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Hello: Life-long learning is a choice, and most of us are a bit lazy about learning in areas where we've become comfortable with what we think we know. Yet for farmers dedicated to improving their farming to better fit their land, it’s a basic requirement. It seems that the best farmers—the ones who are revered for their insights and their generosity of spirit—are usually quick to say how much they realize they have yet to learn through more observation, more reflection and more courage to re-think what has worked best in the past.
As a research-based organization, we at the Rodale Institute treasure farmers, consumers and policymakers who want to find better answers to farming and food system questions. We as a staff are plenty curious about healthy soil and productive crops and improving everybody’s food supply, but crafting what we find here into news you can use is what gives us real satisfaction.
Our annual field day let our farmers and researchers talk with all who come with open minds, ready to take our information and rework it to fit the situation back home. Our July 18 event included cooperating university and USDA researchers, expanding the deep pool of expertise available to explain what makes organic farming work—and to ask the next set of questions. Read more >>
It takes a life-altering event (cancer, a serious accident, loss of a loved one) to transform most adults into active learning about an issue or area of life where they weren’t previously motivated. It’s so much easier to nurture the natural curiosity of children, to work really hard during their schooling (formal or otherwise) to not squeeze out the innate urge to look under rocks and color outside the box. School gardens can be a dynamic educational tool when teachers and plant-passionate volunteers help children explore and interpret what sprouts, lives, flowers, fruits and dies between the compost box and the front gate.
Check out the benefits of just a sampling of school gardens in our story by Hannah Daugherty, our communications intern for the summer. She outlines the educational opportunities of these pedagogical plots, and highlights the lasting impact for children who gain insights that give them life-long decision-making skills for healthy eating. Read more >>
To keep your learning active:
See what scientists at UC Davis have learned about the importance of scents in the breeding habits of Japanese beetles. Read more >>
Look at how severely degraded world agricultural soils have become, beyond the reach of fertilizer to be any kind of quick remedy. Read more >>
Consider the about-face called for by an environmental health science professor in how our government works at assuring a safe meat supply. Read more >>
Enjoy the rest of summer, especially whatever is fresh and ready to pick where you are. And choose to keep on learning.
Greg Bowman and the
Rodale Institute editorial team
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