Happy Earth Day peeps! Our conversation about climate change continues!
The reaction that climate change triggers among operations across the globe is often rushed. When faced with such an expansive, impending topic, individuals can feel the urge to scramble and find a quick solution to combat the issue. Inversely, the response that we’re cultivating within our crew is to step back and take a deep breath.
Rome wasn’t built in one day – and climate change can’t be solved in one, either. In order to properly respond in the most suitable and sustainable way for us, we knew that we’d have to spend time doing lots of research. Our crew received various workshops that dove into climate science: from the growing patterns of cacao trees to the advantages and drawbacks of dairy production. Then, they learned about the reality of climate change and how other growers in the area are responding to the varying conditions.
With their heads full of valuable knowledge and inspired imaginations, the crew analyzed the farm closely. What are our strengths? they asked themselves. What are we still exploring? How could we grow? The crew immediately felt a sense of pride regarding our current soil health practices, crop diversity, and efficient irrigation systems. However, they dreamed of how we could improve the bare soil exposure, heat stress on crops, and risk of flooding on our farm. Faced with this information, the youth asked themselves one final question: how can we make ourselves even more sustainable than we are?
After much deliberation (and a passionate debate), the youth crew decided on implementing the following adaptations:
Planting perennials (plants that “come back every year” and wield a strong resistance to being flooded) in areas of high-flood-risk.
Purchasing backup infrastructure… like a generator!
Solidifying a resilient, stable water source through installing water catchment systems
Reducing or eliminating the amount of bare soil on our property
These decisions, while made confidently, required extensive periods of research in order to exist. As human beings, our first instinct is to panic when we’re faced with something that’s out of our hands. When we lose control, we scramble.
Something that we’ve learned at LEAF is that there’s strength in numbers. While we understand that we can’t tackle climate change alone, we know that we can adequately respond to it – so long as we have each other. We know we can adapt with support, with courage, with a step back, and a deep breath.