Ep. 77 - Gardening, Farming, Can Indeed Change the World. From Belgium. Matthieu Mehuys.

On this episode we are grateful to have Matthieu Mehuys. Matthieu is an award-winning author and passionate landscape architect whose journey from a family farm in Belgium to regenerative farming practices has led him to believe that landscape architects can indeed change the world. His fascination with plants since childhood drove him to become a landscape architect, a role he sees as instrumental in crafting environments that marry aesthetics with positive environmental impact. Through his work, he aims to empower individuals to transform their gardens into spaces that foster biodiversity, restore ecosystems, and reverse climate change.

 

#eatbetterfoodtoday #longevity #health #regenerative #climate #gardening 

 

Please visit our website https://eatbetterfoodtoday.com  for this week's recipe, interviews, books, research, videos.

 

Look for information on Matthieu: https://bodlsc.com/matthieu-mehuys/

 

Other sites Matthieu mentioned:  Book https://www.12lawsofnature.com

 

What’s In Season https://www.seasonalfoodguide.org/

 

Cleveland Kitchen: https://www.clevelandkitchen.com/

 

Segment Notes:

 

Breakfast: Smoothie of Frozen Fruits, Nuts, Protein Powder, Oats  1:48

The Journey to Landscape Architecture  3:20

-        A tiny seed grows into magnificent plants

-        Five Years old wanted to grow his own food, started his own garden

-        Munich – first job at the epicenter of Landscape Architecture

-        Then traveled the world to visit, work at eco resorts, regenerative farms, rainforests

-        Dengue to becoming an entrepreneur to make a difference

-        Created a sustainable, organic, beautiful Garden Design company

-        Worked with farmers to convert to regenerative farms

-        Industrialized farms are hurting our climate, leading to more chronic diseases 

-        There’s more than enough food, issues are with distribution 

Industrialized Farming  11:17

-        Industrialized farmers don’t know there customers. That’s a problem.

-        Industrialized Farmers don’t control their pricing. Another Problem.

-        Industrialized Farming is like gambling. You plant and hope the market gives you a fair price.

-        Industrials Farms don’t want you to see how they produce food. If we knew, we would not buy it.

-        Industrialized Farm: Globally. Looking at a Wall right in front if them. Creating a high suicide rate.

-        Industrialized Farming: Making chickens sick, so egg production down, prices go up.

-        Industrialized Farming: If the soils isn’t healthy, the plants are healthy, the food isn’t healthy, we aren’t healthy

Regenerative (not Sustainable) Farming  18:22

-        Focusing on how to do it less harmful (to our climate) is not enough

-        Regenerative Solves so Many Problems: Climate Change. Food Security. Immigration.

Health. Chronic Disease.

-        Regenerative is in Harmony with Nature

-        Regenerative: Healthy Soil 

-        Largest Growth in Healthcare Spend: Supplements 

-        Spend the Money with Local Farmers Nutritious Foods Instead

-        Einstein: Look Deep into Nature and You will Understand Everything Better

-        Create Website to allow Direct to Consumer. Allows for Better Margins. 

-        Create a Social Media campaign. 

-        Have Education at the Farm. 

Helping Farmers Move to Regenerative  23:00

-        Ask what is their Vision, Passion 

-        Help Generate Income Quickly: online, chefs

-        Timing: if Lots of Chemicals used previously, can Take Three Years to Change the Soil

-        Composting can Help Speed Up Timing

-        Nutrient Density Increases: you can buy 3 Expensive Oranges instead of 20 Cheap Oranges

-        Support Your Local Regenerative Farmers

-        If 50% of Farmers would Change to Regenerative, in 7yrs, we could be a pre-Industrial Revolution CO2 Levels

-        Grassroots Change will Make thing Happen

Empowering Everyday People to Make Meaningful Change through Nature-Based Living  33:45

-        First: Make a Plan for Your Garden. What are You Excited about Growing.

-        Garden Centers sell plants that have lots of chemicals 

-        Einstein on Insanity: Keep doing the Same Thing and Expecting a different Result

-        If you Do Gardening the Right Way, It Takes Care of Itself

-        Think of Maintaining your Garden with Only One Hour per Month

Home Gardening Tips  38:34  

-        Do Mulching: In Nature you Never Have Bare Soil

-        Some Weeds can Actually Help Restore the Soil 

-        Soil Health and Our Gut Health both Need Micro-organisms 

-        Diagnose your Weeds – they are Here to Help You, Tell You Something about Your Soil 

-        Buy Organic Compost, Mulch – use the smell test, should smell similar to a forest in autumn

-        Or Ask a Regenerative Farmer about Compost 

-        This will also mean less disease and insects in your garden

Cooking at Home  50:33

-        Just as expensive as a drive trough

-        Make a Plan: Do healthy meal prep

-        Importance of Family Meals together, talking and eating slowly 

The Recipe: Chicken Pesto  55:21

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