PROJECT PRIMORDIA

RAISING SEED CAPITAL FOR THE ULTIMATE ECOVILLAGE

Image source. Note: Primordia will not have windmills! I just thought this picture was very thought-provoking.

"Conservation is a state of harmony between men and land."

-Aldo Leopold

INTRODUCTION AND QUALIFICATIONS

Hey there! Before diving right into the ecovillage idea, I think it’s best to introduce myself.

My name is Saadat Faiz. I’m a graduate student at Miami University pursuing an MA in conservation biology. I’m also an independent writer and filmmaker based in Michigan (my classes are remote!). Over the past few years, I’ve had the awesome opportunity to travel to some of the wildest places on Earth to complete conservation expeditions as part of obtaining my degree, known as Earth Expeditions! I’ve camped in lion and hyena territory in Africa, practiced agroforestry with local farmers in the jungles of Brazil, worked with renowned scientists on extensive species recovery programs and grassland regeneration projects, lived with the Indigenous Maasai people, and much, much more. Apart from my studies, I have also traveled extensively throughout the US, having visited over 40 US states and numerous national parks, including Alaska and Yellowstone National Park.

This is a photo of me in Kenya with two rangers from the Olgulului community of the Amboseli ecosystem. These rangers are employed by the Big Life Foundation and guard nature in their local communities from issues and threats such as poaching.

A photo of me during an expedition in Yellowstone National Park. I am holding the remains of a bull elk in Yellowstone National Park. The end of the leg had been sawed off by members of the Yellowstone Wolf Project to be researched in the lab.

Footage of me chopping banana trees with a machete in the jungles of Brazil during my 2023 Earth Expedition with Miami University. The pieces of the banana trees were used to assist young coffee plants with their growth. The banana tree pieces act as armor for the soil and help it to retain moisture.

I have utterly fallen in love with the places I’ve stayed at and the people that call them home. Throughout my travels, I’ve made many friends and connections with intelligent and driven conservationists, and I am incredibly grateful to have these people in my life today.

The focus of my final paper this semester (and last) is regenerative farming. Specifically, rotational livestock grazing and the ability of integrated crop and livestock systems to enhance ecosystems and regenerate soils. I have poured into countless books and peer-reviewed papers, collecting data and evidence on this topic. As grueling as the research was at times, I was so fascinated by what I was learning about the ecology of producing food that I didn’t mind!

Agriculture is the number one cause of environmental destruction on our planet today. More specifically, improper agricultural methods, mainly industrial agriculture like factory farming and monoculture. These styles of “farming” have deteriorated the planet to the point where food security is now a serious problem facing humanity. On the other hand, regenerative agriculture is a style of farming that supports biodiversity, enhances ecosystems, and regenerates soil that has been degraded by improper farming practices. Regenerative agriculture also produces food that is more nutritious and much safer for human beings!

Over the past three years, I’ve interviewed several regenerative farmers, including Joel Salatin of Polyface Farms and Will Harris of White Oak Pastures. I’ve even stayed at farms for extended periods to help with farm chores, record footage and interviews with the farmers and workers, and simply enjoy being part of farm life. The interviews I’ve conducted can be found on my YouTube channel’s podcast playlist. On this playlist, I’ve uploaded interviews that I’ve done with a wide variety of scientists, authors, and conservationists.

I’ve always been involved with wildlife for as long as I can remember. As a child, I caught frogs, snakes, bugs, you name it! Steve Irwin was and still is one of my heroes. I have cared for a number of pets, from bearded dragons to betta fish. Wildlife is in my blood. However, I now wish to help the natural world with this passion of mine. That is why, over the past few years, I’ve been keeping livestock species for natural meat production. Since the land I currently have is not large enough to raise sheep or cattle, I’ve focused on poultry species. I’ve raised chickens, quails, ducks, and turkeys, all using the regenerative principles I’ve been learning about, with great success. Through my YouTube channel, I have been steadily sharing the natural processes I get to witness while raising these birds.

With all that I’ve learned and experienced throughout the last few years, I feel now is a better time than ever for me to not only raise awareness but also to act. I aim to join in on the battle to protect Earth’s remaining ecosystems and foster the creation of new ones. That is why I’m creating this ecovillage. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you Ecovillage Primordia.

WHAT IS PRIMORDIA???

