200 pages
6 x 9
6 illustrations
A powerful movement is happening in farming today—farmers are reconnecting with their roots to fight climate change. For one woman, that’s meant learning her tribe’s history to help bring back the buffalo. For another, it’s meant preserving forest purchased by her great-great-uncle, among the first wave of African Americans to buy land. Others are rejecting monoculture to grow corn, beans, and squash the way farmers in Mexico have done for centuries. Still others are rotating crops for the native cuisines of those who fled the “American wars” in Southeast Asia.
In Healing Grounds, Liz Carlisle tells the stories of Indigenous, Black, Latinx, and Asian American farmers who are reviving their ancestors’ methods of growing food—techniques long suppressed by the industrial food system. These farmers are restoring native prairies, nurturing beneficial fungi, and enriching soil health. While feeding their communities and revitalizing cultural ties to land, they are steadily stitching ecosystems back together and repairing the natural carbon cycle. This, Carlisle shows, is the true regenerative agriculture – not merely a set of technical tricks for storing CO2 in the ground, but a holistic approach that values diversity in both plants and people.
Cultivating this kind of regenerative farming will require reckoning with our nation’s agricultural history—a history marked by discrimination and displacement. And it will ultimately require dismantling power structures that have blocked many farmers of color from owning land or building wealth.
The task is great, but so is its promise. By coming together to restore these farmlands, we can not only heal our planet, we can heal our communities and ourselves.
"Climate change is perceived to be a threat that emanates from the sky above, through holes in the ozone, or via century-defining storms... A professor of environmental studies specializing in food and farming, Carlisle illustrates the confluence between agriculture and climate change as she shares the personal stories of Indigenous, Black, Latino, Asian, and other immigrant populations committed to the practice of regenerative farming...[she] offers restorative hope and practical help for this existential crisis."
Booklist
"Carlisle’s Healing Grounds is worthy of your time and attention... Her work seeks to revive the spirit of POC farmers wounded on a bloodied battleground. To plead with non-POC RA [regenerative agriculture] leaders to stop and think about their role in US agricultural history and to curb their current cooption. To urge for rapid political support. We RA advocates must listen to POC farmers’ stories of resistance and respect the sacredness of their healing grounds."
Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems
"While agriculture is central to the narrative, what is fascinating about Healing Grounds is the vignettes on social justice that show how difficult it has been for peoples to maintain their way of raising food in the face of more dominant European input-intensive systems. This book will interest those who wish to better understand the diversity of agricultural practices and their basis within the cultures of the world, and the links between social justice and the way our food is grown."
Biologist
"Healing Grounds makes a timely and critical intervention, particularly given regenerative agriculture’s recent rise in popularity and concerns about its dilution and greenwashing. Carlisle charts a clear, challenging, yet hopeful path forward for regenerative agriculture and food systems justice, one that requires deep systemic change, racial justice, and BIPOC leadership."
Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development
"Carlisle's nontechnical writing style makes the book accessible to the general public as well as undergraduate university and college students. The book will interest all students engaging with the qualitative and social science components of environmental studies, including those focusing on environmental sciences, anthropology, sociology, or geography. The simplicity of each case study narrative makes this an especially appropriate text for undergraduate and community readerships."
Choice
"In Healing Grounds, Liz Carlisle makes the compelling case that soil can save us from climate catastrophe, but only if the global Indigenous communities who originated soil stewardship practices lead the way. In a tone that is both authoritative and humble, Carlisle convinces the reader that the same extractive forces that wrest carbon from the soil, also yank earth stewards from the land. Further, there can be no ecosystemic redemption without addressing colonialism. Healing Grounds is a refreshingly truthful account of real roots of climate chaos and the authentic path to healing."
Leah Penniman, author of "Farming While Black" and Co-Founder, Soul Fire Farm
"The book makes the case for a truly intersectional and relational effort needed to create a more resilient agricultural system in the face of climate disruption."
Gabrielle McNally, Women for the Land Initiative at the American Farmland Trust
"Liz Carlisle gets to the heart of the matter: You can’t have good farming or good food without social justice, and social justice is inextricably tied to race and land reform. The biggest issues in the United States are addressed here, directly and fairly. As important a ‘food’ book as we’ve seen."
