“There is a big difference between dirt and soil,” filmmaker and activist Rob Herring says. “Dirt is lifeless. Soil is life.”
The Need to GROW is a new documentary about an age-old matter—soil. And although soil science is relatively young and unbelievably complex, it’s been a life source for millions of years. With somewhere around six billion microorganisms in a mere tablespoon of soil, these are galactic ecosystems which scientists are just starting to understand.
“These systems evolved over millions of years to optimize delivery of nutrients to plants, hold water in the ground and store carbon in our soils,” explains Herring, who made the film with creative partner Ryan Wirick. “Literally our air, food and water all rely on healthy soil. However, it's estimated we're losing 75 billion tons of soil every year. At this rate, the UN estimates that we have 60 years left of farmable topsoil. Not enough people are talking about this.”
[quote position="full" is_quote="true"]It's estimated we're losing 75 billion tons of soil every year. At this rate, the UN estimates that we have 60 years left of farmable topsoil.[/quote]
It’s been Herring and Wirick’s goal to get people talking. In a way, Herring’s journey from concerned college student to dedicated filmmaking activist started when he wrote a song about GMOs.
“The very divisive debate continues over the safety of GMOs,” he explains, “and as with most controversial issues, I believe the truth lies somewhere in the grey. My focus is not specifically on this topic anymore, but on a much bigger part of the discussion that is often overlooked. The entire paradigm of the chemical agriculture model is harmful to soil biology.”
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Healthy soils are a game changer when it comes to producing nutrient-dense healing foods, creating true drought and flood resistance, and sequestering the carbon pollution humans have put into the atmosphere.
“Going to clean energy is awesome,” he says, “but does nothing to remove the carbon we've already put in the air.”
Sure, it sounds heavy (pun intended), but don’t expect another doom and gloom documentary. When Herring and Wirick joined forces, both were taken with the passion each had, but shied away from pointing fingers. They knew people were already paying attention to what was wrong with the world; that they were and are ready to march and protest against the powers that be. They weren’t seeing people that were ready to rally for what they can do right now—solutions that can be implanted immediately.
Instead, they asked themselves: How do we repurpose that energy and where could it best go?
“We certainly can't expect things to be figured out by merely focusing on the problems,” Herring says. “Media and art need to be saturated with ideas of solutions so that it becomes abundantly obvious not just that we need to change, but what you, me or anyone can start doing right now.”
[quote position="left" is_quote="true"]Media and art need to be saturated with ideas of solutions so that it becomes abundantly obvious not just that we need to change, but what you, me or anyone can start doing right now.[/quote]
This includes supporting urban agriculture, seed libraries, school gardens, aquaponics and vertical farms.
“True healing of our planet will only happen with a cultural shift towards a regenerative food system,” Herring says, “but it takes more than talk. It takes our collective participation.”
Enter The Need To GROW. The feature-length documentary, now in its final stages of post-production and slated for an early 2017 premiere, isn’t just a series of talking heads and stats to educate people about soil. Instead, it follows the journeys of a handful of innovators of solutions over a couple years and documents their struggles and victories as they work to bring their new technologies to the world.
“We believe these technologies could have remarkable ripple effects if adopted on a bigger scale,” says Herring, hopeful. “It's through the eyes of these diverse, inspiring leaders that we learn about the possibilities at our fingertips and the solutions that already exist today.” The film aims to showcase solutions on all scales so that virtually every viewer, no matter where they live or how much land they have, can be empowered with ideas and tools to start growing some percentage of their own food. “We want them to not just know why it's a responsible thing to do,” concludes Herring, “but how cool and beneficial it will be to their lives as a whole.”
Parents of young children get more time with them if they work from home.Photo credit: Canva
Juicy subject matter
Giphy from The Blacklist.
We could start a rumor.
Grieving couple comforting each other
This response to someone grieving a friend might be the best internet comment ever
When someone is hit with the sudden loss of a friend or loved one, words rarely feel like enough. Yet, more than a decade ago, a wise Redditor named GSnow shared thoughts so profound they still bring comfort to grieving hearts today.
Originally posted around 2011, the now-famous reply was rediscovered when Upvoted, an official Reddit publication, featured it again to remind everyone of its enduring truth. It began as a simple plea for help: “My friend just died. I don't know what to do.”
What followed was a piece of writing that many consider one of the internet’s best comments of all time. It remains shared across social media, grief forums, and personal messages to this day because its honesty and metaphor speak to the raw reality of loss and the slow, irregular path toward healing.
Below is GSnow’s full reply, unchanged, in all its gentle, wave-crashing beauty:
Why this advice still matters
Mental health professionals and grief counselors often describe bereavement in stages or phases, but GSnow’s “wave theory” gives an image more relatable for many. Rather than a linear process, grief surges and retreats—sometimes triggered by a song, a place, or a simple morning cup of coffee.
In recent years, this metaphor has found renewed relevance. Communities on Reddit, TikTok, and grief support groups frequently reshare it to help explain the unpredictable nature of mourning.
Many readers say this analogy helps them feel less alone, giving them permission to ride each wave of grief rather than fight it.
Finding comfort in shared wisdom
Since this comment first surfaced, countless people have posted their own stories underneath it, thanking GSnow and passing the words to others facing fresh heartbreak. It’s proof that sometimes, the internet can feel like a global support group—strangers linked by shared loss and hope.
For those searching for more support today, organizations like The Dougy Center, GriefShare, and local bereavement groups offer compassionate resources. If you or someone you know is struggling with intense grief, please reach out to mental health professionals who can help navigate these deep waters.
When grief comes crashing like the ocean, remember these words—and hang on. There is life between the waves.
This article originally appeared four years ago.