As I type this, Primordia is just an idea. It's a crazy ambitious one, but an idea, nonetheless. “Primordia” is the name for the ecovillage I am creating! Many ecovillages exist in our world today, and they all inspire the heck out of me. Ithaca EcoVillage is one such ecovillage that I am especially amazed by. I recommend watching this video to see what an exemplary ecovillage is like!

With the rise of off-grid societies, ecovillages, and the desire for a more self-sufficient lifestyle embedded in nature, I believe there is no time like the present for the creation of yet another incredible ecovillage. Primordia is to be an ecovillage and society of nature lovers, food growers, and creatives who wish to realign themselves with their evolutionary biology and truly connect with nature. This means less screen time, using all five senses to create and work on things with other community members, and connecting with the land and animals on a very deep level. This is all in service to my vision of a world in which humans and nature are connected once again.

MY WHY

“Eating is an agricultural act.”

~ Wendell Berry, What Are People For?

“Eating is an ecological act.”

~ Michael Pollan, The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals.

We live in a world where the meat we buy comes from animals that have suffered their entire lives. Not just the meat but nearly everything lining the shelves at big-chain stores comes from highly unethical production processes. Many consumers, especially myself, are fed up with this and are seeking alternatives. On the plus side, the demand for locally produced, ethical, natural foods has never been higher. In many ways, now is the ideal opportunity to create an ecovillage. Ecovillage Primordia will be an alternative option for those seeking lives more connected to nature’s cycles.

Monoculture farming has decimated a large fraction of all land on Earth. Virtually every morsel of food produced in large modern cities comes from monoculture practices and Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs). Monoculture farming and CAFOs are two very destructive uses of land use. They are the primary reasons agriculture is the number one cause of environmental destruction and species loss on our planet today.

It seems like we have it all figured out in modern society. Fast cars, high-definition screens, fast internet, computers in our pockets, and food at every turn. But what many of us don’t see, behind the closed curtains, is that we are essentially torturing animals by the billions and wiping out all the biodiversity of our soils and ecosystems, which, by the way, is the only reason we are able even to produce food and breathe air on Earth in the first place! NO SOIL = NO ECOSYSTEMS = NO FOOD = HUMAN EXTINCTION. Many animals trapped within CAFO systems never get to see the light of day, enjoy a fresh breeze, or feel the grass beneath their feet. Instead, they suffer in the dark amongst a mixture of feces, blood, and disease. For many of these animals, we have created hell on Earth, supposedly for our convenience. I will say this bluntly: WE DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO DO THIS TO OTHER SENTIENT LIFE FORMS!

“Not only do we lack dominion over nature… we are subordinate to it.”

~ Ian Malcolm, Jurassic World: Dominion (2022)

If factory farming systems of food production continue, humans will be the next species to suffer. NO SOIL = NO ECOSYSTEMS = NO FOOD = HUMAN EXTINCTION.

Currently, industrial farming systems are collapsing on themselves. These systems of food production have continuously been destroying our planet’s biodiversity and ecosystems for the past century.

MAJOR PROBLEMS THAT ARISE FROM MONOCULTURE AND CAFOS:

EMERGENCE OF RESISTANT PATHOGENS (Ex: E. coli and Salmonella)

SOIL DEGRADATION (Loss of topsoil is raising serious concerns on how to feed a growing human population)

HEALTH RISKS TO CONSUMERS (Pesticides, herbicides, growth hormones, antibiotics, and other chemicals have been proven to cause dangerous and even fatal conditions in the human body, including cancer).

ENVIRONMENTAL DEVASTATION (Industrial farming methods such as monoculture are the number one cause of deforestation, pollution, loss of biodiversity, and overall ecological destruction on the planet)

So, who SHOULD we buy our food from? Local regenerative farmers. Not multi-billion dollar corporations that DO NOT respect nature's cycles nor the health of their customers (You!). Ecovillage Primordia is to be a haven for regenerative farming and nature lovers alike. The main reason I am creating this ecovillage is to reduce animal suffering in CAFOs and the destruction of our ecosystems by providing an alternative source of meat and produce for consumers. Since every ecosystem is different, it’s local farmers who are stewards of their land that have the most potential to manage land holistically.

OBJECTIVES OF PRIMORDIA

"To love a place is not enough. We must find ways to heal it."

~ Robin Wall Kimmerer, Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants

Simply put, Primordia's main objective is to produce food from nature by enhancing nature. On top of this goal, there are many interconnected objectives:

Create energy-efficient systems of food production that have a net negative carbon footprint, enhance biodiversity, and involve hands-on teamwork and community building.
Create jobs in horticulture, livestock rearing, and other natural activities that are great for mental and physical health.
Be a zero-waste establishment. Composting and recycling nutrients back into the nitrogen, carbon, phosphorous and mineral cycles.
Sequester carbon through managed plant growth.

