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Dirt to Soil
- One Family’s Journey into Regenerative Agriculture
- Narrated by: Gabe Brown
- Length: 7 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Categories: Science & Engineering, Science
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- By Amazon Customer on 15-09-21
Summary
Gabe Brown didn’t set out to change the world when he first started working alongside his father-in-law on the family farm in North Dakota. But as a series of weather-related crop disasters put Brown and his wife, Shelly, in desperate financial straits, they started making bold changes to their farm.
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In Dirt to Soil, Gabe Brown tells the story of that amazing journey and offers a wealth of innovative solutions to our most pressing and complex contemporary agricultural challenge - restoring the soil. The Brown’s Ranch model, developed over 20 years of experimentation and refinement, focuses on regenerating resources by continuously enhancing the living biology in the soil.
Using regenerative agricultural principles, Brown’s 5,000-acre ranch has grown several inches of new topsoil in only 20 years! The key is how we think, Brown says. In the industrial agricultural model, all thoughts are focused on killing things. But that mind-set was also killing diversity, soil, and profit, Brown realized. Now, he channels his creative thinking toward how he can get more life on the land - more plants, animals, and beneficial insects.
“The greatest roadblock to solving a problem,” Brown says, “is the human mind."
What listeners say about Dirt to Soil
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- A Pearce
- 05-06-19
Thought provoking and unexpectedly emotional
As a farmer I found this book challenging but inspirating and emotional as I reflect how the Gabe's early story reflects my early experiences of conventional farming.
2 people found this helpful
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- mr mark e johnson
- 23-05-19
A survival ESSENTIAL!
Gabe with his fresh eyes, fresh insight & razor sharp intellect & observations, shows the way not simply to “food” production, but way more important, nutrition production.
In doing so Gabe gives us back our sustainable world & balance of nature. This man & his family are modern day agricultural heroes. A must read & “digest” kinda book.
1 person found this helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 30-12-18
outstanding
A wonderful audio book, that could help to save the Earth and our species, truly nspirational and illuminating
1 person found this helpful
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- peter sordy
- 31-03-22
Essential
For a new entry to agriculture, Essential ! Thanks Gabe.
Best
Peter
(cattle/sheep Farmer Northumberland England)
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- HelenC
- 07-03-22
Every farmer in every land should read this book
This book is beautiful, informative, inspirational, moving and educational. Simply wonderful book and I shall listen to it again to take notes. And probably again and again....
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- glen wright
- 13-02-22
Inspiring and extremely informative listen
I loved this book! Gabe's story is remarkable and I encourage anyone with an interest in growing or eating food to give this a read or a listen. (I listened and Gabe's narration was excellent). The documentary 'kiss the ground' on Netflix drew my attention to the need and urgency to drastically improve our soil health for so many reasons. This book continues with that theme, Gabe tells his story and give many practical tips on how to get started and make whatever you're doing profitable. If you are interested in regenerative agriculture this is a must read/listen.
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- JennyS
- 16-12-21
As good as I’d heard
I have been looking forward to reading this, and it lived up to all my expectations. So many regenerative agriculture topics covered, as well as being an enjoyable story. Thank you Gabe Brown. :-)
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- Anonymous User
- 03-11-21
should be on your must read list
opened my mind, enjoyable and rewarding read
if eating, food production, growing or the health of the worlds ecosystem is of interest to you, you'll get something out of this book
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- Amazon Customer
- 05-10-21
Do something.
If you do one thing positive today listen or read this book. dirt to soil.
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- Andrew Grose
- 09-08-21
Mainly, tremendously useful.
An excellent starting point for finding your way into the world of regenerative farming. A book full of "whys" as well as, more usefully, "hows". I'm about to listen to every chapter again.
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- Amazon Customer
- 29-01-19
loved it.
I hope every farmer, gardener and lawmaker reads it. I think it should probably be required reading in every conservation and agricultural course.
I am almost done listening to it for the 4th time. Gabe Brown should be nominated for Person of the Year on Time Magazine!
17 people found this helpful
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- Jason Roberts
- 21-11-20
Going for it
I am a fifth generation farmer in New Mexico and I am going for it. Mainly a cattle operation with grazing. Can’t wait to go on this adventure
14 people found this helpful
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- david
- 25-05-19
Good knowledge
I think this book gives good knowledge from his experience. It is very motivating. It does NOT give you the formula for you to do it though, you need to research afterwards. That is why I gave it 4 stars.
13 people found this helpful
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- Patti Armbrister
- 28-10-19
Must read if you grow food!
Dirt to Soil is a book every farmer, ranchers, grower, gardener, extension agent and NRCS employee should read. In fact if you eat food you should read this book. You will gain a better understanding of food and nutrition. Plus gain a much larger respect for agriculture and the soil microbes that you and your health is dependent upon if you eat food! I teach school and believe that the book should be getting read in middle school so all students can gain knowledge about the future of agriculture and our food production system.
10 people found this helpful
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- Layne
- 30-10-19
Everyone should know this information
This book can and will actually change your life if you take action with the practices described. I have been doing regenerative agriculture for 7 years and can see major changes in soil health.
I have been to the authors ranch and met him. The information is legitimate and the authenticity is real. What a great book!
8 people found this helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 17-08-19
Happy to hear someone is doing something
The author is the narrator, he has and accent and unusual reading style. To be honest I almost stopped listening in the first few minutes. I'm glad that I didnt. If your interested in farming with the help of nature instead of against it, you need to listen to what this man has to teach you!
7 people found this helpful
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- lizardWV
- 20-06-19
Inspiring
If you’re looking for a different (better) way to do things this may be your saving grace. If someone is telling you there is only one way to do something and all the while they are profiting from you doing it that way, chances are they are either lying to you or are uninformed about alternatives. There is more than one way to skin a cat, and if you look hard enough you’ll find in most cases the “cat” didn’t need to be skinned in the first place.
7 people found this helpful
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- option31AW
- 07-12-18
Full of real and practical ideas.
Beyond a doubt the best book I have read/listened to. Real ideas that are of great help no matter where you live. It is not a technical scrib, it lays it all out in simple terms. Several changes I am going to make spring 2019, buy a soil temperature meter, mix a more diverse cover crop get soil tests that include carbon amounts in soil.
7 people found this helpful
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- Anonymous User
- 30-01-19
informative and to-the-point!
I enjoyed listening to this book and my version is full of bookmarks. Thanks Gabe Bown!
5 people found this helpful
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- Farrah
- 11-04-21
Great story and insight
If you’re a newbie like me though you’ll have to do a lots of supplemental reading in order to truly learn the lessons
3 people found this helpful