PILLAR ONE: Know Your Context If we do not first take time to define the full context surrounding our land as we farm, we are making a core mistake, and we will not have the knowledge needed to make sound decisions. The same is true of our organizations and our restaurants. If we don't take the time to understand our audience, success becomes more difficult. PILLAR TWO: Minimize Disturbance By reducing unnecessary disruptions, we can foster healthier ecosystems, create more harmonious cooking environments, and cultivate a balanced lifestyle. How can minimize disturbances help cultivate a more sustainable and fulfilling way of life, from the soil to the plate and beyond. PILLAR THREE: Keep the Soil Covered (Armored) Keeping the soil covered with growing plants provides a type of armor on the soil, preventing erosion and excessive heat and cold. How do we protect our teams, our communities, our minds and bodies, or our restaurants in ways that prevent erosion and protect from the elements? PILLAR FOUR: Maximize (Bio)diversity
Maximizing diversity is essential for soil health, but maximizing diversity of thought, perspectives, people, and experiences provides similar strengthening advantages to our communities. How do we maximize diversity in our lives, in our workplaces, and in our societies? PILLAR FIVE: Keep a Living Root Just as living roots are essential for healthy soils and plants, these connections are vital for nourishing our own personal growth, resilience, and overall well-being. How do we build and restore these kinds of connections and maintain our purpose for the work that we do? PILLAR SIX: Integrate Livestock Incorporating livestock into regenerative agriculture practices helps create a more holistic and sustainable system. Raising animals increases the biological activity of the soil, making the model mutually beneficial for the land and the livestock. Just as this integration fosters better agricultural systems, recognizing and nurturing the interconnectedness of different elements in life leads to more balanced and fulfilling outcomes. What are the ways in which we can nurture these connections to foster harmony, resilience, and sustainability in our world? Our goal is to explore where our food comes from, how it is grown, and how tending the land the right way improves the health of the soil, the food we consume, and the planet. We are looking for insights from those who are embracing the farm-to-table concept and the benefits and challenges of achieving a sustainable future for the food industry.