Book Review: Kiss the Ground by Josh Tickell

Reviewed by Nova Nelson, Founder, Cultivate Central

"Kiss the Ground" is a groundbreaking and eye-opening book that holds the key to one of the most critical challenges of our time – healing our planet. Authored by Josh Tickell, this book delves into the powerful potential of regenerative agriculture to combat climate change, restore biodiversity and secure a sustainable future for humanity. There is also a documentary based on the book, which I thought was not as good and as complete or compelling as the book.

The book takes readers on an extraordinary journey into the world of soil, showing us how our planet's most vital resource can be both the cause of our environmental crisis and the solution to it. Through compelling storytelling and scientific insights, "Kiss the Ground" reveals how modern agricultural practices have depleted our soils, leading to devastating consequences like deforestation, loss of biodiversity, and greenhouse gas emissions.

What I like the most about this book is it showcases real-life success stories of farmers, scientists, and activists who have embraced regenerative agriculture and achieved remarkable results. And it does not just highlight the problems – it also presents an inspiring and actionable path forward. There is a whole section at the end of the book with a beginners guide to eating a regenerative diet and making personal choices and steps towards reversing climate change.

At the heart of the book lies the urgent call for support towards regenerative agriculture, a transformative approach to farming that aims to revitalise the soil. Some of these things we at Cultivate Central do on a tiny scale at the urban permaculture learnscapes we create in schools and within communities. But regenerative farming needs more support in order for it to reach its full potential to mitigate climate change, alleviate food insecurity, and create a more sustainable and resilient world for generations to come.

I am not naïve; I realise regenerative farming alone is not a silver bullet that will solve and reverse climate change. And regenerative farming may not be feasible at scale in every context. However, it offers us an alternative perspective to the way food is grown. Industrial farming has harmed the environment for far too long now. And if done right, regenerative farming can reverse some of that damage one acre at a time. Whether you are an environmental enthusiast, a food lover, or simply a curious soul, this book will open your eyes to the power of the soil beneath our feet.

Nova Nelson

I’m a Social Entrepreneur, Permaculture Designer, a gardening coach, content creator and educator. I started Cultivate Central as a solo enterprise. It started as a blog about my journey in Permaculture Design. It then evolved and grew into a small social enterprise. Today, I focus on creating regenerative food gardens, developing and delivering educational experiences, championing vermicomposting and building collaborative community programmes with organisations, corporates, developers and schools, with a small but talented team. I’m passionate about helping them embark on a journey of earth care centred on building regenerative food systems and cultures.

How did I find myself doing what I do? Read my story here.