Facing Climate Dangers with Regenerative Solutions
Jane Bindley
Dear Friends,
This is a first. I am asking you if you will contribute to a film project, making a film to educate and make a change. There are 4 web sites to click on in this email to better explain the hope for reversing climate change. Please circulatethis email widely to your friends.
Here is the story.
For many years, I have been a member of the Northeast Organic Farmers Association (NOFA), attending their workshops, reading their literature and supporting them financially. Recently, I have volunteered to work on their new campaign on Soil, Carbon and Climate Change.
In February 2014 at NOFA ‘s 3 day Winter Workshop led by Australian Graeme Sait. His topic was "Soil and Nutrition", with more than 200 participants in attendance. Graeme Sait is an international educator and lecturer on human health, soil health and planetary health. On the first night at the end of a long day of lectures, he gave a one hour lecture, "Humus Saves the World". The title translates to “we can reverse the CO2 in the atmosphere when we create soil that sequesters carbon dioxide”. It ignited the NOFA participants.
Please click on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Q1VnwcpW7E
This year, measurements of atmospheric CO2 at Mauna Loa registered at over 400ppm. As many of us are aware, a maximum level of 350ppm (some say as low as 290ppm) has been targeted for the climate to be suitable for life as we know it. Even as we dramatically curb our emissions, we still need to store the excess (legacy) 50-100ppm somewhere.
Here is the good news.
If an increase in 1% of the organic matter of soil in an acre will sequester 18.35 tonnes of CO2, then 14 billion acres (the World Bank says that is he world’s agriculture land) could sequester 256.9 billion tonnes. This is more than three-quarters of the CO2 that we need to sequester to get back to 350ppm, the level of sustainability--all for increasing soil organic matter by one percent ! (And, we continue to shift to green energy , electric cars etc, and continue to work on easing out of fossil fuels.)
Since the February Workshop, NOFA has been working on the education of soil carbon sequestration. This Summer's edition of the Natural Farmer has a Special Supplement on BUILDING SOIL CARBON.
This August the Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA) 40th Summer Conference explores how organic farming can help address the climate crisis. The Conference will feature an eight lectures “Soil Carbon and Climate” workshop track, detailing farming methods for vegetables, fruits, nuts, forage, and feed that provide a resilient food source while returning carbon molecules from the atmosphere to the soil. Come to the Summer Conference or after the Conference listen to the audio tapes of the workshops.
http://www.nofasummerconference.org/pdfs/Soil_Carbon_and_Climate%20_Track_2014.pdf
A recent widely publicized report authored by the group Risky Business, including former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, predicts that in the 21st century, absent agricultural adaptation, extreme heat brought on by global climate disruption will reduce crop yields in some states by 50% to 70%.
Soil and Climate Track presenters point out that agriculture not only faces massive risks due to climate change, but also, that when soils are managed properly, agriculture can help reduce atmospheric carbon concentrations and thereby mitigate climate disruption.
NOFA has invited Dr. Christine Jones, an Australian soil biologist to come to Massachusetts to give two workshops September 1 &2. The first workshop will be held in Newton, at the Newton Community Farm. The second workshop will be in Amherst on Sept 2. Dr.Jones is know worldwide for her research (see her website www.amazingcarbon.com) leadership in education on soil and carbon sequestration.
The YOUTUBE has 5 8minute segments of a lecture. Listen to the first segment, or all 5.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RczYQoVscyI
Last month, a friend who works for a large non-profit told me of a documentary film company she had engaged with a great outcome of a film they produced. The company, Timber and Frame, is only for non-profit organizations. I looked at their website, liked it, and called Ben Serverance, the owner. He was enthusiastic to work with NOFA on their Soil Carbon and Climate Campaign to create a short film
The opportunity to have a film on carbon soil sequestration would allow a wider audience to learn and to act on the information from these workshops. It would be distributed to Climate Groups and their membership as well as the agriculture community.
There are 4 short examples of Timber and Frame films on their website. Please take a look at them to see a sample of their work.
They have given us a proposal for a film. $10,000.
A contribution to NOFA/Mass for this film project would be gratefully received.Stock contributions are accepted, NOFA/Mass is a 501©3 non-profit organization.
Contributions can be sent to NOFA/Mass, 411 Sheldon Road, Barre, MA 01005: subject line – climate change documentary.
Please let me know if you would like more information or have ideas on this educational endeavor.
It is hopeful.
Sincerely, Jane Bindley