In this Book
- One Size Fits None: A Farm Girl's Search for the Promise of Regenerative Agriculture
- Book
- 2019
- Published by: University of Nebraska Press
summary
2019 Midwest Book Award for Nature
2020 High Plains Book Award Finalist
2020 Silver Nautilus Book Award Winner in Green Living and Sustainability
“Sustainable” has long been the rallying cry of agricultural progressives; given that much of our nation’s farm and ranch land is already degraded, however, sustainable agriculture often means maintaining a less-than-ideal status quo. Industrial agriculture has also co-opted the term for marketing purposes without implementing better practices. Stephanie Anderson argues that in order to provide nutrient-rich food and fight climate change, we need to move beyond sustainable to regenerative agriculture, a practice that is highly tailored to local environments and renews resources.
In One Size Fits None Anderson follows diverse farmers across the United States: a South Dakota bison rancher who provides an alternative to the industrial feedlot; an organic vegetable farmer in Florida who harvests microgreens; a New Mexico super-small farmer who revitalizes communities; and a North Dakota midsize farmer who combines livestock and grain farming to convert expensive farmland back to native prairie. The use of these nontraditional agricultural techniques show how varied operations can give back to the earth rather than degrade it. This book will resonate with anyone concerned about the future of food in America, providing guidance for creating a better, regenerative agricultural future.
Download a discussion guide (PDF).
2020 High Plains Book Award Finalist
2020 Silver Nautilus Book Award Winner in Green Living and Sustainability
“Sustainable” has long been the rallying cry of agricultural progressives; given that much of our nation’s farm and ranch land is already degraded, however, sustainable agriculture often means maintaining a less-than-ideal status quo. Industrial agriculture has also co-opted the term for marketing purposes without implementing better practices. Stephanie Anderson argues that in order to provide nutrient-rich food and fight climate change, we need to move beyond sustainable to regenerative agriculture, a practice that is highly tailored to local environments and renews resources.
In One Size Fits None Anderson follows diverse farmers across the United States: a South Dakota bison rancher who provides an alternative to the industrial feedlot; an organic vegetable farmer in Florida who harvests microgreens; a New Mexico super-small farmer who revitalizes communities; and a North Dakota midsize farmer who combines livestock and grain farming to convert expensive farmland back to native prairie. The use of these nontraditional agricultural techniques show how varied operations can give back to the earth rather than degrade it. This book will resonate with anyone concerned about the future of food in America, providing guidance for creating a better, regenerative agricultural future.
Download a discussion guide (PDF).
Table of Contents

- Introduction
- pp. vii-xvi
- Part 1: Conventional
- 1. The Vice President
- pp. 3-14
- 2. The Farm We Grew
- pp. 15-24
- 3. The Growth of Roth Farms
- pp. 25-36
- 4. The Farm Town
- pp. 37-43
- 5. The Muck
- pp. 44-50
- Part 2: Holistic Regenerative
- 6. The Holistic Philosophy
- pp. 53-63
- 7. The Grass
- pp. 64-77
- 8. The Buffalo
- pp. 78-87
- 9. The End of the CAFO
- pp. 88-96
- 10. The Sun’s Wealth
- pp. 97-110
- Part 3: Organic Regenerative
- 11. The Surfing Farmer
- pp. 113-119
- 12. The Mission
- pp. 120-127
- 13. The Plants
- pp. 128-135
- 14. The Lifestyle
- pp. 136-141
- 15. The Consumer
- pp. 142-150
- 16. The Farmer Goes to the Table
- pp. 151-163
- 17. The Urban Farmer
- pp. 164-174
- 18. The Agriculturalized City
- pp. 175-182
- Part 4: Diversified Regenerative
- 19. The Diversified Farm
- pp. 185-191
- 20. The Soil
- pp. 192-204
- 21. The Abundance of an Acre
- pp. 205-214
- 22. The Livestock
- pp. 215-220
- 23. The Alternative to Hay
- pp. 221-227
- 24. The Restoration of the Native Prairie
- pp. 228-240
- 25. The Farmers’ Market
- pp. 241-251
- 26. The Message to Conventional Farmers
- pp. 252-262
- Conclusion
- pp. 263-266
- Acknowledgments
- pp. 267-268
- Bibliography
- pp. 291-296
Additional Information
ISBN
9781496211941
Related ISBN(s)
9781496205056
MARC Record
OCLC
1076875923
Pages
320
Launched on MUSE
2019-01-02
Language
English
Open Access
No