In this episode of the Soil Sisters podcast, you'll meet Bob Kirkwood, a 78-year-old farmer from Clyde, Texas, who's focused on cultivating regenerative wisdom. Bob shares his recent journey from traditional chemical farming to regenerative agriculture, inspired by his brother and research by experts like Dr. David Johnson and Gabe Brown. The discussion covers the benefits of intelligent tilling, compost use, cover crops, soil structure and biology, and the positive impact of regenerative practices on livestock health. Bob highlights the long-term benefits and challenges of transitioning to regenerative agriculture, emphasizing the importance of continuous learning, experimenting, and adapting. The Soil Sisters love Bob's insights for older farmers in ditching the chemical culture and adopting healthy practices to heal themselves and the land.  

Bob Kirkwood proves you can teach an old farmer new tricks. So, please share this episode with your farming/gardening community. And please rate and review the Soil Sisters podcast on iTunes, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify so more folks can grow with the Soil Sisters. 

TIME STAMPS:

00:00 Morning Prayer and Pre-Show Chat

03:34 Welcome to the Soil Sisters Podcast

04:06 Bob Kirkwood's Farming Journey

05:00 Transitioning to Regenerative Practices

12:31 Challenges and Learnings in Regenerative Farming

16:41 The Importance of Soil Health

19:57 Techniques and Experiments

35:07 Chemical Farming and Pest Management

36:27 The Role of Brix Levels and Chitinase

37:20 Insect Control and Soil Health

38:42 Balancing Ecosystems and Regenerative Agriculture

42:12 Financial Aspects of Regenerative Practices

45:00 Intelligent Tilling and Soil Permeability

49:12 Success Stories in Regenerative Agriculture

52:44 Challenges with Pecan Trees

57:17 Advice for Older Farmers

01:01:44 Wildlife Observations

01:03:45 Conclusion and Future Plans

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