Regenerative farming: A 'natural way' to help counteract drought | Charlie Massy | Australian Story
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- Опубліковано 27 вер 2020
- For five generations, Charles Massy's family rode on the sheep’s back and nearly destroyed their land in the process.
When drought in the 80s and 90s almost sent him broke, the Cooma farmer switched to regenerative agriculture and watched his overgrazed land recover.
In his mid-50s, Charles Massy started a PhD, visiting 80 top regenerative farmers to see what they were doing differently.
That led to his ground-breaking book Call of the Reed Warbler, a plea to farmers to start working with nature.
* National Farmers' Federation's Fiona Simson says this story does not fully represent her position on regenerative agriculture, which is one of broad support.
#AustralianStory #regenfarming #regenerativefarming #CharlieMassy
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This should be the most talked about subject in australia right now
All over the world, actually.
Watch "Kiss the ground" on Netflix, it's a documentary about how the way we're farming is damaging the soil and how that affects our climate and turns our pastures into deserts. This is not only a problem in Australia, but everywhere around the world
In the world!
I'm an Aussie living in Canada and regenerative agriculture is necessary everywhere. Current farming practices are degrading the worlds soils. The sooner regenerative agriculture is the normal for farming practices the better it will be for the land, environment and the consumer.
@@wendyscott8425 try to apply nano clay technology..for massive wheat growing..and bio-mass energy use.
@@wendyscott8425 Congratulations to Charles Massy.
thats my whole goal TO LEAVE THE LAND IN A MUCH BETTER CONDITION THEN WHAT I FOUND IT IN !! these are not my original words as i borrowed them from the elders of whom i came across during my travels.. great video!!!!!!
I've read the Call of the Reed Warbler, this dude knows his stuff. I'm so fascinated by regenerative ag.
I read it recently as well and found it fascinating and inspiring. My only criticism is that when he addressed indigenous knowledge (and rightly so) there was a certain amount of cultural cringe going on. Indigenous people took tens of thousands of years to develop their land management practices and post-colonial Australians are going to find new and appropriate ways of doing so as well. Care for the land is a universal human instinct.
Great to see the movement taking off, I first learned about it from a TED talk by Allan Savory regarding desertification and thought we have the answers but lack the will to follow it through. Now in my country, we are gaining the will. Keep the farms Aussie cause foreign investors I believe would lack the foresight and the will to bring this into fruition. Well done Mr Massey, keep up your good work.
Yep, large scale and multinational Ag is basically a soil mining activity. They're not planning for generational wealth and wellbeing.
In short term yes it cost money in long term you need less chemicals
@@tophercIaus even local small farming still same outcome. I have seen this cycle twice now. Too much political subsidy goes into unhealthy land practices and when things fall apart, drought assistance, subsidies and Barnaby Joyce types corrupting greening and water conservation efforts.
I just read 'Call of the Reed Warbler'. I think it is an outstanding publication with a very important message. As a recently retired environmental scientist having completed 40 years in tertiary education, I wish this book was available at the beginning of my working life. Why? Because I would not have left the family farm in the Namoi Valley feeling disheartened and disillusioned to see a rich Popular Box / grassy woodland heading toward a thirsty laser-levelled cotton field (as it is now) inhabited by transient / itinerate workers. If I was back on the family farm with the clock turned back, and I had your book in hand, I would have made a more substantial positive contribution to saving landscapes, waterways, sustainable incomes and healthy communities than I have by a lifetime as an environmental scientist. May the time that has been lost to me be made up by those smart regenerative farmers of today and tomorrow. Thankyou Charles for your inspiration, passion, intelligence and beacon of hope.
I read it recently (Christmas gift). I am so sorry that you lost such an opportunity with the family farm. I hope your work helped others to understand the environment better and thus be prepared for the regenerative agriculture movement as it spreads.
Thank you, Mr. Charlie Massy, and profoundly appreciate ABC Australia Story. It will be a long fight and lots of patience, but I strongly believe that Australians are smart and resilient to the call of nature. It is time to re-wild our continent for many generations to come.
