Roots of Change

Roots of Change Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Roots of Change, Nonprofit Organization, Oakland, CA.

Catalyzing action, providing expertise, and delivering policies that create food system change from soil to plate.
🎧 Flipping the Table Podcast: http://bit.ly/flippingthetablepodcast
instagram.com/carootsofchange
https://x.com/RootsofChange

08/25/2026

“We adopted the regen model probably 40 years ago, before they even had a word for it.”

That’s Glen Hall of Timber Ridge Land and Cattle in Southwestern Alberta. The Halls are pioneering a model of ranching rooted in a simple belief: the land they steward is a gift, and it’s their responsibility to leave it healthier, more resilient and abundant for generations to come. Their approach reflects what many now call regenerative agriculture or holistic management, but for the Halls, it began more simply: with a responsibility to care for a thriving ecosystem, and along the way, figure out how to make that commitment work as successful ranchers.

In the final episode of our 2026 Old Salt Festival series, Michael Dimock talks with father and son, Glen and Cody Hall, and Sheldon Atwood of Western Ranchlands Corporation about stewardship, succession and education, the interdependence of rural and urban communities in regional food systems, and what becomes possible when we manage working lands for ecological, economic and community health.

🎧 Listen now — link in comments!

That’s a wrap! What was your favorite Old Salt Festival conversation with the farmers, ranchers, business leaders and advocates working together to build healthier food systems?

08/20/2026

You know Wendell Berry. You should know Mary Berry


“We don’t just have an agricultural problem in this country. We have a cultural problem.” That’s Mary Berry, Executive Director of The Berry Center and daughter of Wendell Berry, on why supporting small farms isn’t just about defending farmers against industrial agriculture — it’s about rebuilding the culture and economy that make equitable and environmental land use possible in the first place.

In our latest episode from the Old Salt Festival series, Michael Dimock sits down with Mary to learn about the Berry family legacy, why small-farm agriculture matters, and the work of building a future in which farmers and healthy rural economies can thrive.

🎧 New episode live now — link in comments!

08/12/2026

One week late, but what if every week was ?! đŸ‘đŸ«

Each trip to your farmers market is a chance to discover what’s growing around you and support the people who grow it.

That’s one way to . What’s yours?👇

08/10/2026

74% of America’s landmass is considered rural. Just 14% of Americans live there.

Rural residents are a minority in America—and rural communities are too often overlooked or reduced to political narratives, except when elections or Farm Bill debates put them briefly in the spotlight.

But rural America contributes much more to the cultural and social fabric of our nation than mainstream narratives reveal.

In Episode 4 of our Old Salt Festival series, ROC’s Michael Dimock and Tay Lotte sit down with two longtime rural advocates: Anna Claussen, Founder of Voices for Rural Resilience, and Ash Hanson, CEO of The Department of Public Transformation.

Their conversation looks beyond the urban-rural and political divides to explore the distinct cultures, deep care for people and place, and creative resilience alive in rural communities—and what becomes possible when those strengths are recognized and supported.

Listen to “The Heart of Rural America We Don’t See” and discover what rural people and communities have to share with urban America that makes us a better nation.

🎧 Find the full episode below!

Youtube: https://youtu.be/ZSDaGlVptzQ
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3zWEax1OLJe1NyYhhquiqa?si=652d55fb6c2e4d96
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s8-ep-9-old-salt-festival-p4-the-heart-of-rural/id1449331366?i=1000782019365

08/07/2026

Happy National Farmers Week! Every trip to the farmers market is a chance to support the people and farms in your local food system. 🍑

That's one way to .

07/28/2026

“Women have always been, in all cultures, in all times of history, the backbone of work on the land.”

Meet Amber Smith of Antelope Springs Ranch and Executive Director of Women In Ranching and Jaimie Stoltzfus of P Bar Ranch and Cowgirl Meat Co in Episode 3 of our six-part Old Salt Festival Series. Though separated by hundreds of miles, these first-generation ranchers, mothers, and collaborators are united by a common vision for the future of ranching.

Together, they sat down with Michael R. Dimock to share the story of an innovative partnership raising calves on Montana’s Northern Great Plains and grass-finishing them in the Absaroka Mountains to produce regeneratively raised, grass-finished beef. Along the way, they reflect on breaking into a traditionally male-dominated industry, and why collaboration—not competition—is helping build a more resilient future for ranchers, rural communities, and the land.

👇 Have a listen to the full podcast episode: “Two Women Redefining The Power of Partnership in Ranching”

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3BqWnzUC3wVuqX1EsXvGgj?si=d772e4ff8e4d457f
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s8-ep-8-old-salt-festival-p3-two-women-redefining-the/id1449331366?i=1000778598018
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arpfq5mHKpU&t=3s

07/22/2026

What if the greatest food and agriculture investment opportunity isn’t solving today’s problems—but preventing tomorrow’s?