Mark Bittman, author of "Animal, Vegetable, Junk" and Creator, The Bittman Project
"In this wonderful book, Liz Carlisle shares the dissidence against the dominion of colonial capitalism in these United States. She analyzes what America might become, and shares a map for the noble work ahead to get there. The best of it is that the ground beneath your feet will never feel the same again."
Raj Patel, author of "Stuffed and Starved" and co-director of “The Ants & The Grasshopper”
"Few people can turn ‘nitrogen-fixing legumes’ into such page-turning prose like Liz Carlisle can. In Healing Grounds, she turns her finely tuned ear towards farmers with roots in Africa, Asia, and the Americas, showing how modern methods can be linked with time-tested solutions to grow abundant food for all."
Nina F. Ichikawa, Executive Director, Berkeley Food Institute
"A gorgeous page turner that explores climate healing through our relationships to land and each other. A must read for anyone working at the nexus of climate change and racial justice."
Amy Trauger, Professor of Geography, University of Georgia and author of Geographies of Food and Power
"The book inspired so many ideas and reflections on the rich, deep and complicated history of regenerative agriculture. Each of the guests here today are featured in the book in powerful ways. What struck me deeply from reading the book was the rich and layered knowledge systems shared by each of the women farmers/scientists/land stewards featured in the book. At the end of the book Liz writes, "the vital work of rebuilding soil carbon is inextricably woven together with the vital work of racial justice". And I might add, gender equity. The book makes the case for a truly intersectional and relational effort needed to create a more resilient agricultural system in the face of climate disruption."
Gabrielle McNally, Women for the Land Initiative at the American Farmland Trust
Foreword
Introduction: Can Soil Really Save Us?
Chapter 1: Return of the Buffalo
Chapter 2: Black Land Matters
Chapter 3: Hidden Hotspots of Biodiversity
Chapter 4: Putting Down Roots
Conclusion: Healing Grounds
Acknowledgments
Notes
Index
About the Author
Liz Carlisle is a Lecturer in the School of Earth, Energy, and Environmental Sciences at Stanford University, where she teaches courses on food and agriculture, sustainability transition, and environmental communication.
Her new book Healing Grounds tells the stories of Indigenous, Black, Latinx, and Asian American farmers who are reviving their ancestors’ methods of growing food—techniques long suppressed by the industrial food system.
A powerful movement is happening in farming today—farmers are reconnecting with their roots to fight climate change. Indigenous, Black, Latinx, and Asian American farmers are reviving their ancestors’ methods of growing food—techniques long suppressed by the industrial food system. These farmers are restoring native prairies, nurturing beneficial fungi, and enriching soil health. While feeding their communities and revitalizing cultural ties to land, they are steadily stitching ecosystems back together and repairing the natural carbon cycle. This is truly regenerative agriculture – not merely a set of technical tricks for storing CO2 in the ground, but a holistic approach that values diversity in both plants and people.
Cultivating this kind of regenerative farming requires a reckoning with the discriminatory agricultural history of the United States. Ultimately, it also requires dismantling power structures that have blocked many farmers of color from owning land or building wealth.
Please join us for the launch of the new book Healing Grounds: Climate, Justice, and the Deep Roots of Regenerative Farming. This event will feature UC Irvine postdoctoral fellow and agroecologist Dr. Aidee Guzman, who is featured in the book, as well as the book’s author, UC Santa Barbara Environmental Studies professor Liz Carlisle. Ricardo Salvador, Director of the Food & Environment Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists, will moderate the conversation.
A powerful movement is happening in farming today — farmers are reconnecting with their roots to fight climate change. For one woman, that's meant learning her tribe's history to help bring back the buffalo. For another, it's meant preserving forest purchased by her great-great-uncle, among the first wave of African Americans to buy land. Others are rejecting monoculture to grow corn, beans, and squash the way farmers in Mexico have done for centuries. Still others are rotating crops for the native cuisines of those who fled the "American wars" in Southeast Asia. In Healing Grounds, Liz Carlisle tells the stories of Indigenous, Black, Latinx, and Asian American farmers who are reviving their ancestors' methods of growing food — techniques long suppressed by the industrial food system. These farmers are restoring native prairies, nurturing beneficial fungi, and enriching soil health. While feeding their communities and revitalizing cultural ties to land, they are steadily stitching ecosystems back together and repairing the natural carbon cycle.
