Mad Agriculture

"Something remarkable happens when a brand steps onto a farm from which they are sourcing." Facts. That bit of truth is from Elizabeth Candelario, Chief Strategy Officer at Mad Agriculture. As I've immersed myself in regenerative agriculture over the last couple years, Mad Ag's cutting edge work is a recurring theme. I was recently reminded that Mad Ag's Regenerative Impact Program is the reason that my favorite breakfast brand -- Purely Elizabeth -- has been able to accelerate its commitment to regenerative agriculture. And, in fact, that quote up top, it's talking about another Elizabeth -- Elizabeth Stein, founder and CEO. As this story shares, she visited Jody Manuel and Crystal Manuel at Prairie Grass Ranch, a Regenerative Organic Certified® (ROC™) fifth-generation farm in northern Montana. Elizabeth shared that "the Manuels’ mission “exactly aligns with our core values and vision. Knowing that the health and diversity of our soil directly impacts the nutritional value of our foods, and in turn our gut and overall health, we could not be more excited to embark on this journey with Jody and Crystal.” Read the full version here: https://lnkd.in/gkcKTXUT Big kudos to Mad Agriculture for their on-going pilot program that made these connections happen. Author Elizabeth Candelario said it best: "the true potential for regeneration lies within each one of us and in our relationship to each other. To realize the change we seek, we need to connect. We need to see and experience our shared values and vision. We need to learn about the challenges and obstacles the other faces and problem-solve together in a way that is equitable to both. And then we need to get to work. Together." Photo via ReGen Brands and Purely Elizabeth. #regenerativeagriculture #regen #farming #ecosystem #food

Join Director of Stewardship, Clark Harshbarger, at the ASCFG South & Central Regional Conference! Mad Agriculture is thrilled to be presenting at this event, which will be filled with vibrant discussions and innovative ideas. Register today! https://lnkd.in/gQ5S3dq6 #flowerfarmer #cutflowergrower #grownnotflown #locallygrown #slowflowers #specialtycutflowers #flowerfarming #ascfg #regionalconferences2024 #education

CheFarmer Matthew Raiford is a farmer and chef, who looks at his farm through the lens of legacy. Matthew is a sixth-generation farmer working the land on Gilliard Farms - land that has been in his family since 1874. He is a former James Beard Award Best Chef semifinalist and former executive chef at the House of Representatives. Matthew’s wife, Tia Raiford, is a chef and slow-food champion, and together they look at their farm as an opportunity to grow their vision for the land and farm business. This dream includes a cultural farm-stay and wellness lifestyle. They want to incorporate bringing people to the land to educate folks as to what the Raifords are doing, and why. They are chefs and farmers, and want to show what happens on the farm to help spur a cultural transformation for others. Matthew stewards the land with his sister, Althea. Their grandparents and great-grandparents grew up on the land, thinking about how to put in the work to leave something behind, and to let something grow. Now, Matthew and Althea use the same approach to steward their land. What can they do now that's going to leave better land for those that come after them? Together with Tia, they curate meals and food that combines sustainable aquaculture from their coastal land in Georgia and products grown on their farm, all while celebrating Gullah Geechee recipes - part of their family’s heritage. "Because of All the Things" - a short collection of photos and conversation from a day at their farm - presents a small insight into the Raifords and their farm in Georgia. Check out our Media team's latest film below! https://lnkd.in/evHJkEQZ

This summer, Cat Morgan, Clara Gambrel, Ruby Zolot, and I are working in collaboration with Mad Agriculture for our capstone project as a part of our CU Boulder Masters of the Environment (MENV) Graduate Program.  Our team is working with a Boulder County landowner to convert an old golf course into a regenerative farm learning space by developing an educational program and land use plan. The program and land use plan will aim to help alleviate barriers faced by farmers and integrate regenerative practices. We have completed our research stage by interviewing farmer incubator program professionals along with local farmers, and are moving on to the program development stage. In June, our team helped plan and host an event at the farm to mark the beginning of Haystack Farms and the summer solstice. The event welcomed local farmers, disc golf players, and community members to the land for a fun evening of music, food, and yard games to fundraise for the future program. We look forward to continuing our project at Haystack Farms and partnering with Mad Agriculture throughout the rest of the year!

Join us for Grazing this an Art Form: Mad Agriculture Journal Issue 11 Launch party this Thursday, July 11 at Corrida Boulder! We are so excited to celebrate the release of our latest Journal drop by diving into the topics of grazing, beef, and grassland regeneration in our hometown of Boulder, Colorado. This collaborative event features the dynamic landscape of Boulder County as the backdrop for a conversation focused on the power of beef to regenerate the landscape while fostering robust supply chain integrity in the interdependent relationships between ranchers, restaurants, and their community. These are the concepts explored through the Mad! Agriculture Journal stories featuring restaurateur, Bryan Dayton, and rancher, Andy Breiter. At this event we meet the leaders who are building a model for cattle as an ecological solution and explore their vision for the future of beef production in Boulder County. Voices featured in the reception panel include: 🐄 Jonnah Mellenthin Perkins, facilitator: Director of Media, Mad! Agriculture, Editor-in-Chief, Mad Agriculture Journal 🐄 Bryan Dayton: Founder and Owner, Corrida Boulder, CCC Beef 🐄 Andy Breiter: Owner/Rancher, Grama Grass and Livestock 🐄 Robbie Vitrano: Board Chair, Mad! Agriculture & Partner, Ecority 🐄 Bobby Gill: Director of Marketing and Communications, Savory Institute Space is limited! RSVP here https://lnkd.in/gCv_bAzD

