In this episode of Troon Talk, we welcome special guest Elizabeth Whitlow, executive director of the Regenerative Organic Alliance, and Garett Long, Troon Vineyard and Farm director of agriculture.

The Regenerative Organic Alliance’s slogan is “ Farm like the world depends on it,” which it does. Slogans are a lot easier to write than do. It has been a growing experience at Troon Vineyard & Farm —which seems appropriate—to be an early adopter of the Regenerative Organic Certification (ROC) — the second winery in the world, and now, one of four farms globally to achieve Regenerative Organic Gold Certified® status. It has been a transformational experience. A few were alpha testers; we were beta testers, and today, there are millions of Regenerative Organic certified acres. What once was only an idea is becoming a movement.

The keywords are, of course, regenerative and organic. You must be USDA organically certified to apply to be Regenerative Organic Certified. Organic is the baseline, but it is only the beginning as Big Ag has co-opted the organic certification. Any certification that allows hydroponic agriculture, which USDA Organic allows, cannot be regenerative. How can you regenerate your soil if there is no soil? Now, California is working on an "official' definition of regenerative, which is likely to dilute the term and diminish the work of the Regenerative Organic Alliance.

My original interest in ROC was committing to improving your farm using measurable standards. We were already Demeter Biodynamic® certified at Troon Vineyard & Farm, so we were well down that path, but like most farmers who strive to attain these standards, we wanted to take it to a higher level. ROC seemed to be such a program. With a focus on no-till, regular soil testing, livestock, and social welfare — they touched all the bases. As the ROC grows, I hope they can resist being co-opted by Big Ag. It would be sad to lose all that has been accomplished. Changes are afoot at the Regenerative Organic Alliance as they search for a new CEO. Hopefully, these will be positive changes.

Something passing under the radar is continued positive changes at Demeter USA, and I am optimistic about the future of Biodynamics in the United States. Under the direction of Evrett Lundquist, Demeter is discussing integrating many of the same soil health and social welfare standards found in ROC. Demeter will always be, at heart, a small farm standard, which is a beautiful thing. Big Ag will never pollute Biodynamics because they have no soul — and Biodynamic farmers do.

The soul in Biodynamics is often referred to as spirituality. Some Biodynamic farmers start with their spirituality, which leads them to farming. Others, like me, come to Biodynamics as a quest for quality and then find personal spirituality in their relationship with their farm. You don’t have to be an anthroposophist to be a Biodynamic farmer, but you do need to be connected to nature.

Both the ROC and Demeter Biodynamic® create a structure from which you can develop a foundation for the health of the soil, plants, and people that make up your farm. They are standards to be achieved and a starting place for your journey to create a regenerative farm. The goal is always to make the Earth a better place for the next generations. That goal is achieved by not simply following the rules but learning from them and growing as both farmers and humans. Eventually, the requirements of the certifications become second nature, and you grow beyond them. Observation, intention, and an open mind are the most effective tools in agriculture.

I try to think of my grandchildren as we choose how to farm. They will not likely be debating Steiner's philosophies, but they will have to live in the world we leave to them. Doing the work to be certified is a gift to our grandchildren.

On the days that we received our Demeter Biodynamic® certification and then our Regenerative Organic Gold certification, instead of feeling achievement, I felt like we had just gotten to the starting line—that the work was starting to begin. I was right. The more you know, the more you realize you don't know, but the more you learn, the more you understand the clues that nature offers.

There is much more work to be done.

When we recorded this episode, Elizabeth was still executive director of the Regenerative Organic Alliance. She has just transitioned to a new strategic advisor and board member position. Elizabeth has successfully led the ROA and has been a guiding light as this movement has grown. We thank her for her services to the Earth.