January 2022 – It’s that time of the year again, when we make New Year’s Resolutions to improve our health and other aspects of our lives. But what about the life of the planet? What resolutions can we make to improve the health of the planet and combat Climate Change?

Kiss the Ground, the film featured at the January 2022 Green Team meeting, illustrates how tilling and toxic chemicals have led to soil erosion, and explains how restoring the soil through regenerative agriculture can help to combat the effects of climate change. This persuasive and optimistic documentary can also be viewed on Netflix. Running time is one hour and 24 minutes.

What are some things we can do based on the information presented in this film?

• Do what you can to help regenerate our degraded soil, which emits CO2 into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change.  Say no to toxic pesticides / fungicides / chemicals that poison the soil, water and microorganisms needed for healthy soil. Healthy soil leads to healthy plants, healthy humans, and healthy life.
  
  
• Buy organic (or pesticide/herbicide-free) products. Although the prices may be higher, these products are better for your health, and also will help support farmers who supply us with healthy sustainable products and use methods that are safe for people, other species and the planet.
  
  
• Buy local products or grow your own, to save on transportation costs and help support our local farmers. During the summer season, sustainably grown fruits, vegetables and flowers can be purchased from the Panorama Pea Patch. The Olympia Farmers Market also offers many locally grown products.
  
  
• Encourage planting of trees, vegetation and grasslands to help remove carbon dioxide from our atmosphere.
  
  
• Compost food waste. This not only supplies valuable compost, but keeping food out of the landfill cuts down on the amount of methane (a greenhouse gas) released to the atmosphere. You can take discarded foods to the compost bin in the Jim Silver Recycling Center (near the Panorama Auditorium).
  
  
• Recycle more and buy recycled and recyclable products, helping to cut down on plastic and waste.
   
• Support legislation that encourages regenerative agriculture.

The documentary Kiss the Ground provides much more information about what you can do to help save the planet. There are many simple solutions available under our feet right now.  By becoming aware, sharing this information with those you know, and supporting those that encourage regenerative agriculture, we can harness the regenerative powers of the earth and create hope and positive change.  Our actions impact everything.  Our health and the health of the planet are connected. If we take care and nourish our planet, it will nourish and take care of us.  Let’s all resolve to do it.  We can and we must!

A shortened version of this article appeared in the January 2022 Panorama News.