Episode 16 - "What We Reap"

Global topsoil is being lost at terrifying rates. So much so that many experts predict less than 60 years left of agricultural yields before the global food system collapses. Add to this questionable chemical inputs, monoculture, and other large-scale industrial practices as well as the dangers climate change introduces to disrupt traditionally fertile regions (decreasing yields further and impacting food nutrition) and we've got a perfect storm on the horizon.

We are joined by Chris D'Alessandro of Harvest Moon Garden & Orchard to discuss organic farming techniques, what it means to form a regenerative relationship with the soil, and hopefully how we can avoid this coming tragedy.

Chapters

• 04:51 Unsustainability
• 06:25 Can Anyone Farm?
• 08:17 What is Topsoil?
• 13:12 Soil: Bacteria
• 13:54 Soil: Fungus
• 16:15 Pear Tree from the Ashes
• 18:17 Chemical Revolution
• 20:42 Soil: Nitrogen
• 26:30 Overshoot and Carrying Capacity
• 29:45 Industrial Agriculture
• 34:23 Debt Cycle of Fear
• 36:50 Financial Resiliency
• 39:19 Balancing Large and Small
• 40:55 Organic Profitability
• 43:49 Input Costs
• 44:28 Phosphorous
• 45:43 Diversity
• 46:48 Weeds
• 50:41 Monoculture
• 51:27 Honeybees
• 56:47 Plant Nutrition
• 59:33 Soil Nutrition
• 1:01:21 Wine
• 1:03:00 Climate Change: Soil Loss
• 1:04:50 Climate Change: Heat
• 1:06:15 Year Round Growing
• 1:08:47 Variability
• 1:09:48 Hope?
• 1:14:58 Thinking About Technology
• 1:18:59 Exponential Growth
• 1:21:14 Diversity and Integration
• 1:23:52 What is Productive
• 1:25:03 Supporting Farming
• 1:28:00 The Most Important Question
• 1:28:35 More About Chris

A full transcript is available as well as detailed links and sources (plus credits and more) on our website ashesashes.org.

Find more information along with relevant news and links on your favorite social network @ashesashescast.

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