Regenerate degraded soils and biodiversity with integrated crop and livestock systems combined with aquaponics and aquaculture.
Enhance soil biodiversity, productivity, and resilience by working with Earth’s biogeochemical cycles.
Educate the next generation of farmers with hands-on work to transition into becoming primary food producers that support local ecology and sustainability.
Using lab equipment such as microscopes and a team of motivated scientists (this can be you!), perform pilot studies on the soil to understand relationships between fungi, microbes, roots, livestock, bottom-up effects, and the nitrogen cycle. What we learn is to be shared publicly so that other farmers and gardeners around the globe can adopt what has worked for us.
Perform nutrient density tests on food products such as proximate analyses, vitamin/mineral analyses, and amino acid profiling.
Implementation of farmer Gabe Brown’s five tenets of soil health.
Minimize usage of fossil fuels and heavy machinery whenever possible.
Share what is happening in Primordia in the form of a TV show and/or a YouTube series. YouTube is now the primary objective, but expanding to TV, Netflix is on the radar.
Invite guests and public figures to stay and join in on an episode of the Primordia podcast in which they share what their experience has been like. This will be the primary form of marketing and knowledge-sharing. Guests from all walks of life may have the option to be interviewed during their stay at Primordia!
Develop resilience in soil and livestock systems against disease. Disease mitigation will NOT be addressed through the usage of chemicals from big pharmaceutical companies unless absolutely required. Instead, Primordia will prioritize creating an ecosystem that is highly resilient to the emergence of dangerous pathogens in the first place.
Invite scientists to study what is happening on the land and share their findings.
Invite artists and storytellers to share their vision of Primordia through their work, using sustainable art supplies produced in Primordia!

LONG-TERM OBJECTIVES:

Create an Eco park. The best way to describe my vision for this park is to say that it will be sort of like a mixture between a zoo and a national park. All species brought here will be for wildlife rehabilitation or captive breeding for release into the wild. The goal is to have animal ambassadors for viewers to see and learn from, as well as controlled species reintroductions to enhance ecological function, native biodiversity, and species abundance to the point where coming here will feel like a trip to Jurassic Park. Holocene Park, I should say. 
Construct larger infrastructures, such as a pavillion, large lodge, library, etc., using the organic architecture style of the late Frank Lloyd Wright. We will need a lot of brilliant, driven engineers who seek to express their creativity in their work! Please share this link with them now!
Establish a wildlife rehabilitation center and on-farm veterinary clinic.

Partner with conservation organizations such as the Xerces Society, The Nature Conservancy, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and more.
Create educational systems that heavily focus on creativity, ecology, Indigenous knowledge, and cultures, working with the hands and body, using every part of the animal, fostering child-like wonder and a thirst for knowledge through raw curiosity. Generational knowledge of Indigenous cultures will be preserved and spread to modern generations (examples: How to make pemmican, how to make a bowstring using sinew, how to waterproof leather using deer fat, etc.)
Establish ecotourism on par with Disney World. Not necessarily in the volume of visitors but rather in the popularity of Primordia and the genuine desire to visit this incredible place (Go ahead and laugh now, but this is a serious objective).
Create a sustainable local economy. In many ways, economic success is no longer synonymous with economic growth. What is needed is sustainable economic efficiency. Primordia hopes to be a stellar example of what is possible. It also seeks to share the blueprint of what has worked with other farms and eco-communities to support the replication of sustainable living systems globally.

Ecovillage Primordia seeks to allow freedom from large corporations. There will be little to no dependence on large corporations. A major tenet of Primordia will be that all products produced in Primordia will be biogenic.

Biogenic (adj.): Anything produced by or originating from living organisms. (Think simple, natural sources—no super-long ingredient lists!)

On top of producing eco-friendly food and products that are great for human health, the various studies and integrated crop and livestock experiments will provide a wealth of knowledge for science. It will allow us to understand the relationships between microorganisms in the soil, larger organisms above the soil, and plants at a very deep level. This rich knowledge can be applied when creating more resilient, natural, and energy-efficient systems of food production throughout the world. It will also allow us to study and witness how native species are affected by regenerative farming and how they react to what we are doing to the land. This will help scientists and conservationists cultivate more symbiotic relationships between native species and domesticated species.

ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

“Conservation without money is just conversation. If you didn't include local communities, it is a very bad conversation.”

~ Constantino Aucca Chutas

Primordia is both a mission-driven venture and a stupidly ambitious one. This is my intention, as I believe there are not nearly enough conservation projects that seek to disrupt conservation as a whole and invoke massive positive change in the midst of the Anthropocene. In my opinion, there can always be bigger, better, and more effective conservation projects. This is why I’ve decided to take a hybrid approach with Ecovillage Primordia.

Hybrid structure combining aspects of both models below:

For-Profit with Social Responsibility: Operate as a for-profit but will commit to transparent practices and reinvest a percentage of profits into sustainability or social initiatives.
Nonprofit-For-Profit Partnership: Create a nonprofit to secure grants and donations for the educational and community aspects while operating for-profit businesses within the eco-village to sustain day-to-day operations.

Funding Sources: Grants, donations, private equity, loans, income (see “SOURCES OF INCOME” section)

The primary goal with Primordia is to achieve a mission. That mission is to produce food from nature by enhancing nature (and all the other objectives listed above). That being said, Ecovillage Primordia would also like to generate a profit and potentially a return for investors. But this will be later when Primordia is considered both an ecovillage and a conservation-based park. Most if not all earnings will be recycled back into the financial flow of the ecovillage and its facilities.

WHERE WILL THE MONEY BE GOING?

Below, I’ve included a rough idea of how I would like to begin the first steps of acquisition and how capital will be invested. Obviously, this is considering land acquisition has already been made. I will be diving into land acquisition and the importance of location in the “Importance of Location” section of this article.

TO BE BOUGHT INITIALLY:

Land: See the “Importance of Location” section of this article.

Yurt: Prices can range from 10,000 to 30,000 USD. There needs to be at least one to start. Unlike houses, they are mobile structures and can be built far more quickly. Not to mention, they are a lot cheaper than a house!

Poultry Species: I have tremendous experience raising chickens, turkeys, ducks, and quails. I have been raising these species for over four years with incredible results on half an acre of land. Thus, I’d like to kick off Primordia’s meat production systems with these species!

Poultry Units: To construct mobile poultry housing units, minimal equipment and wood are needed: 2x4s, poultry wire, and mobile electric fencing. This is where the engineers can truly PLAY. Joel Salatin's book on his own farm’s designs can serve as a great guide!

Guard dogs: Breeds such as Anatolian shepherds, Great Pyrenees, Australian shepherds, German shepherds, and Kangals will integrate best with Primordia’s livestock systems. Guard dogs will be the primary defense against predators, as Primordia will seek to avoid killing any predators if possible. These breeds are excellent at deterring all predators that pose a threat to livestock.

TO BE BOUGHT LATER:

Everything required to construct what is to be built later. Also, hiring the people, buying the equipment, all of it.

TO BE BUILT INITIALLY:

Yurts: If built using only resources from the land, yurts can be constructed in the traditional fashion of nomadic Mongolians, using local wood and animal skins. The construction process could be shared with the public through a YouTube series or show (see “Marketing” section).
Greenhouses
Lifehouses (more on this later; check out my YouTube channel for upcoming videos on this. I am very excited to share this idea of mine.)
Mobile Poultry, Sheep, and Goat Units (inspired by Joel Salatin’s book!)
Microscopes: To study and record the relationships between fungi, bacteria, and other microbial lifeforms interacting in the soil in response to integrated livestock and cropping systems. Understanding how nitrogen embedded in organisms is used by species in the soil.

TO BE BUILT LATER:

Yurts for ecotourism stays
Cabin-style homes
Slaughterhouse and Processing Facility
Restaurant (I’m very excited about this, as someone who loves to cook and connect with where my food comes from. This will be a one-of-a-kind spectacle of a restaurant. No guilt-dining).
Central Lodge for luxury ecotourism stays and dining. Flushed with Harry Potter-inspired dining halls, etc.
Library. The central lodge will also have a library, where visitors can read while viewing the outdoors and natural systems. This is to induce maximum inspiration and spark new ideas in visitors.
Pavillion
Blacksmithing building
Much more (The bullet points in this section are just me brainstorming my long-term vision of Ecovillage Primordia)

Primordia seeks to be on par with Disney World in terms of popularity. The marketing section will cover my plans to get there. I will need all the assistance I can get to create a self-sustaining, fully functional regional economy. The plan is to create an unfathomably beautiful society in which humans and nature have been reconnected. Although this is an incredibly colossal vision, with the current state of our planet and the rising demand to realign with nature, it’s also an idea with massive potential. Potential to spread positivity and revitalize a dying planet.

