I just finished reading Will Harris’ book A Bold Return to Giving A Damn, and let me tell you, it’s a game-changer. There’s one question he poses in the last chapter that has been bouncing around in my head ever since: “What will it take for you, the person buying the food that farmers like me raise, to make the decision that you want resilient food over efficient food, and that you want to support the growth of a system that regenerates and renews rather than degenerates and degrades?”
That’s the million-dollar question right there, isn’t it? It’s not about scaring you into buying local food or tearing down the industrial food system (though I’ve got plenty of facts that’ll make you think twice about that system). It’s about making an informed decision. So let’s break this down.
The industrial food system loves efficiency. It’s built around monocultures—fields of just one crop at a time. Sure, some farmers around here rotate between soybeans and corn, but that’s as far as it goes. No cover crops. No animal impact. No natural cycles to keep the soil healthy. The result? That land gets stripped of nutrients year after year, and farmers have to pump it full of chemical fertilizers just to keep things growing.
It’s not just the nutrients that suffer. Without organic material being added back to the soil, it can’t hold water. Every time it rains or the wind kicks up, that topsoil—the lifeblood of farming—is gone. Washed away. Blown away. And it’s not coming back unless someone puts in the effort to regenerate it.
And that’s where regenerative farming comes in. It’s the polar opposite of industrial farming. Instead of stripping the land bare, we build it up. Composting, animal impact, rotational grazing—all of it works together to mimic the natural cycles that have been thriving for millions of years. Nature knows how to take care of itself. We just have to get out of its way and stop pretending we’re smarter than it.
Humans are great at breaking things and not so great at fixing them. Let’s be honest—we’re the most destructive species on this planet. We’ve built systems that destroy the land, pollute the air and water, and then we pat ourselves on the back for inventing “solutions” to the very problems we created. Will Harris put it best in his book: “For every problem that technology has caused, another technology has been brought in to solve it—making the tech company kinda like the same store selling you bullets and bandages, scooping profit off all of it, and invariably causing another set of problems.”
You don’t see wildlife doing that. You don’t see plants or natural cycles doing that. It’s just us humans, with our egos and our obsession with controlling nature, who keep this destructive loop going. Regenerative farming is a way to step out of that loop, to heal the land instead of breaking it down further.
And let’s not forget the connection between the industrial food system and the health crisis we’re living through. The fake food lining grocery store shelves is killing us—slowly, sure, but steadily. Ultra-processed, nutritionally void, loaded with sugar and preservatives—these aren’t foods; they’re just food-like substances. And the more we rely on them, the sicker we get. Regenerative farming isn’t just about better soil or healthier ecosystems; it’s about better food for healthier people.
So here’s the question I’m posing to you: What will it take for you to choose resilient food over efficient food? Will it take another supply chain collapse, another pandemic, or another health scare to make you rethink your choices? Or are you ready to start supporting a system that heals the land, the food, and the people eating it?
We can’t keep pretending that the industrial food system isn’t part of the problem. It’s time to decide what kind of food system we want to support. Because every dollar you spend is a vote for the future you want to see.
Until next time,
Traci
Hungry for More?
If you’ve been enjoying our Farm Table Talk articles, why not bring a little farm-to-table magic into your own kitchen? Check out our digital cookbook—packed with simple, seasonal recipes straight from our farm to yours. Whether you’re looking for hearty meals, quick snacks, or creative ways to use fresh, local ingredients, we’ve got you covered. Plus, every purchase supports our mission to nurture the land, care for our animals, and keep sharing the real stories behind farm life.
