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

Send us Fan Mail

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.

Jump over to YouTube to catch the video of this and all podcast episodes.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLpLUbiwmZtkszQAjdtlO8ZQiJjgrYGr1x