Odes honor 'Pasture-raised' agricultural practices
In 2016, the Pasture-Fed Livestock Association commissioned a unique project that brought together poetry and sustainable farming. The result was a collection of poems titled The Soil Never Sleeps, penned by Adam Horovitz after living with four certified Pasture for Life livestock farmers over four seasons.
The farms Horovitz stayed at were a departure from the post-World War Two chemical-driven farming consensus, instead embracing a holistic, nurturing approach that benefits animals, the environment, and humanity. This approach is evident in the poems, which depict various aspects of livestock farming, from long walks across the Yorkshire Dales to quad bike rides for maggot patrol, visits from school children, and even tasting raw milk.
Horovitz's poems are open and honest, exploring the highs and lows of livestock farming, from birth to death. The farmers' voices are heard within the poems, giving a unique insight into their experiences and philosophies. The collection is illustrated with original line drawings by artist Jo Sanders.
The Soil Never Sleeps contains fifty-three poems and was launched at the Oxford Real Farming Conference in Oxford Town Hall on 4 January 2018. The closing section of the collection reflects on the ethics and politics of farming today.
The collaboration between Horovitz and the Pasture-Fed Livestock Association serves as an innovative example of blending artistic expression with agricultural sustainability efforts. By using poetry as a medium, the project fosters a deeper public appreciation for pasture-fed livestock farming, helping to raise awareness of its benefits for animal welfare, environmental health, and rural communities.
The Soil Never Sleeps is available for purchase from publishers Palewell Press UK online at palewellpress.co.uk or from booksellers, priced at £9.99. This collection is a testament to the beauty and importance of sustainable farming practices and the artistic expression they inspire.