In the second half of E2 of our six-part Old Salt Festival Series: Purpose-Driven Capital for Regional & Regenerative Food Systems, Stephen Hohenreider, Founder of Grounded Capital, challenges a fundamental assumption about how we invest private capital.

Rather than monetizing the symptoms of unhealthy food systems, he argues we should invest in the conditions that create health—from healthy soils and resilient farms to thriving regional food economies.

In conversation with ROC’s Michael R. Dimock and Coco Sanabria, Stephen draws on decades of experience investing in agriculture and food businesses to explain why regenerative is gaining traction, how thoughtful capital strengthens entire food ecosystems, and what it will take to build a more resilient food economy.

Earlier in the episode, Michael also speaks with Steward’s Alissa Welker and Ryan Anderson about how community-powered lending is expanding opportunities for farmers and regional food businesses across the country.

Together, these conversations explore how two companies, Steward and Grounded Capital, are aiding the regenerative agriculture sector expansion.

🎧 Listen to the full episode below!

Youtube: https://youtu.be/uA6MrdOqVfc?si=CzzVfcSpyiWdqnUk
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6ZVcSjohi22vsUiaaTnqFn?si=549c388a82dc40f0
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s8-ep-7-old-salt-festival-p2-purpose-driven-capital/id1449331366?i=1000777761294

07/21/2026

Washtenaw County in Michigan is bucking national trends by actually growing its number of food-producing farmers while nationally that trend is declining.

It’s one example of a bigger question: What conditions help regional food economies thrive?

In Episode 2 of our six-part Old Salt Festival Series, Michael Dimock sits down with Steward’s Alissa Welker, VP of Operations, and Ryan Anderson, COO, to explore how community-powered financing is helping strengthen regional food economies across the country. Using examples from Washtenaw to watersheds and regions nationwide, they discuss how innovative lending, local infrastructure, and stronger market connections can create the conditions for regenerative agriculture to flourish.

Later in the episode, Michael and Roots of Change’s Coco Sanabria are joined by Stephen Hohenreider, founder of Grounded Capital. Drawing on decades of experience investing in agriculture, ranch companies and household food brands, Stephen shares why regenerative food is gaining momentum—and what it will take to build resilient regional food economies for the long term.

Investment is critical, but only a part of the formula for success. Hear seasoned capital providers of good heart share where they see the opportunities for re-regionalizing our food and why regenerative has market momentum.

👇 Have a listen to the full episode!

Youtube: https://youtu.be/uA6MrdOqVfc?si=CzzVfcSpyiWdqnUk
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6ZVcSjohi22vsUiaaTnqFn?si=549c388a82dc40f0
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s8-ep-7-old-salt-festival-p2-purpose-driven-capital/id1449331366?i=1000777761294

agriculture

07/15/2026

“We are not a meat company, we are not a ranch, we are about creating community”

Food prices are rising. So why are people still paying $35/lb for a premium cut of local steak?

Episode 1, in our six podcast Old Salt Festival series, continues with Conner Hackett, General Manager of Stemple Creek Ranch, one of California’s leading grass-fed, regenerative livestock operations. Michael R. Dimock sits down with Conner to learn more about why consumers continue choosing locally raised, grass-fed beef—and what that says about trust, community, and investing in local food systems.

Earlier in the episode, Jose Corona shares how the Agricultural Platform Collective is helping create fair market opportunities for small farmers in California’s San Joaquin Valley.

Together, these conversations explore what it takes to build stronger regional food systems—from expanding market access to earning consumer trust.

👇 Have a listen to the full episode!

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wD8OP3UntOA
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1uMj8hCef414TzRNYZ2tMX?si=c06cbc7635aa455a&nd=1&dlsi=46050f8cfe7a4bf2
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s8-ep-6-old-salt-festival-p1-building-stronger-regional/id1449331366?i=1000776801585

07/14/2026

The future of regional food systems may depend less on speaking the same language—and more on sharing the same values, struggles, and solutions.

This is the first podcast episode in our six-part Old Salt Festival Series where you will hear farmers, ranchers, business leaders and advocates who are creating an agrarian culture that points the way to a healthier food system in America.

In Episode 1, Michael R. Dimock sits down with Jose Corona, Chief Agricultural Business Officer in the Office of Kat Taylor, to discuss his work leading a farmer-guided team building the Agricultural Platform Collective—a mechanism to create new markets and expand business opportunities for small farmers in California’s San Joaquin Valley.

He is then joined by Conner Hackett, General Manager of Stemple Creek Ranch, one of California’s leading grass-fed, regenerative livestock operations, to explore how strong networks and collaboration can help build more resilient regional food systems.

👇 Have a listen to the full podcast episode
Youtube: https://youtu.be/wD8OP3UntOA?si=XCp_c4NlrehpTi12
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1uMj8hCef414TzRNYZ2tMX?si=11e2119b66cb41c9
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s8-ep-6-the-2026-old-salt-festival-series-e1-building/id1449331366?i=1000776801585

Address

Oakland, CA

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Roots of Change posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Roots of Change:

Shortcuts

Share

Category