“Dirt to Soil” is a compelling environmental book by world-renowned regenerative agricultural farmer Gabe Brown. It is timely, insightful, and relevant.
Michael Phelps, the world’s most decorated swimmer, once said: “If you want to be the best, you have to do things that other people aren’t willing to do.” This quote sums up Gabe Brown.
A bestselling author, Gabe’s book still sits at No. 3 on Amazon’s Agricultural and Food Sciences section, as well as No. 6 in its Environmental Conservation section.
Gabe Brown was featured in the hit Netflix documentary “Kiss the Ground,” which went viral (especially during its initial release during the COVID-19 pandemic). He is a true trailblazer of the soil health movement in America.
Brown started working with his father-in-law on their family farm in North Dakota. When a series of weather-related crop disasters put Brown and his wife, Shelly, in a desperate financial crisis, they started making bold changes to their farm.
In order to simply survive, Brown began experimenting with new practices he had learned about from reading and talking with other innovative researchers and ranchers.
Switching to regenerative agriculture
As Brown and his family struggled to keep the farm viable, they found themselves on an intriguing journey into a new type of farming: regenerative agriculture. Brown dropped the use of most of the herbicides, insecticides, and synthetic fertilizers that are a standard part of conventional agriculture.
Brown switched over to no-till planting, started planting diverse cover crops mixes, and changed his grazing practices. In doing so, Brown transformed a degraded farm ecosystem into a vibrant one. He started with the soil and working his way up, one plant and one animal at a time.
In “Dirt to Soil,” Brown tells the story of that profound journey and offers a wealth of innovative solutions to our most pressing and complex contemporary agricultural challenge, which is to restore the soil. The Brown’s Ranch model, developed over 20 years of experimentation and refinement, focuses on regenerating resources by continuously enhancing the living biology in the soil.
Using regenerative agricultural principles, Brown’s 5,000-acre ranch has grown several inches of new topsoil in only two decades. In the industrial agricultural model, all thoughts are focused on killing things; however, Brown noted that mind-set was also killing diversity, soil, and profit.
Presently, Brown channels his creative thinking toward how he can get more life on the land with additional plants, animals, and beneficial insects.
Without giving too much away, Brown’s book underscores that the biggest roadblock to solving a problem is indeed “the human mind.” “The key is how we think,” Brown acknowledged.
Gabe Brown is also spotlighted in the latest environmental documentary “Common Ground,” directed by Josh and Rebecca Tickell, which had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York on June 8, 2023.
The Verdict
Overall, “Dirt to Soil” is extremely practical, informative, and filled with positivity. This is an important book that all members of Congress should read, especially since it sheds light on important farming issues in our country that need to be addressed on both a state and a federal level.
This book deserves to be enjoyed for its honesty, beauty, and simplicity. It can easily be read in just a few sittings and it serves as a useful blueprint for a healthy agricultural ecosystem, in an effort to promote and foster biodiversity.
Gabe Brown, his life story and his mission to change our country for the better, is an inspiration to us all. He is a true force of nature with an indomitable spirit. This captivating book is highly recommended for all, and it garners an A rating.
“Dirt to Soil” by Gabe Brown is available on Amazon by clicking here.