This, Carlisle shows, is the true regenerative agriculture — not merely a set of technical tricks for storing CO2 in the ground, but a holistic approach that values diversity in both plants and people. Cultivating this kind of regenerative farming will require reckoning with our nation's agricultural history — a history marked by discrimination and displacement. And it will ultimately require dismantling power structures that have blocked many farmers of color from owning land or building wealth. The task is great, but so is its promise. By coming together to restore these farmlands, we can not only heal our planet, we can heal our communities and ourselves.
Carlisle will be joined in conversation by Latrice Tatsey (In-niisk-ka-mah-kii), ecologist and advocate for tribally-directed bison restoration.
Healing Grounds: Celebrating Indigenous Farming & Foodways is a two-day event featuring author Liz Carlisle, Indigenous food activist Latrice Tatsey, Indigenous farming expert Bernadine Young Bird & others.
Wednesday, April 20th, 7pm: Book Talk on Healing Grounds with Liz Carlisle
Thursday, April 21st, 1pm: Workshop on Indigenous Farming (ticketed event)
Thursday, April 21st, 7pm: Panel Discussion on Indigenous Farming & Foodways
This 2-day event is co-sponsored by the Environmental Studies Program, UM Ethnobotany Garden, PEAS Farm, the UM Provost Office, & our community partner Saokio Heritage.
Join us live Friday, April 29 @ 2pm PST for The Non-GMO Project's next Speaker Series, featuring the new book by Liz Carlisle, Healing Grounds: Climate, Justice, and the Deep Roots of Regenerative Farming. Be a part of the conversation with an interview and questions from the audience. Plus, enter to win a copy of Healing Grounds during the event!
A powerful movement is happening in farming today—farmers are reconnecting with their roots to enact change. In Healing Grounds, Liz Carlisle tells the stories of Indigenous, Black, Latinx, and Asian American farmers who are reviving their ancestors’ methods of growing food—techniques long suppressed by the industrial food system.
The Non-GMO Project Speaker Series brings you the inspiring stories and powerful voices of authors, experts and activists striving to fix a food system in need of healing.
In-person & livestream Town Hall Seattle event:
In her new book, Healing Grounds, Liz Carlisle shares the stories of Indigenous, Black, Latinx, and Asian American farmers who are restoring native prairies, nurturing beneficial fungi, and enriching soil health to feed their communities and revitalize cultural ties to the land. One woman learned her tribe’s history to help bring back the buffalo. Another preserved forest that was purchased by her great-great-uncle, who was among the first wave of African Americans to buy land. Others have rejected monoculture to grow corn, beans, and squash the way farmers in Mexico have done for centuries. Through techniques long suppressed by the industrial food system, they steadily stitch ecosystems back together and repair the natural carbon cycle. This is true regenerative agriculture, Carlisle explains – not merely a set of technical tricks for storing CO2 in the ground, but a holistic approach that values diversity in plants and people.
But this kind of regenerative farming doesn’t come easily – our nation’s agricultural history is marked by discrimination and displacement. Restoration, repair, and healing can only come from dismantling the power structures that have blocked many farmers of color from owning land or building wealth. Though the task is immense, it holds great promise and hope: that by coming together to restore farmlands, we can not only heal our planet, we can heal our communities and ourselves.
Liz Carlisle is an Assistant Professor in the Environmental Studies Program at UC Santa Barbara, where she teaches courses on food and farming. Born and raised in Montana, she got hooked on agriculture while working as an aide to organic farmer and U.S. Senator Jon Tester, which led to a decade of research and writing collaborations with farmers in her home state. She has written three books about regenerative farming and agroecology: Lentil Underground (2015), Grain by Grain (2019, with co-author Bob Quinn), and most recently, Healing Grounds: Climate, Justice, and the Deep Roots of Regenerative Farming (2022). Prior to her career as a writer and academic, she spent several years touring rural America as a country singer.
