Nurturing Soil, Health and Planet: Lessons from Tom Cotter’s Food Health Day
On September 6, Scott, Tony and I (Valerie) from Grass Fed Cattle Co. joined regenerative agriculture enthusiasts at Tom Cotter’s Food Health Day near Austin, Minnesota, to explore how our food choices can heal both the earth and our bodies. Hosted by Tom Cotter and featuring soil microbiologist Dr. Kris Nichols, the event posed a critical question: “Are we doing a good job farming the earth?” The answer lies in consumer choices that determine the practices farmers use and the vital role of soil health in producing nutrient dense food, including grass finished beef. Here are the key takeaways from the event to help you care for the planet and your health while supporting regenerative farming.
Your Yard: A Powerful Tool for Regeneration
Did you know that residential yards are the third largest land use in the U.S., after corn and soybeans? That’s a massive opportunity to make a difference! Tom urged all of us to apply the five soil health principles—minimizing soil disturbance, maximizing plant diversity, keeping living roots, maintaining soil cover and integrating animal impact—to our yards. Start small by planting a pollinator garden with native wildflowers to support bees and butterflies, skip chemical sprays to protect the 1,200 beneficial bugs for every “bad” one and use bat houses for natural mosquito control instead of spraying. “To me, regenerative means using no till and organic practices,” Tom said, emphasizing that paying attention to nature in your backyard can mirror the regenerative practices our farmers at Grass Fed Cattle Co. use.
Soil Health is the Foundation of Nutrient Dense Beef
“Diversity is the key to great grass fed beef!” Tom declared, and Dr. Nichols explained that cattle crave diverse plants, guided by their rumen microbiome to seek out specific species to graze. When cattle graze regeneratively, they tug at the plants with their tongues to shred the leaves of the plant. This pulls at the root hairs, feeding the soil microbiology, unlike equipment that merely chops the plants. This “shredding” stimulates growth and builds fertile soil. During the field day, Tom shared about grazing the ditches along the road as we road the bus touring his farm. The areas the livestock grazed were lush and green but the ungrazed areas had dry, dead grasses from the previous year. Tom explained that this spring when it was dry these areas could have easily caught on fire. At Grass Fed Cattle Co., our farmers use cattle as a tool to manage and graze diverse pastures, regenerating the soil while producing nutrient dense beef. Dr. Nichols noted, “Your soil microbiology is your gut microbiology,” linking soil health to human health through the food we eat.
Eat Real, Demand Better
Tom shared a chilling example: an ice cream sandwich left on his counter for three months didn’t mold or melt, highlighting the unnatural state of many processed foods. To nourish your body and the planet, choose whole, real foods. “I like when you, the consumer, demand better because it makes me better,” Tom said, encouraging consumers to support regenerative farmers. Use apps like Yuka to choose clean ingredients and support brands like Seven Sundays, who were at the event giving away samples and spoke about their partnership with Tom. Seven Sundays purchases Tom’s regeneratively grown sunflowers for their cereals. “Our goal is to restore connection all the way down to the soil and it starts here with a food brand and a farm and goes all the way to the consumer at the grocery store." Partnerships like these are a win-win for farmers and consumers. We also recommend using the app Seed Oil Scout to find local restaurants that use natural fats and organic produce.
Meet Your New Boss
Dr. Nichols called a seed “the best technology,” capable of lying dormant for 20 years before germinating, a reminder of nature’s resilience. Tom and Dr. Nichols both frequently used the phrase “meet your new boss” during their presentations, showing a photo of a mother and children shopping at a grocery store. The “new boss” is you! As consumers, we each have the choice of who we purchase our food from. We can choose to purchase food from farmers who use regenerative practices and manage land responsibly. When consumers demand better practices, farmers like Tom and our other farmers at Grass Fed Cattle Co. rise to the occasion! By supporting Grass Fed Cattle Co. and brands like Seven Sundays, you drive a cultural shift towards true sustainability. Visit www.grassfedcattleco.com to explore our nutrient dense beef, try our recipe ideas and join the movement to regenerate the earth, one choice at a time!