People will want to visit and stay at Ecovillage Primordia not only to view nature and wildlife, but also to detox from all the toxins prevalent in modern society's processed foods and products. Primordia seeks to offer a complete escape from these toxins and a full body detox. Physical, mental, and spiritual detoxification will take place at Ecovillage Primordia. People will come here to do more than enjoy. They will come here to heal.

I am looking for driven engineers, artists, botanists, organic food growers, storytellers, and, honestly, anyone who wishes to offer something substantial to the birth of this ecovillage. Individuals who seek to channel their creativity for the benefit of humanity are more than welcome. If this piques your interest, feel free to contact me at saadatfaiz@gmail.com.

SOURCES OF INCOME

Primordia will be focused on sustainable ecotourism in which visitors do not feel like visitors. Rather than coming to view wildlife, plants, and ecosystems, we will ask our visitors to touch and connect with it all. All meals served at Primordia will be farm-to-table from the restaurant. The restaurant is to be one of a kind and will serve as a model for all restaurants regarding sourcing ingredients. Apart from enjoying the lodging and eating the delicious natural foods, there will be other sources of income.

FIVE SOURCES OF INCOME:

Product sales: Meat, dairy, eggs, vegetables, fruits, clothes, bags, gifts, and art, all from resources obtained from the plants and animals of the land.

Lodging: Stays at yurts, luxury stays, guided outfitting (no firearms used in nature, only bows and falconry)

Ecotourism Activities: Guided Outfitting, Farming, Harvesting, Horseback Riding, Guided Hikes, Wagon Rides

Restaurant Sales: Primordia Restaurant is to be a beautiful restaurant designed with the late Frank Lloyd Wright’s philosophy of organic architecture, and serve an endless supply of natural food.

Media and Book Sales: Wild Primal YouTube channel, Man Is Wild series, Wild Primal Podcast, Sponsorships, book sales (book sales is more so marketing)

On top of the five sources of income, donations will be accepted.

EXCEPTIONAL TRANSPARENCY

Words such as “natural” and “organic” are so often bastardized by large brand names and corporations. The true meanings of these terms have been obfuscated to the point of madness. At Ecovillage Primordia, we will approach this confusion by sharing the results of a simple test on all our products and projects, the life cycle assessment.

A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a systematic method used to evaluate the environmental impacts of a product, process, or service throughout its entire production chain or “life cycle”. It is a comprehensive approach to understanding the environmental consequences of production-based decisions, including resource extraction, product creation, disposal, recycling, and more. Conservations on climate change and carbon footprint that do not mention LCA scores are often based heavily on bias and incomplete data sets. The LCA has the potential to clarify the climate and carbon conversation in any given situation.

Here is a link to the full study and results of one of my favorite LCAs. The results revealed that ground beef from Will Harris’ White Oak Pastures, a farm that I’ve stayed at and am currently working with on social media projects, had a net-negative carbon footprint. Quantis conducted the study with the help of Dr. Jason Rowntree of Michigan State University, Dr. Steven Rosenzweig of General Mills, and the White Oak Pastures team in Georgia. The findings of this study have been shared with The Nature Conservancy, Colorado State University, and other organizations. For comparison, the LCA of Burger King’s plant-based Impossible Burger patty had a net-positive carbon footprint.

At Primordia, we will be transparent with all production processes and attempt to share LCA scores on everything. In other words, if the funding to conduct the LCA is there and it makes sense to do it, the test will be done. It’s unfortunate that it’s a rather expensive test to conduct. I have communicated with Dr. Jason Rowntree through email, and plan to discuss how LCAs can be done more frequently at Ecovillage Primordia.

MARKETING

Wild Primal YouTube Channel.

Wild Primal Podcast.

Man Is Wild YouTube Series.

Book Sales

Partnerships and collaborations (conservation groups, public figures, other YouTube channels and Instagram pages, etc.)

I have plans to travel to the UK in the summer of 2025 to collaborate with other driven creatives involved in media whom I have recently met over YouTube. The aim is to make the YouTube series an absolute success in order to garner substantial attention for the idea of Ecovillage Primordia. Although I now focus on YouTube, I am open to expanding to streaming platforms in the future, based on the situation.

