Another fascinating and somewhat scary book about what we are doing to the soil and water that nurtures all life on earth through our current farming techniques and practices. Did you know that "...conventionally farmed food requires three pounds of toxic chemicals per American per year"? In his new book coming out later this month (November, 2017), Josh Tickell talks about the history of farming, the growing use of chemicals to increase yield and how he believes that 'the way we practice agriculture today leads to the process of desertification that is destroying the production of the places where we grow food.'Tickell believes a more beneficial way to work the land is through 'regenerative' agriculture, 'a form of agriculture that employs the power of life to create life.' Regenerative agriculture builds soil fertility. The methods are simple: 'cover the soil with a living plant at all times, don't till, use sprays sparingly if at all, get ruminants and their manure onto the land, rotate crops, and always be a student of your soil's health.'For someone who is trying to eat a healthy diet, Tickell also has a section on 'The Healthy Plate' with good tips, such as 'Reverse your plate: eat more veggies, less meat, and less processed food.' Tickell warns us that our future depends on the condition of our soil; in fact, the very fate of our species depends on it. And the time to worry about it is RIGHT NOW!!Many thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the opportunity to read this important new book. I think I will be reading it again many times in the months to come.