Reaping what we sow.
Organic, regenerative, seasonal, local food for well beings on a well planet.
If you’re interested in supporting a healthier food system, listen to my guest this week on the Brave New Girls podcast, Nancy Matsumoto, an award-winning freelance writer and editor who specialises in regenerative agriculture, food, sake, arts, and culture.
Her latest book, Reaping What She Sows, offers a powerful blueprint for what eating enjoyably, regeneratively, and ethically can look like today. It’s an essential read for anyone concerned about climate change, personal health, or the lack of transparency in our global food supply.
Nancy introduces us to inspiring women changemakers: the farmers, millers, and bakers reviving local grain economies; brewers and winemakers regenerating ecosystems; and indigenous and diasporic seed savers preserving diversity. These women are re-building our broken food system and offering us wholesome, sustainably produced alternatives to Big Agriculture.
As Nancy says, what we choose to put on our plate impacts our bodies, our communities, and the planet.
Nancy’s Journey Into Regenerative Food Systems
Nancy explained on the podcast that Big Agriculture’s global supply chains are long, opaque, and controlled by a handful of multinationals. Cheap food often comes at the hidden cost of degraded soils, polluted waters, and exploited workers.
Her reporting led her to realise that while many people care about sustainability and “farm to table” ideals, few fully grasp the barriers small producers face. That’s what motivated her to write Reaping What She Sows: to highlight the contrast between the industrial food system and what she calls the “alt food system,” built on equity, transparency, and resilience.
She’s particularly passionate about showcasing the women leading this change. From reviving local grain sheds to championing eco-certified fruit farming in tough climates, these women combine courage with creativity to reshape what food can be.
For Nancy, change is not just about taste (though, she reminds us, a naturally leavened sourdough loaf will win anyone over) but about re-establishing community, fairness, and ecological health.
What We Can Learn
Nancy’s own journey reminds us that transformation begins with awareness, small steps, and courage. She slowed down her own pace of life to prioritise wellbeing and sustainability, realising that lasting change is a marathon, not a sprint.
She calls courage the ability to look at the barriers, cost, convenience, habits, and decide that your values matter more. That might mean speaking up at your child’s school about food sourcing, supporting young farmers, or simply choosing quality over quantity in your own kitchen.
Brave New Girl- How to Be Fearless.
10 Actionable Steps for a better future.
Buy local where possible – farmers’ markets, co-ops, or direct from growers.
Ask questions – at your grocery store or school cafeteria, request more transparency.
Support women-led food businesses – they’re often pioneering regenerative models.
Learn labels carefully – avoid greenwashing by researching trustworthy certifications.
Shift meat from centre to side – enjoy smaller portions of grass-fed or regenerative meat, or focus on plant-based meals.
Taste test – let your palate guide you; fresh and local often taste better.
Reduce food waste – plan meals, compost scraps, and use leftovers creatively.
Get involved locally – join or start a food policy council, or volunteer with community food projects.
Grow your own – even a few herbs or vegetables can connect you to regenerative practices.
Support changemakers – through books, shares, donations, or spreading the word.
Nancy Matsumoto’s work shows us that choosing food regeneratively is about courage, community, and care, for ourselves, the land, and future generations.
PS. Listen HERE to NANCY’S journey on BRAVE NEW GIRLS podcast to hear how she helps us create well beings on a well planet.