I am confident that I can make the YouTube channel, podcast, and series fund itself. Once the viewership is a little higher, I plan to travel to different parts of the world using the networking connections I’ve made during my time as a Dragonfly student with Miami University. Locations I would like to travel to are places where humans and nature live as one and share this kind of lifestyle with the world.

I am glad to say that I have secured a tremendous amount of networking. I’ve interviewed some of the most famous farmers on the planet, am collaborating with White Oak Pastures on social media projects, and have plans to collaborate with large creators on YouTube with massive followings. I am also intending on appearing as a guest on major podcasts worldlwide to spread my message. Two farmers I’ve worked with, Joel Salatin and Will Harris, are recurring guests on the largest podcast in the world, JRE.

My goal for the next few months is to release videos of all the footage I’ve recorded. I have over 500 gigabytes worth of unreleased footage of my time overseas and in the US, so this is what will be keeping me busy for the next few months!

-Saadat Faiz, Founder of Ecovillage Primordia

IMPORTANCE OF LOCATION

WHAT KIND OF LAND AM I LOOKING FOR?

Grasslands and silvopasture. Silvopasture is defined by the USDA Forest Service as “the deliberate integration of trees and grazing livestock operations on the same land.” Basically, silvopasture means a combination of grasslands and forests. Forests contain very high levels of biodiversity, as well as high levels of mycorrhizal fungi in the soil. My plan is to spread this biodiversity, especially the mycorrhizal fungi, onto the soils of the grasslands (if it has not already occurred). I do not plan to use any fungicides or pesticides or any additional inputs in the form of chemicals! Also, Joel Salatin has told me that the added shade provided by the trees is quite helpful in rotational livestock systems during the hotter months of the year.

Grasslands produce one very valuable resource for humanity: meat, and they do so in a way that LCAs have proven to be not only sustainable but regenerative. If managed properly, grasslands also produce outstanding levels of biodiversity and species abundance. For these reasons and more, grassland biomes are of the utmost importance to humanity's future.

As mentioned above, one of Primordia's objectives is to regenerate degraded land. There is a vast quantity of degraded agricultural land, particularly in the US, which is raising serious concerns about how we can feed a growing human population if our topsoils continue to die. I am in the market for grasslands and silvopasture with adjacent plots of degraded land that currently have little to no productive value. To regenerate these lands, I have a number of plans that I’ve studied thoroughly and even tested (and continue to test) on my half-acre of land in Michigan.

THE BIOLOGY OF REGENERATING LAND

Before jumping into my plan for regenerating land, we must familiarize ourselves with what rhizospheres are. The rhizosphere is the narrow region of soil that surrounds and is directly influenced by plant roots. It is a dynamic environment where complex interactions occur among the roots, soil, microorganisms, and nutrients. This zone is critical for plant health and soil fertility because of the following features:

Nutrient Exchange: Plant roots release exudates (such as sugars, amino acids, and organic acids) into the rhizosphere, which can alter the availability of nutrients in the soil.
Microbial Activity: The rhizosphere is rich in microbial life, including bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms, which interact with roots to enhance nutrient uptake, suppress pathogens, and improve soil structure.
Chemical Environment: The biochemical activity in the rhizosphere often changes the pH and chemical composition of the soil, making it unique compared to the bulk soil further from the roots.
Soil Structure: The roots influence soil porosity and aggregation in the rhizosphere, impacting water movement and aeration.

The rhizosphere plays a vital role in ecosystems, particularly in nutrient cycling, plant growth, and maintaining soil health.

My plan is to combine integrated crop and rotational livestock systems, aquaponics, and Gabe Brown’s five tenets to regenerate degraded soils, potentially in record time. I aim to apply all I’ve learned about ecological farming systems to restore these degraded plots of land and return biodiversity to the landscape. By assisting beneficial mycorrhizal fungi and other keystone soil species in spreading from natural grasslands and forests (where they tend to be found in abundance) onto degraded land, the regeneration process can begin. When healthy populations of microbes, fungi, earthworms, and other organisms have reestablished their populations in the damaged soil, a revitalization process will kickstart. The rhizosphere of all the plants in the integrated crop system will benefit from the integration of a diversity of livestock species and create a very resilient ecosystem in the soil. Each species of livestock has manure with inherent qualities and compositions that impact different plant rhizospheres in different ways. For instance, during my Brazil Expedition with Miami University, I learned that a particular seed only germinates if consumed and outputted through the digestive system of a specific species of bird. Also, horse manure is more carbon-rich than cattle manure, which is something that can be taken into consideration when integrating animals into the system. This is a vastly understudied field in science. Pilot studies are to be conducted routinely in Ecovillage Primordia with the intent of sharing this knowledge publicly and contributing to science as a whole. These pilot studies can lead to discoveries that will be invaluable for our food production systems. With a diversity of resilient rhizospheres spread across the land, vast habitats will be provided for the microbial life forms and invertebrates upon which soil health depends. Degraded lands can be transformed into abundant ecosystems full of life.

