In From the Ground Up: The Women Revolutionizing Regenerative Agriculture, Stephanie Anderson, a former farmer turned creative writing professor, explores the transformative role women are playing in the regenerative agriculture movement. Through a series of interviews with women across the U.S., Anderson captures the stories of female farmers, ranchers, investors, and entrepreneurs who are reshaping how food is grown, distributed, and consumed. Her work reflects the growing shift toward agricultural practices that not only sustain the land but actively restore it, addressing environmental and social challenges in the process.
Anderson’s latest book builds on her personal journey and previous research into sustainable farming practices. Her earlier work, One Size Fits None: A Farm Girl’s Search for the Promise of Regenerative Agriculture, chronicled her experiences on her family farm in South Dakota and profiled farmers adopting sustainable practices. In her new book, Anderson sharpens the focus, highlighting the leadership of women driving change at every level of the food system—from small-scale, diversified farms to larger ranches and food distribution networks.
Discovering Regenerative Agriculture
Anderson’s interest in regenerative agriculture emerged from her desire to explore the challenges facing farmers in her home state. While reporting on issues like soil degradation, fluctuating crop prices, and climate change, she came across the work of Gabe Brown, a North Dakota farmer and pioneer in regenerative agriculture. His assertion that “you can’t just sustain a degraded resource, you have to regenerate it” had a profound effect on Anderson. This concept opened her eyes to the potential of moving beyond sustainability toward practices that rebuild depleted resources, particularly soil.
Women Leading the Movement
Throughout From the Ground Up, Anderson introduces readers to women whose efforts are advancing regenerative agriculture in creative and impactful ways. These stories reflect the diversity of regenerative approaches, with each chapter featuring a different individual or team dedicated to agricultural innovation.
One such example is a mother-daughter duo running a diversified fruit and vegetable farm. Their commitment to biodiversity not only improves the quality of their soil but also helps them adapt to changing market demands. Similarly, Kelsey Scott, a member of the Lakota Sioux tribe, operates DX Beef LLC, a regenerative beef business that connects directly with consumers. Her work demonstrates how traditional knowledge and modern regenerative practices can align to create a more resilient food system.
Beyond the Farm: Women Driving Systemic Change
The influence of women extends far beyond farming itself. Anderson highlights the role of female-led investment funds, advocacy organizations, and businesses in supporting regenerative efforts. These groups are not just financing farms but also building networks that foster collaboration and learning. Restaurants and food brands are also joining the movement, providing markets for regenerative products and raising awareness among consumers.
Training programs geared toward women farmers play a crucial role in expanding the movement. Anderson describes how these initiatives equip women with the knowledge and tools needed to implement regenerative practices. As women gain more visibility in the agricultural sector, they challenge traditional norms that have long excluded them from leadership roles in farming and agribusiness.
Regenerative Agriculture vs. Sustainability
One of the central themes in Anderson’s book is the distinction between sustainability and regeneration. Sustainability implies maintaining the status quo, but regeneration requires actively rebuilding ecosystems and resources. In agriculture, this approach involves practices like cover cropping, rotational grazing, composting, and agroforestry. These techniques improve soil health, enhance biodiversity, and reduce the need for synthetic inputs, creating systems that are more resilient to climate change and economic pressures.
Anderson explains that regenerative agriculture also encourages farmers to think more holistically. For example, rather than focusing solely on maximizing yields, farmers in this movement consider long-term environmental impacts and community well-being. This shift in mindset is critical in addressing the interconnected crises facing today’s food systems, from soil erosion and water scarcity to declining rural economies.
Challenges and Opportunities
While the regenerative agriculture movement offers promising solutions, Anderson acknowledges the challenges women farmers often face. Access to land, capital, and technical support remains a significant barrier, especially for women and marginalized groups. However, Anderson notes that women’s resilience and resourcefulness have been key to overcoming these obstacles. Many of the women she interviewed found innovative ways to pool resources, access markets, and build supportive communities.
Another challenge is the need to balance economic viability with environmental goals. Regenerative practices often require a longer time horizon to show results, which can be difficult for farmers operating on thin margins. Anderson suggests that policies and funding programs need to reflect these realities, providing incentives that align with long-term environmental goals.
The Future of Regenerative Agriculture
Despite the obstacles, Anderson is optimistic about the future of regenerative agriculture. She sees the movement gaining momentum as more farmers, consumers, and policymakers recognize the need for systemic change. Women’s leadership in this space is particularly encouraging, as it brings fresh perspectives and innovative approaches to solving agricultural challenges.
The stories Anderson shares illustrate how regenerative agriculture offers not only environmental benefits but also social and economic opportunities. Farmers engaged in regenerative practices often report improvements in their mental well-being, as they feel more connected to the land and their communities. Additionally, regenerative models can create new markets and economic opportunities, particularly in rural areas struggling with population decline and economic stagnation.
Conclusion
From the Ground Up is more than just a collection of inspiring stories—it is a call to action. Anderson’s work challenges readers to reconsider the way food is produced and consumed, highlighting the importance of regenerative practices in building a more sustainable future. By focusing on the contributions of women, the book also sheds light on the often-overlooked role of female leadership in agriculture.
The movement Anderson documents is not just about farming; it is about reimagining relationships—with the land, with food, and with each other. It emphasizes collaboration, resilience, and care, values that are essential for addressing the complex challenges facing today’s food systems. As the regenerative agriculture movement grows, the women leading it will continue to play a crucial role in shaping a more just and sustainable future.
Anderson’s book offers a hopeful vision of what agriculture could become: a system that not only feeds people but also nourishes the planet, builds community, and restores balance to ecosystems. Through the voices of women farmers, ranchers, investors, and advocates, From the Ground Up provides a blueprint for how we can create a food system that serves both people and the planet.
