Woody Tasch

Ten years ago, in 2008, Woody published “Inquires into the Nature of Slow Money.” Right around that time I was developed an interest in local food and local economy. I met Woody for my first time in winter of 2010, where he convinced me to come to the Second Slow Money National Gathering at Shelburne Farms in Vermont that June. Coming out of that gathering, I joined the founding Steering Committee of PVGrows—a Slow-Money-inspired group in Western Massachusetts.

As a name with our year in it might suggest, “SOIL 2017” is a book about our place in the arc of civilization. It paints a picture of the evolution of the Slow Money movement over the past decade (with an interlude towards the end that even feels like a yearbook). And the book particular significance for me, as I pick up on all the references and have been there for the evolution of the movement.

The aesthetic of affection, beauty, small, and local are a common thread through the entire book. Woody begins with a boldly creative and metaphorically-relevant poetic interlude. This is followed by four sections: Whereabouts, Return, Nurture, and Hereabouts. And it concludes with photography from out in the field.

Where as “Slow Money” was poetically pragmatic and revolutionary, “SOIL” feels a little more nebulous, humble, and possibly a little less ambitious. Where’s in 2008, Woody was asking “What would the world be like if we invested 50% of our assets within 50 miles of where we live?” to talking with Jeremy Grantham at Bioneers a few years later: “Do you think we can get a million investors to invest 1% of their money in local food systems?” (Jeremy’s answer was no.) At the same time, the Slow Money movement has a lot to be proud for, and this book does a good job documenting and celebrating the people and places that have been part of it all.… (mais)

What is slow money? Recall slow food? It's a related premise, that detaching production of goods from the community in which the products are to be sold,, particularly if these commodities are food, leads to a disconnection with . . . everything. The disconnection leads to carelessness that will, eventually, lead to the ultimate disaster, lifeless ash instead of bountiful microbe-rich soil. Along the way communities are destroyed, quality is low or nil and so on. In short, healthy soil is at the root, is the basis, of a healthy economy and we forget that at our peril. Tasch worked for a big foundation and his big aha moment was realizing that although this foundation had admirable aims--there were two major problems. One--they invested their actual principal abominably--ways that did not reflect their philosophy. The justification? Making as much money to give away as possible. Two--they chose to give the money to the sorts of enterprises that 'look good' next to mainstream investing. In short, the whole thing was a sham, more out of lack of courage and real thought and commitment than any hoodwinking. This is a brilliant insight. Fifty, sixty years ago, somebody at Harvard et al woke up and said, "Diamond mines in South Africa? Are you effing kidding me? My scholarship is supported by THAT?" BUT for all that the few ideas sprinkled about here are good ones, there isn't enough content. Although it pains me to say it, this is a tedious even terrible book that would likely do the opposite it intends to all but those who already agree with his thesis. Tasch is a talker--not a lecturer even--and he delivers peppy exciting talks on this subject to investors and whoever will have him I guess. The editors did not FORCE him to rework rethink and rewrite the talks into something a person could bear to read. **… (mais)