This is a photo of me in Kenya during my 2024 Earth Expedition with Miami University. Students, including myself, took turns performing a pin frame count. This method allows data collection on grassland plant species, including factors such as grazed or ungrazed blades of grass.

This type of land regeneration has already been achieved by several regenerative farmers, including Joel Salatin, Will Harris, and the farmers featured in The Biggest Little Farm (2018). This is a documentary that was recommended to me by regenerative farmer Wendy Babcock of Serendipity Farms. It is a film that has impacted me immensely. It shares the story of how one family bought a large tract of degraded land in California and completely regenerated it using nature’s principles (including livestock integration, earthworm production, innovative usage of livestock to tackle pests, and more). I’ve rewatched the film many times. My plan is to do the same thing that the farmers in this film did with degraded land of my own. I have already networked with the people involved with this film and farm (Apricot Lane Farms) to help regenerate land of my own.

Clean water access and a few other geographical factors will also need to be considered and assessed for the type of land I’m looking for. Below, I’ve included a diagram of how land can be viewed and the things I am considering when looking for land to acquire.

ON DISCONNECTED LAND

I am open to acquiring land that is not initially connected. Expansion does not necessarily need to spread from a specific starting point, as I am open to acquiring land in numerous different locations if I receive enough support (I’d need multiple stewards of multiple landscapes to help me!).

When farmer Will Harris of White Oak Pastures was driving me around his 3000+ acre farm, he was explaining to me how they have been aggressively buying up surrounding tracts of land to add to their regenerative farming operation. Many of these plots of land were not connected to the land that White Oak Pastures already owned. Learning about this inspired me to not be afraid to try this method. The American Prairie Reserve is also doing this in Montana on a vast scale.

I do not plan to aggressively take land from individuals who own it or live near it (unless, of course, it is big corporations and government entities that are destroying the land for immediate profit. That land I would not mind buying!). Rather, my aim is to get to know the local communities and form strong bonds with them. My goal with Ecovillage Primordia is to make people WANT to live next to it. It’s a lot more enjoyable being neighbors with an ecovillage than it is to be neighbors with a factory farming operation. Many folks will tell you the horrendous stench that blankets towns that are situated near industrial farming operations. Not to mention the poisons being introduced into their water and food supply. Ecovillages do the exact opposite of this. They clean, regenerate, and revitalize the landscape, bringing back wildlife and ecosystems while also producing the best food on Earth.

Every ecosystem is different than the next, which is why it is so important to work with local communities and gain their respect and assistance. Throughout the course of my travels, expeditions, and science work, I’ve fallen in love with the ecosystems and people of Oregon, Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Colorado, and Minnesota. I love Michigan, too, but there are just too many dense forests, and this would prevent large-scale rotational grazing projects.

The Great Plains as a whole is a target location. This broad expanse of flat land is the ideal spot to do regenerative practices such as managed and monitored rotational livestock grazing. In its natural state, these plains supported populations of massive animals such as bison and elk numbering in the tens of millions. Compared to those numbers, the plains have essentially been emptied. It is the mission of many regenerative livestock farmers, including myself, to get animals out of CAFOs and back onto the landscape.

Ted Turner and what he has done with the land he owns are big inspirations to me. Very few people own more land than Ted Turner. But what he does with the land he owns is what inspires me. He keeps it wild and makes it WILDER if possible. On top of that, he shares it with visitors in the form of ecotourism. Ecovillages Primordia will do the same while also producing natural food for visitors to truly connect with the ecosystem by becoming a part of it. It’s important to note that much of the land Mr. Turner owns is not physically connected.

Ideally, the location of Ecovillage Primordia must allow for the expansion from an ecovillage to an eco-kingdom of sorts as more tracts of land are bought up as the years go by. A town-sized eco kingdom where all production processes are sustainable, with minimal fossil fuel and machinery usage. Every single resident of the eco-kingdom will be a steward of the land and protector of all things wild. That is the long-term vision. Primordia seeks to be an example of what is possible on a large scale.

