How sunshine powers regenerative farming
posted on
October 14, 2022
The sun provides energy to the plants
The sunlight works in symbiosis with the grass, trees and bushes on the farm. The energy from the sun shines into the leaf of the plant. It powers the plants' cells or energy factories called chloroplasts. These cells use this energy to pull in carbon dioxide (CO2) from the surrounding atmosphere and turn it into sugars the plant can use.
The plant takes this energy in the form of sugar to form other energy molecules. It sends the energy underground to the roots. The roots of the plants pull soil minerals and water plus feed soil life including bacteria and earthworms. The roots then send all this good stuff from the soil back up into the plant. All the organic and inorganic ingredients from the soil are then combined to make the beautiful part of the plant that we see.
Animals get essential nutrients from the plants
The animals then do their part in nature's cycle by taking a bite of the plants. In healthy pastures, that bite is loaded with carbohydrates, minerals, and vitamins. By some miracle, the animal coverts all this into the delicious and nutrition-packed meat we eat. So, when you bite into that burger, you can realize you are eating a product of the sun's energy. It all starts with plants interfacing with the sun and soil to create food.
This is the same with aquatic life such as fish as well. It starts with the plants of the sea: seaweed, algae, and other plankton. They work up the food chain to the wonderful salmon, halibut, and sable fish that we sell.
This cycle helps create a negative carbon footprint
Plants are the best solar panel on earth. When you see the sun shining on a field where the plants are allowed to grow diverse and tall, you are looking at nature's solar panel. The sun is powering the most efficient process we know of pulling CO2 back out of the atmosphere and turning it into carbon in the soil. And the plants that the cows and sheep eat.
Eating meat from a truly regenerative farm like Sparrow Hill Farm actually helps to reverse your carbon footprint into the negative. It is food you can truly feel good about eating. Enjoy the sun!
As always, eat well and stay healthy!
