Six Inches of Soil

Six Inches of Soil the film and this companion book is the inspiring story of British farmers standing up to the industrial food system and transforming the way they produce food – to heal the soil, benefit our health and provide for local communities.

How has it come to this point in our history that we hardly value the food we eat and the soil that it’s grown in? How is it that we care so little how food production impacts animals and the environment?

Industrial farming has transformed Britain’s rural landscapes, increasing crop yields and reducing hunger. Yet this has all come at a terrible ecological cost. It is ‘both a miracle and a disaster’.

Six Inches of Soil is a story of courage, vision and hope. This book is not just for farmers. Reconnecting with our food, and regenerating our soils, ourselves and our communities benefits everyone and needs everyone to be involved. We want to inspire farmers with the confidence and practical know-how to adopt regenerative farming approaches. We want to give consumers the impetus and information to rethink their food choices.

This book and the film are closely related but stand on their own. In these pages you will find detailed chapters on each of the three farmers that provide replicable case studies and inspiration. Additionally, there are chapters examining the problems with the current agri-food system and proposing solutions and a vision for the future. Recognised experts: explain agroecological farming systems and soil science; consider the issues of land use, greenwashing, subsidies, food security; and provide examples of agroforestry applications, and farm enterprise stacking and diversification.

Their three stories are inspiring, guiding and frustrating. Allow yourself to be inspired, to be guided and to turn your frustration in to action.

Half of the profits from book sales will go to the community interest company driving the follow up impact campaign.

Table of Contents

Foreword Introduction

CHAPTER 1 It's a miracle, but that miracle has created a disaster CHAPTER 2 Regenerative farming, what is it? INTERLUDE I Are we using our farmed land wisely? CHAPTER 3 The science of soil INTERLUDE II Regulation, greenwashing and co-option CHAPTER 4 Regenerative mixed farm: Pig Pink Farm, Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire INTERLUDE III Subsidies, Brexit and trade CHAPTER 5 Organic market garden: Sweetpea, Caxton, Cambridgeshire INTERLUDE IV Food security and UK self-sufficiency CHAPTER 6 Pasture-fed beef: Treveddoe, Bodmin, Cornwall INTERLUDE V Applying agroforestry in mixed regenerative farming CHAPTER 7 Soil as soul INTERLUDE VI Enterprise stacking CHAPTER 8 How do we build a sustainable future for food and farming?

Epilogue – Act now

Appendix I: Partners in change Appendix II: Advising farmer profiles Contributors Acknowledgements Glossary Notes Further reading Index