Latrice Tatsey (In-niisk-ka-mah-kii) is an ecologist and advocate for tribally-directed bison restoration who remains active in her family’s cattle ranching operation at Blackfeet Nation in northwest Montana. Her research focuses on organic matter and carbon in soil, and specifically, the benefits to soil from the reintroduction of bison (iin-ni) to their traditional grazing landscapes on the Blackfeet Reservation. Latrice is currently completing her master’s degree in Land Resources and Environmental Sciences at Montana State University and she serves as a research fellow with the Piikani Lodge Health Institute and the Wildlife Conservation Society.
Hillel Echo-Hawk (she/her; Pawnee and Athabaskan) is an Indigenous chef, caterer, and speaker born and raised in the interior of Alaska around the Athabaskan village of Mentasta –– home to the matriarchal chief and subsistence rights activist, Katie John. Watching John and other Indigenous Peoples’ fight for food sovereignty, as well as seeing her mother strive to make healthy, home-cooked meals for her and her six siblings, gave Hillel a unique perspective on diet and wellness. Echo-Hawk is the owner of Birch Basket, her food and work has been featured in James Beard, Bon Appetit, Eater, Huffpost, National Geographic, PBS, Vogue, The Seattle Times, and many, many more.
Presented by Town Hall Seattle and sponsored by PCC Community Markets.
Early Bird registration is now open! Click the button to reserve your spot at Expo. Your registration fee covers full access to Expo panels, discussions and activities, as well as farm tours, food and lodging.
Scroll down to see details about this year’s Expo agenda, farm tours, workshops, and more. We will continue to update this page as more information becomes available, and feel free to reach out if you have any questions: getintouch@aeromt.org.
Thank you, and we hope to see you at Expo!
Keynote speakers include: Liz Carlisle
AERO is honored to welcome Liz Carlisle back again as keynote speaker. She is the author of Lentil Underground, co-author of Grain By Grain, and Assistant Professor in Environmental Studies at UC Santa Barbara. Liz will be sharing wisdom from her latest book, Healing Grounds: Climate, Justice and the Deep Roots of Regenerative Farming.
A virtual series of talks with more than 30 prominent organic farmers, scientists, chefs, and climate activists from the Real Organic Project. Is regenerative organic? Is organic regenerative?
A virtual series of talks with more than 30 prominent organic farmers, scientists, chefs, and climate activists from the Real Organic Project. Is regenerative organic? Is organic regenerative?
Join us for a Livestream discussion exploring themes from Liz Carlisle’s book, Healing Grounds: Climate, Justice, and the Deep Roots of Regenerative Farming. This book inspired so many ideas and reflections on the rich, deep, and complicated history of regenerative agriculture. Our discussion will explore the rich and layered knowledge systems among women in agriculture across diverse experiences, ones that Latrice and Nikiko can share with us. At the end of her book Liz wrote, “the vital work of rebuilding soil carbon is inextricably woven together with the vital work of racial justice”. We might also add gender equity and justice as a requirement of a more resilient agricultural system. Join us for a discussion that explores these complex and interconnected webs as we understand what a more resilient and regenerative agriculture might hold for all of us.
Who: Join AFT’s Women for the Land Director as Livestream Moderator as she welcomes:
Guests:
• Healing Grounds Author and Professor, Liz Carlisle
• Cultural Science Lead and Soils Scientist for Piikani Lodge Health Institute on the Blackfeet Nation, Latrice Tatsey
• Organic farmer, memory keeper, and artist working with Masumoto Family Farm, Nikiko Masumoto
How to Participate: You can view and participate in the conversation on the social media platform of your choice. Simply click one of the links below to set a reminder or when the event begins to be directed straight to the live stream.
Facebook: http://bit.ly/3ydyWUu
LinkedIn: http://bit.ly/3STP2Mr
YouTube: http://bit.ly/3ygZ0hC
Read the introduction below or download it here.
Download the assignments, discussion questions, and more here or get them below.