Tools & Resources

Regenerative Agriculture:

• What is Regenerative Agriculture "Regenerative agriculture focuses on improving the health of soil, which has been degraded by the use of heavy machinery, fertilizers and pesticides in intensive farming."
• Regenerative Agriculture 101 "As a philosophy and approach to land management, regenerative agriculture asks us to think about how all aspects of agriculture are connected through a web—a network of entities who grow, enhance, exchange, distribute, and consume goods and services—instead of a linear supply chain."
• Beginner's Guide to Sustainable Farming "Industrialized farming has been a reliable way to produce lots of food at a relatively low cost. But it’s not the bargain it was once believed to be. Unsustainable agriculture can pollute water, air and soil; is a source of greenhouse gases, and destroys wildlife"
• Regenerative Agriculture's Role in Combating Climate Change "A growing consensus is emerging among soil scientists that regenerative agriculture – agricultural practices that remove carbon from the atmosphere and put it back in the soil – could deliver a huge win for the climate."

Community Supported Agriculture:

• CSAs: Fresh Food for Communities and the Environment "The term CSA, short for community supported agriculture, originated in Japan during the 1970s. Japanese philosopher Teruo Ichiraku started warning local communities that large scale farms were using dangerous pesticides. Around the same time, a local farmer named Yoshinori Kaneko experienced an abundant season of produce that led him to realize that his farm could feed more than just his family."
• Can We Save the Planet with Regenerative Agriculture? "The way in which food is grown impacts human health, ecosystems, climates, economies, and access to nutrition. The current industrial agriculture model, specifically, is not healthy or sustainable, biologists, healthcare experts, and economists agree. Community Supported Agriculture may offer a remedy, and it starts with supporting your local farmer."
• 21 Reasons You Should Join a CSA "If you’re a part of a CSA, say goodbye to wilted greens and tasteless tomatoes. Your produce will be harvested when it’s ripe and, in most cases, find its way into your kitchen within a day of being picked. This means better flavor and more nutrient-rich produce."

Cow Sanctuary:

• Why You Should Visit a Farm Animal Sanctuary "Visiting a farm animal sanctuary is a terrific experience for you or for the whole family. You can take a tour, or even volunteer. You will see how farm animals live with each other, and relate to humans. Personalities emerge, and bonds start to form. "Cow Cuddling Helps People Feel Hope and Connection
• Cow Cuddling Helps People Feel Hope and Connection "Cows have a higher body temperature than humans — about 101 degrees Fahrenheit — and their heart rate is slower, both qualities that help people relax."
• Slaughter to Sanctuary: A Cattle Rancher's Change of Heart "Mike Lanigan, a third generation cattle farmer, turned his life upside down in 2016 when he halted the production and selling of beef on his farm and decided to befriend his cattle instead."

Ahimsa (Non-Violence):

• Fostering Ethical Dairy Business Growth via Bhakti Yoga Principles "This pioneering initiative empowers farmers, prioritizes ethical animal care, redefines sustainability, and offers consumers pure organic products spanning dairy to agriculture."
• What is Ahimsa? What sets our dairy apart from the rest is our commitment to ahimsa. Ahimsa, which means non-violence and compassion, is at the heart of everything we do here. In fact, we are proud to be the first USDA certified slaughter-free dairy farm! That means our cows live out their natural lives on the farm, free from harm or future selling. This is a key example of our commitment to responsible and ethical practices.
• All You Need to Know to Learn the Art of Non-Violence "Practicing ahimsa (non-violence) helps us create a positive, peaceful, and harmonious world for ourselves and others."

Environmental Stewardship:

• 7 Ways to Be a Better Environmental Steward in your Community "The best thing you can do for the environment (and your wallet) is to make a one-time investment in a reusable water bottle, or filtered water pitcher, to let you drink clean water from a local tap."
• Doctors Advocate for Sustainable Living, Environmental Stewardship "According to recent statistics, the Earth's natural systems are under immense strain, with climate change alone contributing to a rise in communicable and non-communicable diseases... besides treating illnesses, they are advocates for sustainable living and environmental stewardship."

Climate Smart Practices:

• Climate-Smart Mitigation Activities "Conservation crop rotation is growing crops in a planned sequence on the same field over time. Producers who rotate crops may increase carbon sequestration while delivering the co-benefits of building soil health, reducing plant pest pressures, providing feed or forage for livestock and improving water quality."
• Climate-Smart Agriculture and Forestry Resources "As farmers and ranchers confront the challenges of natural disasters and changing weather patterns, climate-smart agriculture is becoming an important way to build resilience in operations in ways that benefit both producers and the environment."
• The Role of Climate-Smart Agriculture in Climate Adaptation and Mitigation in the Northeast Climate-Smart Agriculture is guided by three main goals:

1. 1. 1. Increased productivity (sustainably intensifying agriculture)
      2. Enhanced resilience (adapting to climate change)
      3. Reduced emissions (mitigating greenhouse gas emissions)

Meditation, Mindfulness & Mental Health:

• How To Practice Mindfulness Meditation - Mindful "Mindfulness is the basic human ability to be fully present, aware of where we are and what we’re doing, and not overly reactive or overwhelmed by what’s going on around us."
• Mindfulness Meditation: Definition, Benefits, and How to Practice "Mindfulness meditation is a mental training practice that teaches you to slow down racing thoughts, let go of negativity, and calm both your mind and body."
• How Plant Care Cultivates Mindfulness and Boosts Mental Health "As you water your plants and tend to their needs, you engage all your senses and become attuned to the rhythms of nature. The act of care becomes a meditation in motion, allowing you to let go of worries and distractions and immerse yourself in the present moment."

Green Care:

• Green Care Coalition "Green Care can provide benefits for individuals and for our public services, economy, society and climate."
• Green Care: A Review of the Benefits and Potential of Animal-Assisted Care Farming Globally and in Rural America "Green Care could prove to be an effective approach to providing mental health care in the U.S., particularly in rural areas that are typically underserved by more traditional mental health facilities, but have an abundance of farms, livestock, and green spaces where care might be effectively provided."
• Does a Natural Environment Enhance the Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction? "This study supports the potential value of natural environments as settings for the enhancement of health care delivery and therapeutic interventions."

Plant-Based Diet:

• Eating a Plant-based Diet Can Lower your Risk of Cancer & Heart Disease "A new scientific literature review has found that vegetarian and vegan diets help improve cardiometabolic risk factors, such as elevated lipids, blood sugar, body weight, BMI, and inflammation."
• Vegetarian & Vegan Diets Linked to Lower Risk of Heart Disease, Cancer, & Death “This research shows, in general, that a plant-based diet can be beneficial, and taking small steps in that direction can make a difference.”