The Carbon Economy, Carbon Farming and Regenerative Agriculture Series workshops in Santa Fe are born out of the inspiration of a few and the efforts of many. First, I applaud with gratitude the genius, impetus and energy of Australian Regrarian, Darren J. Doherty (http://www.Regrarians.org) who originated this series.
I was fortunate to be hosted by the wonderful multigenerational Tautrim family on Orella Ranch (http://www.orellaranch.com) next to the glimmering Pacific Ocean in Santa Barbara, CA for my first Carbon Series experience in 2009. The world renowned teachers and eager participants discussed topics which were highly enlightening and edifying to all. We were lovingly taken care of by the kind people of Quail Springs (http://www.quailsprings.org) who produced the event. That pivotal experience inspired me to offer the Carbon Economy Series in Santa Fe, NM in 2011.
As Pablo Lugari, the celebrated pioneer of sustainable practices from Colombia explained to a group of us who visited Gaviotas (http://www.friendsofgaviotas.org) last November; all life depends on the delicate balance of the gasses in our atmosphere. This balance has coevolved with the vegetative skin of the planet. This vegetative envelope is the succession of species flowing from a one cell organism like cyanobacteria, to algae, to grasses, and vegetables. This flow continues to bushes, deciduous trees and finally to the mighty conifers. This membrane uses sunlight, carbon, soil, and water to produce oxygen and food.
The soil-food-web supports all the life we see and experience in our daily life. It is more complex than all the species we know on the surface of the land and under water. We have only identified 2% of the organisms in soil. Three groups have been identified: bacteria, fungi and micro organisms like nematodes. Their varying proportion sets up the conditions to nurture the different families of plants. These biological organisms use tremendous amounts of carbon to break down mother rock and her substrates into a less complex mineral structure which plants can utilize to thrive. These organisms, along with the grass family, sequester more carbon and release more oxygen than tropical rain forests.
We can all sequester more carbon and replenish the biology of the earth’s soil membrane with the natural practices to be discussed in theory and practice in the Carbon Economy Series. Join us.
Enjoy, learn and let’s all build soil together!
Carbon Economy Series President
Iginia Boccalandro