – Luke & Nik collect fragments from the quiet process that grounds his work. Capturing the organic spirit of his environment on 8mm film, Clément tours a space which allows him to live life by his own code, surrounded by the simple pleasures that root his understanding and sustain him on a deeper level. Head to NOWNESS to watch the full film 📲⁠ ⁠ Starring Clement Bouteille⁠ Directors Luke and Nik

For decades, retirement wasn’t a major concern in the agricultural sector. Farmworkers from Mexico would cross the border for the harvest season and then return home, repeating this cycle annually. However, as U.S. presidents since the 1990s have implemented stricter border controls—including increased barriers, advanced technology, and more agents—this circular migration has become increasingly dangerous and costly. Thus, many farmworkers have chosen to stay in the U.S. permanently, aging with each passing season. Today, the average age of foreign-born farmworkers is 41, reflecting a significant rise as fewer young immigrants are willing to take on the demanding fieldwork. This aging workforce faces uncertainty about their future. In interviews conducted over the past year by Miriam Jordan, a National correspondent covering immigration for The Times, many workers expressed that they had no plans for retirement and were unsure of how they would sustain themselves if they were to stop working. Understanding the humanity of farmworkers is essential for fostering a more just and equitable food system. It’s not just about the labor they provide but about honoring their identities and contributions beyond the economic value they bring. How can we celebrate and support the elder farmworkers in our community? What wisdom might they hold within their lived experiences that is going unheard and unrecognized? Read the full article via NY Times-Breaking News **Photos by @adamperez22 / NY Times-Breaking News #Farmworkers #ImmigrantRights #ElderWisdom #FarmworkerJustice

Globalization, as we know it today, has no future. Around the world, communities are reclaiming their economies, fostering resilience, autonomy, and diversity. At the heart of this movement is the creation of local food systems grounded in ecology and food sovereignty. This local future weaves together globalized markets that don’t extract from communities, but rather build resilience and the growth of ‘economies of happiness’. Big business and agriculture have long dominated our food systems, demanding servitude over sovereignty and promoting monocultures that impoverish soils and communities. This approach, focused on global distribution without local resilience, strips local landscapes of their nutrients under the guise of “feeding the world.” It marginalizes smallholder farmers and indigenous peoples, failing to address land access, community health, and food justice. How can we nurture the soul of Mother Earth and the communities that depend on her? Simply improving the soil isn’t enough if we ignore the people and cultures living upon it. We need systems that honor biodiversity, LOCAL knowledge, and ecological realities. We believe it’s time for global food systems to innovate or make way, allowing human-scale, disruptive, diverse, and localized collectives to emerge and feed the world. One community at a time. Imagine: communities where food is not just consumed but celebrated, where each meal tells the story of its origin. Many of us now explore international cuisines and ingredients. Reflecting on this growing appreciation for global food cultures, what better way to understand and honor a culture than through its food? By delving deeper into the history and practices of localized food systems, we can better appreciate and contribute to this important movement. Curious to learn more about these themes or how you can be part of change? Here are some insightful reads + resources: ⊕ Cuisine and Culture, Linda Civitello ⊕ Local is Our Future, Helena Norberg-Hodge ⊕ Food Culture Around the World Series, Bloomsbury ⊕ localfutures.org ⊕ slowfood.com Join us in celebrating the power of localization. For long we have needed a new story 🌱 #WorldLocalizationDay #FarmersFootprint #NANA #LocalFood #Community #Culture #FoodSovereignty

Could tears of compassion look different from tears of hope? Photographer Rose-Lynn Fisher, amidst a period of intense grief, turned to her microscope with that simple yet profound question. Her project, "Topography of Tears," revealed something astonishing—each tear, whether from redemption, remorse, overwhelm, or even an onion, held a unique and intricate landscape. Fisher discovered that tears, much like the emotions that birth them, are complex and beautiful. One particularly moving image from her collection, titled "Hope and Possibility," captures the essence of finding beauty and potential even in our most vulnerable moments. At the heart of our work is the belief in hope and possibility. Just as Fisher’s images of tears tell stories of hidden potential, we share stories of resilience within our delicate food system. Despite the challenges we face, trust and collaboration enable us to address these vulnerabilities and strive towards a more equitable future. As you ponder this, consider: What moments of resilience and hope have shaped your journey? How can these experiences inspire others and catalyze change?

Have you unknowingly invited Monsanto to your garden party? In 2005, Monsanto grabbed 40% of the U.S. seed market and 20% of the global seed market by acquiring Seminis, making them the largest seed company in the world. They supply the genetics for 55% of the lettuce on U.S. supermarket shelves, 75% of the tomatoes, and 85% of the peppers, with strong holdings in beans, cucumbers, squash, melons, broccoli, cabbage, spinach, and peas. Monsanto has been buying up every seed company they can. By visiting the Seminis site, you can see their history of acquisitions. Syngenta and Dow are doing the same. Monsanto is now legally registered to hold the trademark for many heirloom seed varieties — strategically positioning themselves to profit from the growing heirloom or open-pollinated home-gardening market. Since 2015, the Bayer takeover of Monsanto has merged a chemical giant with a seed giant, leaving control of the world’s food supply in too few hands. The merger also linked two key parts of agricultural production, reducing competition in the food chain. In 2020, Bayer controlled well over the 2017 estimate of 29% of the global seed market and 24% of the global pesticide market. There are serious concerns about increased farmer dependency on fewer suppliers and higher prices due to weak competition. The deal also increased the power of a smaller group of companies over intellectual property and patents that lock up much of the world’s commercially produced food supply, weakening farmers’ ability to use and reuse their seeds. We already know the dangers of glyphosate, the active ingredient in Monsanto’s Roundup, declared “probably carcinogenic in humans” by the World Health Organization in 2015. With their increased market share, these companies gain more power over what we plant and consume, raising food health and safety concerns related to their seeds AND chemicals. In the words of Vandana Shiva, "Seed is not just the source of life. It is the very foundation of our being." Let's honor that wisdom by choosing seeds from companies like these that prioritize biodiversity and the independence of our food system. #SeedSaving #HeirloomSeeds #FoodSovereignty

🌱Plants communicating with each other caught on camera for the first time ever 🌱 Have you ever wondered if plants can talk to each other? This groundbreaking research from Japan shows that plants not only communicate but also protect each other in ways we never imagined. Led by molecular biologist Masatsugu Toyota from Saitama University, this research challenges the old view of plants as passive beings. Published in Nature Communications, the study shows undamaged plants responding to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by their damaged neighbors. These VOCs act as distress signals, prompting nearby plants to kickstart their defense mechanisms. The research team, including PhD student Yuri Uratani and post-doctoral researcher Takuya Wura, watched as genetically engineered Arabidopsis thaliana plants reacted to VOCs from damaged leaves, shedding light on the hidden network of plant communication. By looking deeper into the world of botanical interactions, the study uncovers complex defense strategies among plants. As we learn more about these plant interactions, we see a world where every living thing plays a part in the health of our ecosystems — opening up new possibilities for agriculture, ecology, and how we understand the interconnectedness of life. 🎥 Video courtesy of Masatsugu Toyota/ Saitama University