The Carbon Farmer: Brad Rabiey at TEDxRedDeer

Brad grew up just east of Manning, Alberta, on a farm that has been in his family for three generations. He loved the connection to food and nature that the farm gave him, but every year he heard his dad complain about how the farm wasn't sustainable the way it was. Factors like rising fertilizer costs and closing local elevators were making it harder and harder for "the little guys" in agriculture to survive.
Not seeing a future on the farm, after high school he left the only home he had ever known to get an education and chase a career in the bright lights of Edmonton, Alberta. He had some amazing life changing adventures during his seven years away from rural life, including meeting his wife Rebecca serendipitously outside an elevator, but despite all the positives, he just wasn't happy in the concrete jungle. So he returned to his roots in the Peace Country and put some rather unconventional agricultural roots back into the soil of the Rabiey family farm.
On his journey to cut a new path for the family farm, without cutting down any trees, Brad Rabiey has been called many things, but crazy has certainly been one of the most uttered. You could say that this farmer has "gone wild" in the face criticism and is redefining agriculture along the way.

[bkettle]

Great to see such a real initiative happening on the ground --wishing you best of success with baby and soil, Transition Town Orewa, New Zealand

[forgoodnessache]

Do not "weed around the trees"!! Fix the soil and plant many other species around those trees... Watch soil scientist Dr. Elaine Ingham's presentations here on YouTube AND LEARN. Otherwise, I'm sure much of what you're doing is positive.