Alivia Belcher

For my one-time challenge I decided to look at the impacts and benefits of regenerative agriculture. This challenge was super successful, as it challenged my traditional ways of thinking and further explained the topics I have learned about this semester. Regenerative agriculture is a holistic way a diminishing the mass amounts of CO2 in our environment. Not only does it provide nutrients back into our ecosystems, but it provides nutrients right on our tables. Without a healthy environment and soil, we have no way of providing a healthy life to ourselves.

Specifically, I looked the regenerative practices of agroforestry. Regeneration International has various articles that provided an abundance of information around the practices of regenerative agriculture. One project that covered was the "Billion Agaves Project" that has recently been adopted by numerous farms in the desert region of Guanajuato, Mexico. This strategy "combines dense cultivation of agave plants and nitrogen-fixing tree species, with holistic rotational grazing of livestock." All of this resulted in a "high biomass, high-yield forage system that now produces even on degraded and semi-arid lands." This is not all though, the agave leaves and pineapple that is produced is used as silage for the livestock. Thus, reduces the stress to overgraze and immensely benefits the soil and local ecosystem. Research has also been done to support the theory that this system can be used on large-scale in various arid regions of the world.

Cummins, Ronnie. The Billion Agave Project, 12 Mar. 2021, www.organicconsumers.org/news/billion-agave-project. 

“Why Regenerative Agriculture?” Regeneration International, 3 Feb. 2021, regenerationinternational.org/why-regenerative-agriculture/. 

Today on my walk, I decided to go to a local city park in Knoxville - Lakeshore Park. I appreciate the variety and landscape available here. It is a perfect example of where city meets natural resources. While there is a lot of infrastructure, there is just as much open space. This park entails various ball fields, restrooms, playgrounds, and picnic areas. All of this located right alongside the river. I loved a change of scenery for this walk, and the little details I notice now when walking, rather than just getting my exercise in!

Today, while at home for a break, I took the opportunity to walk through the Arboretum at Murray State. Similar to UT Garden's, it is a very peaceful walk through nature. It was however, disturbed on multiple sides by homes and the local high school. While the garden itself was a nice step into nature, the surrounding infrastructure takes away from its peacefulness.

My daily challenge is going really well so far! I chose to challenge myself to walk 30+ minutes everyday, not only to keep me active, but to also observe my surroundings as I walk. Typically, I walk on the treadmill (occasionally outside) and I always wear my headphones. So while completing this challenge, I am encouraging myself to be more than just active and outside, but to also gain a better understanding of the environment around me.