Even if its economically difficult to shift to Regenerative Agriculture I reckon we all need to push for it. The benefits look fantastic. So telling when that couple spraying the natural fertilizer noted how ugly it was when they were spraying chemicals, the wind shifted and the risk of inhaling them. I can only imagine the pleasure and mental relief shifting to more natural techniques.
they aren't using "natural fertilizer". This is legal speak because ABC is sponsored by companies like DuPont and Monsanto. What they are using is Aerated Compost Tea. They pump air into vats containing solid organics like worm castings and manure in order to grow a population of bacteria and fungus. This ACT is then used to inoculate the soil. The bacteria and fungus are the real story here. But ABC is trying to gloss over that simple fact for some *unknown* reason.
True, and the way we can push for it if we're not farmers is to buy the products these farms produce, effectively voting with our dollars. They're not only better for us, they taste fantastic! Pasture-raised bacon is heavenly, and I've never had a more tender and tasty rib-eye steak or filet mignon than from a cow grown entirely on grass. Where I live, we now have milk from grass-fed cows available in several different brands, including raw milk, all of them delicious! And the butter? Yum! Who knew it would make such a difference to use such regenerative methods in the taste of their products. Oh, and did I forget to mention the chicken and the eggs? Wow. :)
@Mr. Moon Right, and just because they're natural doesn't make them good for us or for the food we eat, not to mention the soil those foods are grown in. There's an entire microbiome in the soil that needs to be nurtured and protected from our chemicals if we want nutritious and delicious food. Every chemical input kills at least part of that microbiome and makes the soil lifeless.
@hudson I must say, it took me a while to find these products, and when I did, I felt like I had come across buried treasure. But now I have four stores I can rely on for all the things I want. My husband passed away 10 months ago, so I don't go to many restaurants anymore, especially with the pandemic, so it's nice to have such lovely tasty food on my table, and with just one person, it's not much more in price. I just wish I had a chance to give my husband some of it. With cancer, his appetite was non-existent for the last 3 months of his life, the time when I first discovered regenerative farming and what it can do for this planet and its people. I can hardly think of a problem it wouldn't solve, from unemployment to global warming. I can't help wondering if he might not have gotten cancer if we had known about this years ago and been able to buy this nutritious chemical-free food. And btw, we always got everything we could organic. It didn't help.
@hudson Haven't heard of this. All I know is supporting regenerative agriculture by buying their products is something I can do to help this planet and my own health, not to mention the farmers who go to the trouble of making their products available to us.
It's so important to keep documenting these experiences. Around the world, we're facing similar challenges in agriculture. If farmers in Australia can make this shift, it's possible to replicate these experiences in other parts of the world. Please keep reporting on these issues! In these times of the COVID-19 pandemic it's important to reflect on landscapes and the link between ecosystems, agriculture and human health.
Incentives drive practices. Chemical industry wants to incentivise chemical use, equipment manufacturers want to incentivise larger machinery, supermarket duopoly wants to incentivise low prices at the farm gate - we could do with an agency to step up and incentivise farming practices that mean our kids and grandkids don't end up hating us.
they will already hate us, but the only thing that matters is that farmers use what's in those giant vats at 19:01. It's called Aerated Compost Tea. It's the secret to all terrestrial life on Earth. It's like plankton is to the Ocean.
@Mr. Moon riiiiight - all those no-gooders working in the Dept Health, for example
@@ZennExile if you mean soil bacterial, microorganisms, and nutrients - fine. If you mean _specifically_ Aerated Tea - then you sound a little over-zealous.
@@williamchamberlain2263 and when say sht like this you sound a little stupid.
@Mr. Moon health services are often among the largest government agencies - beside the military - because everyone needs health care. What about government running the military? Would it be better under a feudal-style system of levies?
This is helping a beautiful country become even more beautiful. From a Yank!
Wonderful Story - well done ABC
Great story and remember the dust bowl in the worst drought in history dumping topsoil across Eastern Australia and on New Zealand. You can see why more farmers are now using regenerative farming practices as droughts increase.
Just ordered the book, we own 100ac which has been pillaged of all its nutrients over the years and now all it grows is weeds and limestone rock; I look forward to the read.
