Published: March 8, 2022

vegetables on a tableRegenerative agriculture is a term that has been used over the years. It is best described as the holistic approach to our agricultural system, that focuses on the interconnection between farming and our ecological system. Regenerative agricultural systems can benefit our economy, society and our environment. Some benefits include helping to sustain earth's natural resources, producing more nutrient-dense foods, helping to eliminate food insecurity and increasing food equality, and reducing climate change’s impact on our planet.

There are many ways for us to get involved and support regenerative agriculture. The simplest way is to invest and support our local food system. This can be done by purchasing products from local farmers. It’s also important to purchase products while they're in season. There are many benefits to buying local, in-season foods:

  • The food will taste better! When fruits and vegetables are able to naturally ripen on the trees and vines they are grown on, they will have much more flavor and a higher nutritional value. 

  • Fruits and vegetables will be more affordable! During the seasons where farmers are harvesting an abundance of fruits and vegetables, the cost of the products themselves will go down; plus you don’t have to pay for transportation and storage of the fruits and vegetables, as they are readily available.

There are a few local Coloradans who are changing the way we view our agricultural system and are investing in regenerative agriculture: the East Denver Food Hub, and Chef Andrea Murdoch, founder of Four Directions Cuisine.

The East Denver Food Hub was co-founded by David Demerling and Roberto Meza in 2020. The social enterprise is “working to develop a resilient, equitable and compassionate local food (eco)system based on equity and inclusion, environmental stewardship, sustainable technologies and private/public partnerships.” They aim to support local farmers and producers and address food inequality and insecurity. 

Chef Andrea Murdoch founded Four Directions Cuisine in 2015. Four Directions operates within four pillars: sourcing Indigenously, sourcing locally, advocacy/education and community work. To learn more about Chef Murdoch, check out this video from HuffPost that shows how she found her connection to Indigenous Foods.

If you’re interested in learning more about how the food we eat impacts the environment, check out the upcoming Food Pathways event held by the Environmental Center. Both the co-founders of the East Denver Food Hub and Chef Murdoch will be on hand to present and talk about their work and the connection between the food we eat and the world around us. 

Sign up for the 3 day event 

Agenda:

March 8: Roberto Meza, co-founder of East Denver Food Hub, and CU professor Dr. Clint Carroll, citizen of the Cherokee Nation, will have a conversation about their perspectives and work around food justice and land-based knowledge.

March 9: chef Andrea Murdoch, founder of Four Directions Cuisine, will share a presentation on Indigenous foodways and traditional farming and their connection with climate.

March 10: DJ Cavem, vegan activist and rapper, will give a presentation and will invite attendees to share the stage for a climate justice open mic after his live performance!

*Note* locations vary by day
March 8: 5-6:30 p.m. – CASE E422
March 9: 5-6:30 p.m. – CASE E422
March 10: 5-7:30 p.m. – UMC 235