Part 2 of our series on homesteading takes a dive into the scientific literature. We explore a paper in the September issue of Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment on Fences and their biophysical and social impacts. This science helps further unpack some of the problematic aspects associated with the colonial homestead origins of American agriculture, as well as points to opportunities to build greater resilience.

Regenerative agriculture has been getting a lot of hype. But, when it comes down to it, the practices needed to start regenerating soil are relatively straightforward - growing winter small grains and winter legumes to replace synthetic nitrogen fertilizer. Since 2017, I have been engaged with the Sustainable Food Lab and the Practical Farmers of Iowa’s Feed Chains and Small Grains work. This past year, buoyed by Conservation Innovation Grant funding the group has made some exciting progress in modeling the scale up these basic regenerative approaches. We met yesterday at Target’s headquarters in Minneapolis to review what’s possible on the farm level and what’s needed from the business side from commodity companies to CPGs to support the shift.