Uploaded December 2024 | Updated September 2026, 7 hours ago
Is the extent of your interest in agriculture merely how much you pay for the foods you buy at the grocery store?
Regenerative farming expert Jake Takiff describes a far different way of viewing agriculture — a deep, abiding relationship for the soil and all of the organisms that live on it — this week on Spirit Gym.
Watch the progress on Jake’s regenerative farm on social media via Instagram at instagram.com/cedarspringsfarm and YouTube at youtu.be/cJZIdEsg5AU?si=bkus7hQCF5mcjlv2 . Read more about Jake and Meghan at The Guardian at theguardian.com/environment/2021/may/08/colorado-regenerative-farming-cedar-springs . Work with Jake on a regenerative farming project of your own at Restoration Agriculture Development at restorationag.com/our-mission-2 .
Sign up for your Spirit Gym podcast membership at paulchek.com/podcast-collections/all-episodes so you can access members-only extended versions of the podcast along with exclusive Q&A opportunities with Paul.
0:00 Intro
3:53 Jake learned about regenerative farming from people who did it before it became cool.
11:29 What is the point of no return?
15:44 Jake’s definition of regenerative farming.
31:42 Beavers: Nature’s water management team.
37:55 Using bison and other cattle as buffers against drought.
43:25 The real problem with conventional agriculture is how it imposes its will on a landscape.
53:27 How long can a dairy cow be productive if you keep it away from feed overloaded with harmful chemicals? A very long time…
59:06 The intelligence of cows.
1:05:10 Cows are a force of nature.
1:19:56 Regenerative farmers look for cheaper opportunities with degraded land while operating on tighter budgets.
1:27:23 The conventionally grown “cheap” food sham.
Listen to Paul's conversation with Jake Takiff and check out the show notes page on our Spirit Gym website at paulchek.com/blog/podcast-episodes/episode-324-jake-takiff-farming-our-path-to-health-and-freedom
Thanks to our awesome sponsors!
• Organifi organifi.com/chek20 (save 20% on your purchase by using the code CHEK20 at checkout)
• Paleovalley paleovalley.com/chek15 (save 15% on your first purchase)
• BiOptimizers bioptimizers.com/living4d (save an extra 10% on your purchase by using the code PAUL10 at checkout)
• Wild Pastures wildpastures.com/paulchek (save 20% and free shipping for life plus $15 on your first order)
We may earn commissions from qualifying purchases using affiliate links.
Music Credit: Meet Your Heroes (444Hz) by Brave as Bears at braveasbears.bandcamp.com
All Rights Reserved MusicFit Records 2024 at musicfitrecords.com
Is the extent of your interest in agriculture merely how much you pay for the foods you buy at the grocery store?
Regenerative farming expert Jake Takiff describes a far different way of viewing agriculture — a deep, abiding relationship for the soil and all of the organisms that live on it — this week on Spirit Gym.
Watch the progress on Jake’s regenerative farm on social media via Instagram at instagram.com/cedarspringsfarm and YouTube at youtu.be/cJZIdEsg5AU?si=bkus7hQCF5mcjlv2 . Read more about Jake and Meghan at The Guardian at theguardian.com/environment/2021/may/08/colorado-regenerative-farming-cedar-springs . Work with Jake on a regenerative farming project of your own at Restoration Agriculture Development at restorationag.com/our-mission-2 .
Sign up for your Spirit Gym podcast membership at paulchek.com/podcast-collections/all-episodes so you can access members-only extended versions of the podcast along with exclusive Q&A opportunities with Paul.
0:00 Intro
3:53 Jake learned about regenerative farming from people who did it before it became cool.
11:29 What is the point of no return?
15:44 Jake’s definition of regenerative farming.
31:42 Beavers: Nature’s water management team.
37:55 Using bison and other cattle as buffers against drought.
43:25 The real problem with conventional agriculture is how it imposes its will on a landscape.
53:27 How long can a dairy cow be productive if you keep it away from feed overloaded with harmful chemicals? A very long time…
59:06 The intelligence of cows.
1:05:10 Cows are a force of nature.
1:19:56 Regenerative farmers look for cheaper opportunities with degraded land while operating on tighter budgets.
1:27:23 The conventionally grown “cheap” food sham.
Listen to Paul's conversation with Jake Takiff and check out the show notes page on our Spirit Gym website at paulchek.com/blog/podcast-episodes/episode-324-jake-takiff-farming-our-path-to-health-and-freedom
Thanks to our awesome sponsors!
• Organifi organifi.com/chek20 (save 20% on your purchase by using the code CHEK20 at checkout)
• Paleovalley paleovalley.com/chek15 (save 15% on your first purchase)
• BiOptimizers bioptimizers.com/living4d (save an extra 10% on your purchase by using the code PAUL10 at checkout)
• Wild Pastures wildpastures.com/paulchek (save 20% and free shipping for life plus $15 on your first order)
We may earn commissions from qualifying purchases using affiliate links.
Music Credit: Meet Your Heroes (444Hz) by Brave as Bears at braveasbears.bandcamp.com
All Rights Reserved MusicFit Records 2024 at musicfitrecords.com
