Traditionally, agricultural consultancy often involves a list of prescriptions for inputs and schedules. For Caroline Grindrod, regenerative farm designer and coach, this model is inherently broken because it removes the farmer from their own conversation with the land and their autonomy; to Caroline, a regenerative approach consists of 50% mindset, 40% farm design, and only 10% practices.
Caroline advocates for reteaching farmers how to reconnect with their farm, build regenerative mindsets, become systems-thinkers, and how to tune into the observation feedback loop which facilitates the regenerative transition. This is why Caroline co-founded Roots to Regeneration, a course which teaches the thinking, design, implementation and ongoing adaptation of resilient and profitable regenerative farming systems.
In this episode of the Regenerative Soils Series, Abby Rose and Caroline cover: how Caroline has seen observation improve farm profitability and resilience and some tips and frameworks for beginning a regenerative transition.
Key Takeaways
How a whole-system approach can create profitability
Caroline has been working with James and Helen Rebanks on Racy Ghyll Farm in the Lake District for a very long time. Their farm was previously overgrazed, with soil damage from using fertilisers.
Now, their soils are healthy and sequestering carbon, they have good plant diversity from regenerative grazing management, and they’ve intricately redesigned their system as a whole. Once James learned about the principles of soil health, he used all of the grants available to him to put in hedges, tall trees, and diverse grasses, which work together to maximize water retention in the ground.
What has made a huge difference to the farm’s profitability has been their shift towards choosing cow breeds that are right for their particular farm context, and then breeding them selectively. A typical farm makes a £1000 loss per cow per year, James’s farm is making an annual profit of £2000 per cow; the highest profitability Caroline has seen in dairy farming. Caroline attributes his success to his systems-thinking mindset and paradigm shift, and as a result his land also feels completely different than before. Now it is ‘rich with aliveness’.
How to ensure a successful regenerative transition
To secure a successful and lasting transition to regenerative agriculture, Caroline Grindrod applies an Integral Theory framework known as “All Quadrants, All Levels”. This approach advocates for transformation to be addressed holistically, through four distinct pillars:
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- The inner world: Focuses on the mindset and internal paradigm shift. Without a fundamental change in how the individual perceives their role within the ecosystem, new actions can often remain superficial or temporary.
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- Teaching & practices: The specific technical skills and tools required to manage the land differently. This includes practical learning and utilising systems like Soilmentor to track progress.
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- Social support: Surrounding yourself with a network that speaks the same language; without a supportive community, social pressure can cause individuals to revert to previous practices when things get difficult.
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- Systematic change: Addressing the broader environment, including policy, governance, and the supply chain. A successful transition requires the involvement of professionals, vets, agronomists, and advisors, who are also aligned with regenerative goals.
Key Insight: A truly successful transition is never about a single change; it requires simultaneous attention to all four quadrants to ensure the personal shift is backed by practical skill, social reinforcement, and structural alignment.
Practical ways to grow your regenerative mindset
“All great regenerative practitioners are just really good at looking at nature.”
Caroline recommends a couple of practical ways to start a regenerative transition on your farm:
- The ‘Sit Spot’ Exercise
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- This involves regularly visiting the same location on the farm to simply sit and observe. Through observing, you are moving from analytical thinking to sensory awareness (noticing sounds, smells, and seasonal shifts), developing an intuitive “barometer for aliveness” that allows you to detect ecological health or stress early.
- Caroline also recommends this to allow space to just relax and be on your farm. It’s a bit of a mindfulness exercise, which in turn allows you to make better decisions that aren’t driven by stress or pressure.
2. Start observing your soil using the ‘elemental conditions’ to guide you
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- Air: is the soil breathing? Do you see pockets of air in your soil profile? or is it anaerobic, compacted, or crusted over?
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- Water: is water soaking in or running off? Do you notice pooling or dry patches anywhere?
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- Earth: is there a crumbly soil structure? Can you see evidence of biological activity, like worm holes or cowpats quickly breaking down?
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- Photosynthesis: What is your soil coverage like? Is it patchy? Can you see bare soil when walking through your field?
Click the links above to see the Soilmentor tests you can do to monitor these elemental conditions!
Ready to start your own conversation with the land? Soilmentor helps you track the key indicators of soil health and build an “observation mindset”. Discover how our toolbox can help you monitor your farm’s transition and make more informed, confident decisions. Contact us on info@vidacycle.com or sign up to our newsletter to hear about future episodes of the Regen Soils Series!