The short-term vision is to acquire any agricultural land, maybe 1-10 acres, and regenerate and rewild it. Also, to share the process on YouTube. This will be an invaluable learning experience. The family in The Biggest Little Farm (2018) raised capital for their farm, which now spans over 200 acres, and successfully regenerated it. I want to do something similar.

WHERE TO BEGIN: BRIDGE TO PRIMORDIA

To begin, I just need some land and a yurt. The aim is to start practicing regenerating land and producing natural foods on a 1-10 acre scale before all else. I am beyond confident that I can regenerate degraded soils using a combination of integrated crop and livestock systems combined with aquaponics. In fact, I’ve already done this! On our half acre of land, I’ve done rotational grazing with four different poultry species (chickens, ducks, turkeys, quails) with outstanding results. I intend to share more of this on my YouTube channel in the coming months, so stay tuned.

The next few years of my life will be dedicated to producing episodes of my YouTube series and growing my audience. I will also be networking and working on creating a conservation society called the Society of Primordia. The purpose of this conservation society will be to grow a team of like-minded individuals to assist in the creation of Ecovillage Primordia.

When John and Molly Chester, owners of the incredible farm in The Biggest Little Farm (2018), purchased and developed the land for their farm, they relied on a combination of their personal connections, fundraising efforts, and support from investors. Specifically:

Wealthy Investors: The Chesters received significant financial backing from private investors who believed in their vision of regenerative farming. These investors were crucial in enabling them to buy the land and begin transforming it into Apricot Lane Farms.
John’s Film Industry Background: John had a successful career as a filmmaker, which helped him network with people who could support their project. His storytelling skills later played a role in securing funding and public interest in their venture.
Passion-Driven Partnerships: The couple’s enthusiasm and commitment to regenerative agriculture attracted like-minded people willing to support their dreams financially and professionally.

This model is an example of how shared vision and alignment with sustainability goals can inspire investment in ambitious projects. If this article has piqued your interest, please don’t hesitate to contact me at saadatfaiz@gmail.com or through my Instagram. Below is a link to donate to Ecovillage Primordia.

SEED CAPITAL: STRIPE LINK

Videos on Regenerative Farming:

https://youtu.be/a-zaAie8UZs?si=XBi6IFYmLLPndIgR

https://youtu.be/CNRRGlvBTdk?si=AFOriPBEEDFwc_MC

Quotes by Aldo Leopold from A Sand County Almanac:

"The landscape of any farm is the owner’s portrait of himself."

"In all of history, we have never learned to do a thing well before learning to enjoy it."

"The land ethic simply enlarges the boundaries of the community to include soils, waters, plants, and animals, or collectively: the land."

"There are two spiritual dangers in not owning a farm. One is the danger of supposing that breakfast comes from the grocery, and the other that heat comes from the furnace."

"When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect."

"Harmony with land is like harmony with a friend; you cannot cherish his right hand and chop off his left."

MORE ABOUT ME:

My name is Saadat Faiz. I’m a graduate student at Miami University pursuing an MA in conservation biology. I’m an independent writer and filmmaker based in Michigan, where I grew up. A lot of my childhood consisted of being outside looking for animals. I grew up raising many different pets, fishing, flipping rocks to find life, watching people like Steve Irwin and Bear Grylls, and reading books on dinosaurs, animals, and the wilderness. I recently began hunting in Michigan’s great forests. Wildlife is what I live for, and I will die fighting for the preservation of our ecosystems. I am the author of the nonfiction title Iconic Animals of the North: A Fact-Filled Exploration of Northern Wildlife.

The book that has impacted me the most is Hatchet by Gary Paulsen. I’m also a student of Jack London’s work. I am a creative writer, filmmaker, digital artist, avid drawer, and a big fan of art and work that comes from the heart. All of the work I produce is in service to my vision of a world in which humans and nature are connected once again. I will give my all to making this world wilder.

SOURCES AND REFERENCES:

Below, I’ve included links to my final papers this semester. Both of these papers contain treasure troves worth of evidence and peer-reviewed literature on the science-heavy topics I’ve discussed in this article. The citations are all in alphabetical order, APA-style in the references section of both documents. Free to check the references section of my final paper submissions at Miami University:

My Final Inquiry Action paper and literature review for fall semester 2024, Miami University course, BIO 675 L.

My Final Synthesis for fall semester 2024, Miami University course BIO 634 G.