I'm thrilled to share news of Drylands Agroecology Research's inaugural collaboration with Mad Agriculture, which embodies our commitment to scaling the regeneration of landscapes for life on Earth. Through our partnership, we joined forces with Salvador Gonzalez, a visionary first-generation steward of the land, to nurture his dream of cultivating an orchard oasis amidst the arid landscape of his 40-acre plot near Deer Tree, CO. Together, we implemented an ambitious plan, installing over 5,000 linear feet of earthworks to harness the power of rainwater. Building upon this foundation, we planted more than 340 fruit and nitrogen-fixing trees, defying conventional wisdom that deems such endeavors impossible in this challenging terrain. Through the application of regenerative land management techniques, we've proven that anything is possible. These agroforestry rows also develop a simple pattern for rotational or planned holistic grazing that is based on maximizing water resources. We are looking forward to seeing how animal impact continues to improve this landscape. We extend heartfelt gratitude to Mad Agriculture and Clark Harshbarger for their pivotal roles in facilitating this collaboration. Their dedication to supporting land stewards across Colorado and vision have been instrumental in bringing our collective efforts to fruition. As we reflect on this milestone achievement, we're eager to embark on the next phase of our journey. However, securing the necessary funding remains essential to realize our shared goal of planting thousands more trees. With your continued support, we're confident that together, we can make this vision a reality. This project was funded by a collaboration between Mad Agriculture and Zero Foodprint! Special thanks to Anthony Myint for developing such a trailblazing and impactful funding model for land restoration at scale in Colorado and beyond. Thank you for being part of our community and for your unwavering commitment to fostering positive change.

"Our Beliefs and Stories Create our Reality" I had a great time sharing in a panel discussion with Michael Thiele of Apis Arborea, Philip Taylor, from Mad Agriculture, and author/teacher Ramona Ausubel, moderated by Elizabeth Candelario (Mad Ag). Michael traveled from California to share his wisdom and experience in-relationship with "apeans". We dialogued around the stewardship of novel ecosystems, nativism, and honeybee's roles in a resilient ecosystem. It may be time to reconsider our preconceived notions about what it means to farm, produce food, and relate with landscapes.

I had the pleasure of attending two events about honeybee wilding with Michael Thiele in Boulder, CO last weekend! The events, hosted by Mad Agriculture and run by Elizabeth Candelario, were very thought provoking about how we traditionally think of "bee keeping". I was so impressed by the Boulder community. It truly lives and breathes regenerative agriculture. In one weekend, I attended a pot-luck community dinner where we discussed a systems-based approach to natural life (ie: bees, plants, other animals), shopped at an incredible farmers market with several regenerative vendors, and participated in a hands on workshop where we created a hospital environment for honeybees to thrive using a hollowed out tree from California. I also learned about local non-profit organizations such a Drylands Agroecology Research, Naturally Boulder, and Regenerative Rising that are using research, community, education, and connection to further the reach of a regenerative agricultural model. So inspiring to see the practices I learned about in school be put into action!

Ross Bishop farms over 600 acres of corn, soybeans and wheat in Jackson. He was an early adopter of sustainable farming practices so when he heard about kernza, a wheatgrass developed by The Land Institute in Kansas, it was a natural fit.   “I wanted to grow it because of the roots,” Bishop said.  Kernza’s roots can reach 10 feet deep, which increases soil health, improves water quality, holds the ground in place to reduce erosion and sequesters carbon. Bishop planted his five acres of kernza on a hilly field that’s more susceptible to erosion. He said the crop has kept that soil in place. Kernza is a very small, very fine grass seed with an earthy flavor that tastes similar to bran or nuts. The only perennial grain grown in Wisconsin right now, it’s produced on a small scale for a niche market of bakers and brewers. When consumers find kernza in a cookie or a beer, many don’t know what to make of it. Two Wisconsin environmental organizations, along with researchers, are aiming to build and grow the market for perennial grains like kernza. Clean Wisconsin and the Michael Fields Agricultural Institute are embarking on a two-year grant-funded initiative to connect farmers like Bishop to local businesses.  The Cap Times talked with two Wisconsin businesses who have been experimenting with kernza, Lakefront Brewery in Milwaukee and Simple bakery in Lake Geneva, as well as Alex Heilman of Mad Agriculture and University of Wisconsin-Madison professor Valentin Picasso. Read more: https://lnkd.in/g9VrEMnV

Mad Agriculture's Elizabeth Candelario is speaking at the Inside Organic Summit on June 4 alongside Whole Foods Market's Nijia Zhou, Lil Bucks Emily Griffith and regenerative farmer Luke Peterson. Together they will discuss enhancing biodiversity on farms through value chains. Whole Foods Market and Mad Agriculture are joining forces to increase biodiversity on US farms through the installation of prairie strips. Prairie strips are native perennial plantings of prairie grasses and wildflowers that are strategically integrated into row crop fields. This innovative partnership unites Whole Foods Market’s commitment to environmental stewardship with Mad Agriculture’s expertise in ecological regeneration. Listen in on the conversation to learn how this collective work addresses a retailer’s goal of investing in climate smart projects while supporting farmers, and provides heartwarming storytelling opportunities that can help elevate the organic conversation by educating and inspiring consumers. https://lnkd.in/greDszbH New Hope Network Food & Beverage Insider Natural Products Insider