I'm more intrigued to read his book. Such a well timed post of this video. Kiss the Ground, the movie on netflix was released last week. And emphasises that climate change can be solved by changing Big Ag to apply regenerative farming. Great story. Sincerest best wishes to the Massy family and their brighter and greener farming future ❤
all you need to know is "AACT". Aerated Compost Tea is the real story here. Everything else is meaningless.
Well-timed after Kiss The Ground's release hey? Here's hoping the momentum kicks off something big.
His book is amazing, Marj.
Get after it.
It's a pity that Kiss the Ground, while an excellent flick, has a Vegan agenda with a Vegan narrator, Woody Harrelson. Although I could certainly cite worse Vegan propaganda flicks, for sure. At least this is bringing attention to regen. ag. unlike other flicks by Vegans with a hidden agenda, like The Need To Grow, with NOT ONE mention of regen. ag. just permaculture. Zero mention of animal inputs.
Check out Sacred Cow, it will be released soon. Sign up for free viewing. I saw advance copy - it clearly covers benefits of meat and grazing, it is well put together.
Atleast someone is doing farming along with nature.
A most excellent story and message. .. many thanks for your commitment..... spreading the word without BS propogander.
Am here after watching "Kiss the Ground" on netflix. So inspirational and educational for me. Gives me hope for our planet so our future generation can enjoy.
Mental health sustenance, and ideas for my little hillside patch.
As an Australian I can never understand why our ancestors pushed farmers off the best, fertile land into the desert and then built houses, roads and shops on it. And now farmers are arguing over whether to listen to this man? Insanity continues.
Thank you Mr Massey for your book. The Reed warbler. Your work plus
Alan Savoury, Gabe Brown,Christine Nichols
Elaine Ingham is outstanding. We are implementing many of the ideas here in the middle of England, but only starting our journey. The
Groundswell show at laycock farm is brilliant.
Stepping outside of box, takes courage,
God bless you pioneers
Open minded, smart agriculture minister with the courage of her convictions...I never thought I'd ever respect any politician
What does it take to wake up politicians? Shaking up side down? Let madame Minister write a law against RoundUp too. Then there really is hope.
Wow a good news story about farming and the environment! Here's to hoping that some kind of sea change is coming🤞
Bloody loved it! Thank you for all your hard work, education and research to solve such a big problem and to share your wisdom with the community. It was so good to hear that the farmers aren't so stressed out too.
This is awesome, keep up the great work AU!
Very enjoyable video and good news for once.
I'm not a farmer, but it really makes sense. If you take care of the land, the land will take care of you.
This is the future.. Not gas...
this for agriculture, and nuclear fusion for energy.
This is the future along with natural hydroelectric and solar energy !
This is incredible! Thank you for making this. I hope more farmers do the same as for the rest if us city dwellers we can do the same but in small scale. 🙏🏼
Great clip. Every country needs successful farming industry. If that means taking a step back but have to be backed by central government. Well done to Charles and his family.
Love you Charlie and Fiona Massy and your inspiring kids (...Tanya, little Hamish), Ian and Di Haggerty and all our wonderful regenerative farmers, Dr Patrice Newell, Anthony James. ♡♡♡
Regenerative farmers have better mental health. Blessings!
Fantastic!! Well done all.
I thoroughly enjoyed this video. I hope your farm survived the dreadful fires of this past year. I love Australia and hope that your message and example spreads to those in charge of the land to regenerate it.
This is my favourite video on UA-cam
Permaculture ideas been around forever. Pity people arrive there after so much suffering.. nice story. Thanks. Way to go.
that's not the story here. The Story is those big vats at 19:01 making Aerated Compost Tea. It's the same secret the ancient people of the Amazon used to cultivate the black soil that the Amazon itself was cultivated with following the Clovis Event that killed off all the North and South American mega fauna around 12,700 years ago.
@Riki Rikin kanayin thats an unfair and cynical statement . Permaculture is all about 2 ethics, Earth care and people care. Originators Bill Mollison and David Holmgren were always on the search for ways which didn't require fossil fuel. They certainly were not credit stealers .
@Riki Rikin kanayin man thanks for that someone needed to say it
@@beewinfield okay so what culture did they credit Lakota national um the Hindus amazonians.
