Soil, Farming, Eating, Thriving

“It matters what we eat now more than ever — we will determine the health of future generations.” Those are powerful words, don’t you think? I heard them in conversation with Bethany-Lynn Rodriguez, one of the two Nutritional Therapists we had speak at a recent Dishing Up The Dirt.

Her point was, as humans we have a relationship with farms whether we like it or not. Our human microbiome includes connection with the soil that supports the plants we eat. Without the soil, and everything that makes it a living system, we would starve. How we treat soil is an indication of how we connect with all that makes us human. Thus, knowing how important soil health is for our own health can drive practices that will support us as well as those who come after us.

How we farm is important.

The Organic Farm School has held tightly to a purpose of training new farmers for fifteen years, resisting the temptation of “mission creep” because of concern about overly stressing our organizational resources. So why are we now talking about Nutritional Therapy?

Because it is fundamentally the “why” of our work. In this country, we need a new generation of farmers who understand the interdependence of growing food with the health of those eating the food and the planet that allows for the growing of the food.

If we are not concerned about the health of our soil and the food that grows as a result…if we are not concerned with the health of the community that eats the food we grow…well, why would we work so hard to keep going? Farming is a challenge. Training new farmers is an exceptional challenge. And, both are fundamental to our human future.

So, what exactly is Nutritional Therapy? To be honest, you should talk with Bethany directly, or with Jenny Goff, or with both of them! But for purposes of this post, Nutritional Therapy is about recognizing that eating is an act of creation…creation of our human bodies. What we eat, how we eat, these things have power to help us navigate chronic diseases, hormonal issues, general immune system vigor, and more. Our human bodies have co-evolved with the food that is available to us, so learning how to listen to our innate wisdom can position us to be more balanced, vibrant, and grounded. More clearly, Bethany says, "Nutritional Therapy is connected to farming because if we grow nutrient deficient food then we grow nutrient deficient bodies. Our relationship with farming must deepen if we are to see our way out of the chronic disease crisis.”

Over time, we have become disconnected from the source of our nutritional needs. We have turned to pill bottles, surgeries, and unfortunately to an acceptance of ill health.

But we can change this. 

Any of you who have gone on a Farm Tour with me have heard me say that “farming is an honorable profession.” Let’s take that a little deeper and say that “eating is a radical act of health care,” and see where it goes.

To learn more about Nutritional Therapy and how to connect with Bethany, visit her landing page HERE or email her HERE. And stay tuned for more info from Jenny Goff, about her thoughts on Nutritional Therapy!