Midwest Farmers Embrace Regenerative Agriculture with Spiritual Focus
Farmers across the Midwest are increasingly adopting regenerative agriculture practices, driven by a blend of formal agricultural education, Indigenous wisdom, and a growing sense of eco-spirituality. Reginaldo Haslett-Marroquin, an agronomist and regenerative farmer from Minnesota, has transformed his 63-acre Salvatierra Farms into a model for crop diversity and natural solutions, eschewing herbicides, pesticides, and chemical fertilizers. His approach, which he describes as having 'spiritual integrity,' aims to allow all living things to flourish naturally. Haslett-Marroquin co-founded Tree Range Farms in 2022, a collective of independent poultry producers utilizing regenerative methods, raising organic, free-range chickens under perennial plants like hazelnut and elderberry bushes. This movement is attracting a diverse group, including Lakota tribal members, former large-scale farmers, and Catholic sisters, all motivated by a shared spiritual connection to the land. The trend reflects a broader societal...