Just amazing what this farmer Charles Massey has achieved...To change practises to save farmers and their farms.And their income....Allana Mctiernan bravo you have got courage to back this....
There are always more than enough people on the internet who are proving day in and day out that they didn't pay attention in high school chemistry. ;-)
Read the book. The Call of the Reed Warbler - Charles Massy
I love the title!
Wonderful, wonderful book 🌱
Taken a few generations to learn about the American Dust Bowl of the 30's...we are now on our way to restore the land, thank goodness.
I saw Charles talk at a seminar in South Australia a couple of years ago . Very inspiring guy
Yes! Let's get these types of projects more funding and support
Precious exposure of farming methodology n honesty of experience telling
Wow, mind altering stuff here. Wonderfully informative
Thi shappened in the USA in the mid-west because farmers were doing exactly the same thing...we gotta learn from the past so our future isn’t cyclical in nature and we have to deal with this over and over again.
David marsh and the other farmers that have adopted regenerative farming are wonderful and are very good farmers, hopefully more farmer's will start to farm this way.
Well. Done Aussies👏
Great work, should be top gvt priority
"It was a major life shift that cracked their minds open" Reminds me of Gabe Brown. Three years of calamity and it forced him to seek a better way.
I liked that saying too. Thanks. I just googled Gabe Brown and will watch some of his videos. Cheers.
@@jamesduff6937 You will not be disappointed. Brown is a grand speaker.
Really enjoyed the program.
Very inspiring. It's a step in the right direction. I would have liked a little more detail about what was done in creek beds, the design of reforestation considering the flow of fire through the landscape, how the farm animals are controlled and moved so grazing is controlled, the roll of native animals as part of the landscape, design of water flow and wind flow... how quickly carbon can be built in the soil... bit more technical data along side the personal story of a great farmer....
You ask a lot to be covered in half an hour. LOL But there are books, and lots of videos on UA-cam. I've been watching UA-cam videos about regenerative agriculture for over a year now, and I still haven't watched them all.
Its nice to see this vids. I hope I can apply it here in my farm in the Philippines.
The good thing about truth is it shows and spreads, the fact his farm is flourishing will cause other farmers with deteriorating land to follow.
It's nice to see people acknowledging the laws of physics and chemistry that preempt any agenda we might have. It's not in the world psyche to see nature as first. Talk of sustainable agriculture is an oxymoron. It assumes an endless supply of repair parts to produce the enormous amounts of food. It would be endless bio-mining.
The people that the British replaced were were the finest humans to exist in Australia. They lived in ambient continuity with no deliveries necessary.
and no civilization
The book goes further. It does not propose sustainable agriculture, but regenerative agriculture which increases the fertility and health of soil systems, based on solar energy from photosynthesis and providing for increased productivity. Concerning the virtues of indigenous people, I am sure that most were perfectly decent and kind. Archeological evidence, however, shows there was a certain amount of brutal personal violence as well, particularly to women. Overall, they were probably much like every other population - a mixed bag.
I loved it! Thank you so much Charles Massy!!
Do you think reader/viewer Sustainable too? ♻️
Absolutely beautiful
This is the way
100% agree. We need to look at the land as if we were its stewards.
no, what we need to do is grow trillions of tiny little stewards and put them back to their evolutionary purpose. At 19:01 those vats are bubbling together what is know as AACT, Aerated Compost Tea. They are breeding vats for oxygen loving bacteria and fungus that serve a very specific purpose in the soil. To provide the EXACT amount of nutrients any and ALL plantlife needs to thrive.
Humans trying to be the stewards themselves is why nearly 40% of global farmland is poisoned and dying.
@@ZennExile Do you expect to sell a lot of those giant vats here on this thread?
This should be top priority for gvt, without good soil there is no food
Good on you
Wonderful show, thank you Aussie Story . I applaude Charles, the Minister for Agriculture in WA Alannah MacTiernan and the regenerative farmers featured. But surly the Farmers federation President is unfit for her job? There was only one stick in the mud on the show, and Fiona was it. Perhaps the chemicals have affected her, but she seems unable to grasp the damage done by chemical agriculture to the land, to farming families and to consumers. Wake up Fiona and LISTEN.
These people are very nice poeple and this is an interesting video.
