I am so excited about what I am learning at White Buffalo Land Trust's Center for Regenerative Agriculture at Jalama Canyon Ranch during my artist residency. Be sure to visit their website and learn more. I will share bite size bits of information, as I have new experiences.

Cattle Round Up, Jalama Canyon Ranch Sketch Book, gouache by Holli Harmon

Recently, I learned about revitalizing our pasture land with responsible grazing methods. I saw Jalama Canyon ranch in action during a cattle round up with one of the White Buffalo partners, Richards Grassfed Beef. The cows were brought to graze the pastures over winter for just enough time to eat the tops of the grasses, leave a little fertilizer, and then move on. With a watchful eye and management, the cows become partners in regenerating the soil to hold more water and carbon. This method heals the pastures and riparian zones from over grazing. It’s actually thrilling to see a regenerative circle that includes land, animals, and humans that heals our planet.

“It’s not the cow, it’s the HOW...”

— Bobby Gill - Savory Institute

Regenerative farming is one of the best ways we can heal the earth and slow global warming. This concept gives me a lot of hope. Two short documentaries that are both beautiful and educational are Kiss the Ground on Netflix and Biggest Little Farm on Amazon Prime.

I hope you enjoy the journey and follow along. And share the message with your friends and family. We all can be part of the solution!

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Recent data from farming systems and pasture trials around the globe show we could sequester more than 100% of current annual CO 2 emissions with a switch to widely available and inexpensive management practices, which we term “regenerative organic agriculture.”

• - Rodale Institute

My time with the White Buffalo Land Trust and their new property Jalama Canyon Ranch, really begins with Ana Smith. She holds the title of Director of Programs and Engagement. Rarely do our work titles ever speak to who we are as people. I think Ana is one of those incredible people who will leave our planet in better shape. I hope you become enamored with the White Buffalo Land Trust, their mission, and the entire team who works diligently to change how we steward our land and feed the world through regenerative agriculture.

Ana was pregnant with her second daughter when I first started exploring the ranch at the beginning of the year.

What a perfect metaphor for the start of the organic regeneration of Jalama Canyon Ranch.

Here, she is standing in an oak woodland, one of many on the 1000 acre property. By expanding and restoring the understories of these woodlands, we can increase carbon storage, fire resilience and improve water infiltration while increasing the biodiversity of plants and animals.

I will easily fill at least two sketch books with little gouache paintings. They help me record and explore my ideas for larger paintings, printmaking, and other art forms.

From the Jalama Canyon Ranch sketch books by Holli Harmon