Ep. 77 Mark Shepard on Restoration Agriculture: Designing Land That Heals Itself

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Discover how to design profitable, resilient agricultural landscapes using the principles of restoration agriculture. In this episode, Jared Sorensen hosts renowned agroforestry expert Mark Shepard for a deep, practical conversation about transforming degraded land, capturing water, integrating livestock, and building perennial ecosystems that thrive under stress.

Whether you're a rancher in the high desert, a farmer in the Midwest, or a land steward anywhere in between, Mark breaks down how to:

• Shape land to harvest and store water naturally
• Use perennial systems to build soil and long-term resilience
• Integrate crops, trees, and livestock into one profitable system
• Reduce inputs while increasing total ecosystem yield
• Apply restoration agriculture at backyard scale or large-acreage scale

Mark also shares insights from real projects across the U.S., and explains how restoration agriculture supports long-term profit, stewardship, and ecosystem regeneration.