When our land is healthy, we will be healthy ❤
Looks like the same thing that happened here in the USA the Dust Bowl during the Depression
Cooma is god forsaken land. 🥺
What Charlie has done is absolutely incredible!
This man should be teaching the WHOLE of Australia about land management
The most important story to tell
no, the real story is about those giant Vats at 19:01. Everything else is nonsense. Those vats contain Aerated Compost Tea and that is the real secret to all of this, and to literally all terrestrial life on this planet.
@@ZennExile Are you an Aerated Compost Tea vat salesman?
Peter Andrews was talking about regenerative and drought proofing farms years ago.
I live in the city but I believe the essence remains. In 2016 we had a flood that stripped the last of our remaining top soil. Combine that with 35 years of mismanagement and I returned home, from abroad, to a garden that resembled brick paving. For the past two years I have been fanatical, preaching soil rehabilitation to anyone that would listen.
Nature wants to live and thrive. This season alone I have tomato, onion, potato, sweet potato, garlic, butternut, gem squash, beets, carrots, every variety of capsicum; not to mention about a dozen herbs. I might even plant a cannabis plant one of these days!
No chemicals, fungicides or any dodgy additive. Even if I rehabilitate 20cm of soil a day I am happy. It's been blood, sweat and tears, but, the carpet of blue rock vine and lemon daylily that greeted me today made it all worthwhile.
Videos like this inspire me and reassure me I've chosen the right path. If we all take responsibility for our little patch of earth . . . just imagine . . . .
Push local politicians to get low level prisoners mobilised in the fight to regenerate land, better than leaving them in crim university.
@@daz7122 Brilliant idea. And it would give them a good education and purpose too. It would help them a lot.
good story thumbs up
Mycorestoration Services is the solution to current challenges. Totally agree Charlie Massy
I love this story. It is so encouraging without using chemicals. Thank-you Charlie!
Thank you American audience here I get your message and I'm doing my part
Hero! ...
Charlie Massy is the Allen Savory for Australia
brilliant man
America did this in the Great Plains that started with besutiful soil. Regenerative farming is the only way forward. Help farmers & ranchers make a living, not just struggle to survive!
So good
A national treasure
Knf drake, and chris trump are great teachers as well. They practice Korean natural farming, worth a look.
No relation to the president.
I would like to hear more about treating the causes, rather than treati g the symptoms.
Also what role has the application of calcium,if any has played.
Legend...
Doing what you love instead of being trapped by what you do is the better choice. I follow Joel Salatin, have 50 years worth of "Mother" here in the US and there is no way to put a price on what people like Mr. Massey and others are teaching us. It is time to think about the big picture and how it is all interconnected. The health of one is health for all.
Wow!
Soil covering can deal with part of the zetajoules of Earth energy imbalance, if farmers do their job and the other guys do theirs too. On my terrain, covering the soil with woodchips enabled me to reduce watering. I see a lot more birds too. that and terraces are important to combat aridity.
The guv needs to incentivize farmers to adopt regenerative farming. There should be no reason for farming to be comparable with mining
No, the only thing they need to do is provide training in the generation of Aerated Compost Tea (in those big vats 19:01 ) and a complete ban on all industrial fertilizers. AACT is all any farmer needs to provide any and all plant life with absolute perfect nutrition.
The tea is a very good interrum step while paddocks are regaining top soil and rebuilding the nutrient cycle. Once properly regenerated, it should not be needed because the soil biology and cover crop residue will be creating the compost and the worms in the soil will be putting it precisely where its needed without any blowing away in the wind, washing off, or causing short rooted plants (long roots have greater access to water and hold on to soils better). Its a great step on the way, and alot better than synthetics.
@@ZennExile Those big vats cost a lot of money no doubt, so that's not something a person just starting out in this may be able to afford. I'm also not a fan of spreading that stuff with those huge tractors that smash down the soil and mess with the microbiome. Again, money should be spent on stuff that makes you money, like livestock, especially at first when you don't have a lot of profits from your business yet.
@@wendyscott8425 is there something wrong with your brain?
@akbrs it's a legitimate question. It's only insulting if the answer you imagine is yes.
It starts with home and commercial business treating thier lawns with regenerative methods. And home gardeners using them in their own gardens. With out normal people doing it we can’t expect it to be commercially viable for big agriculture to try and replicate these methods to try and participate in the market of sustainable food products. It may start out more expensive but make it desirable for the corporations to become sustainable!
Everyone read his book Call of the Reed Warbler it is a inspiring wonderful insightful book.
The problem is the economic system, when you have to pay loans, you cannot reduce farm output
money is not real.... this is slavery
Lets all buy farms and start holistic grazing
Great story, 40 years ago I was taught and practised bio dynamics, everyone around me thought I was a nut case...education continues and the results prove them selves.
U.S. also had a massive dust bowl when settlers plowed up every shred of prairie grass. Then, they killed all the wolves & coyotes. Massive plague of jack rabbits resulted, who ate all the crops. Ken Burns did a documentary.
Hope you is getting rain out there Charlie
At Rescaype UK we help land mangers increase speed of their soil regenerative process. From a 5 year LEY farming process to a 12 month Rescaype process!
Biodegradable and proven, m-PAM is the quickest and best way to start and then allow the natural process to actually have production route with little interruption to ongoing productivity.
Make the whole world No Till Organic and Regenerative NOW
RA is a very good and necessary response to land degradation. Making people do things by force is not a good idea. That is a large part of the problem with the Green movement and its allies - it tends to favour totalitarian force over calm, respectful dialogue. The former creates resistance, the latter invites authentic change.
Farmers need to make a living. Selling the economic benefits of regen agriculture is the way to bring them on board.
Basic human rights is not poison on plants and animal using harmful chemicals thats is agriculture rachel carson... i inspire on this book my name is ray vincent tan i am philosophy student friend of RIED WISEMAN ISS ASTRONAUT :) AND FIRST YOUNG FILIPINO ASTRONAUT GO ON FARTHEST ON SPACE ON ASTEROIDS... I LIKE THE VIDEO IT GIVES FOR ME A MORAL OF HOPE TO MAKE LIFE ON PLANTS BY PLANTING...
❤
Whoa whao philosophy? I never read biography of philosophy it amaze its true but I goosebump! Ohw... the ancient philosopher... i read it on Aristole plato and socrates about plants they say on idea.
there lies the futur of humanity
It's a best Idea to regenerative farm:-)
How can I contact to Charles messy.
Type his name into google.
Corporate farming and retail of food pushes farmers to overwork and destroy land as shareholders demand higher growth and return on their investment, farmers get paid less to produce more. Once the land and profit disappears, shareholders move on to something else leaving behind a wasteland and broken farms.
I have personally seen Bill Mollison grow his own winter veg supply on a slab of concrete with only a bail of hay. Don't tell me aren't better ways to produce food in this country and the world for that matter.
all Bill did was use Aerated Compost Tea ( 19:01 that's what is in these giant vats ). That tea, and the bacteria and fungus within it, provide a complete nutrient source for ALL plantlife.
@@ZennExile Bill dealt with whole systems because they are all connected. First water supply, then work outward, including in every "problem" as a part of the system (intergrate/solve). If we changed our perception of how we think about food production, we would eliminate starvation over night.
@@courseinmiraclesURTEXT The problem isn't production. It's value. If you grow enough for everyone, it lowers the value of the produce. And if you go and do something insane like... grow to abundance, well then food becomes a utility and agriculture companies would no longer be able to make a profit.
But yeah, everything you think Bill did was based on an around the deployment of aerated compost tea and the development of what is know as the Rhizosphere. Absolutely NOTHING ELSE is important to the equation. It's like asking you how many pineapples you have left after you add 5 oranges and a basket of cherries.
@@ZennExile Dear Zenn, Im all for compost tea but you are being so fanatical about it, I think it might be putting some people off looking into it.
@@beewinfield so I should adjust my approach to fit your imagination? And every other potential reader's imagination? So that I avoid making stupid people feel threatened by new information... Otherwise facts and reality might hurt their feelings...
Gotcha. Thanks.
overgrazing they say.. Not once mentioning tillage not once mentioning bare winter kills with herbicides. Grazing is the answer..
They only had half an hour. Can't cover everything about this in half an hour. :)