Common Ground

Joshua and Rebecca Tickell’s documentary, Common Ground, is that rare documentary that actually proposes solutions…practical solutions. I fear that the solutions will disappear into the void if we don’t say anything.

This broadness of info only means the Tickells remain surface-level on most topics. Their Common Ground only teases but doesn’t dig deep enough into the intersection of racism and capitalism that brought us to today.

Even if you agree with the film’s political lean, it’s hard to overlook the unorthodoxy. Common Ground smacks of propaganda masquerading as documentary. If such can qualify as documentary, then so should reality TV.

Common Ground is a well-meaning PSA that waters down the complex history, practices, and systems of American industrial agriculture into something palatable for audiences looking to feel good about the bleak future of this dying planet without actually having to do any hard learning, thinking, or direct action.

When you think of actors such as Woody Harrelson or Ian Somerhalder the first thing that comes to mind isn’t typically a documentary. Staring them in Common Ground and featuring their personal feelings and knowledge made the film even more intriguing and inspirational in my eyes. The message this film portrays brings out an emotional and sentimental feeling I wouldn’t have expected from a documentary. It brought a new light to my eyes regarding how important preserving the earth’s soil is. Not only does it include some of my favorite actors, but the personal stories included were extremely touching. The ideas revolving around regenerative agriculture and minimizing the Green Revolution is something that should be a more highly discussed topic. Not only does using toxic chemicals, such as pesticides, take a toll on our health but influences the future of the Earth as we know it. Viewing this documentary portrayed the significance of regenerative agriculture but also conveyed how I can contribute throughout my everyday life. Making Common Ground a must watch film.

Common Ground delivers a vital and balanced message about the future of our planet through the lens of regenerative farming. Directed by Josh and Rebecca Tickell, the documentary presents a clear, accessible explanation of how restoring soil health can be a critical factor in addressing global challenges. Featuring Gabe Brown, a pioneer in regenerative agriculture, the film takes what may seem like complex practices; cover cropping, reduced tillage, and animal grazing. To then make these practices able to be seen as solutions that are easy to understand, showing their tangible, and showcasing real-world benefits. What sets Common Ground apart isn’t just its focus on environmental and financial impacts. The documentary also touches on the social, ethical, and long-term human benefits of regenerative farming. By reducing reliance on chemicals and enhancing soil health, farmers can improve food quality, strengthen rural communities, and protect water sources. These practices don’t just help crops, they foster a healthier relationship between people and the land, which ultimately contributes to a better quality of life for everyone. Visually, the film is stunning. It contrasts barren, overworked industrial fields with the vibrant, thriving landscapes regenerated through these techniques. The cinematography brings the message home: this isn’t just about saving the environment or improving profits, this is about nurturing life on every level. The careful, hands-on work of restoring the soil represents a deeper effort to reconnect with nature, rebuild local economies, and ensure a sustainable future for generations to come. The strength of Common Ground lies in its inclusive approach. It’s not just a film for environmentalists or farmers, it’s a story for anyone who cares about the future. The documentary highlights how small, meaningful actions, when combined, can lead to significant change. Whether it’s improving food security, addressing health concerns, or even creating a stronger sense of community, regenerative farming shows us a way forward that benefits us all. This film leaves you feeling informed, inspired, and hopeful, laying out a clear, practical path toward a healthier, more balanced world.

Presented as an apologetic letter to mother earth, the documentary Common Ground is a tearjerker that tugs at the heart. We are but a seemingly insignificant speck in the universe, but we also make home to the only known planet that supports life. If we are not interested in the future of our own planet then what will become of humanity in the future? That is the question Common Ground begs as it details the much needed change in our worldwide farming methods. From tilling to herbicides, the soil used to grow our foods and what should be home to the most diverse ecosystem will cease to exist in just a few more decades. The decades of damage to the planet can be reversed by simply returning to the ways of the indigenous via regenerative farming and regenerative grazing. This is a must-watch for all who want to secure a better future for tomorrow.

In a world grappling with the escalating effects of climate change, Common Ground offers a glimmer of hope through the soil beneath our feet. Directed by Josh and Rebecca Tickell, this eye-opening documentary serves as both a wake-up call and a blueprint for a more sustainable future. By focusing on the revolutionary potential of regenerative agriculture, the film introduces audiences to an agricultural movement that aims not just to feed the world, but to heal it. Through compelling interviews with farmers like Gabe Brown and Rick Clarke, scientists, environmental activists, and even celebrity advocates like Jason Momoa, Ian Somerhalder, and Laura Dern, Common Ground weaves a narrative that shows how the health of our planet is linked just below our feet. These voices argue that our modern agricultural systems have depleted our soils, contributing to climate change, biodiversity loss, and food insecurity. Yet, there is hope: the film emphasizes that a shift toward regenerative farming could restore ecosystems, revitalize rural communities, and help mitigate the most pressing environmental crises of our time.

As an advocate of regenerative agriculture and a fan of Kiss The Ground, I was eager to see Common Ground. I watched it over two years ago, hoping to release my thoughts alongside a wide public release. But as I waited, so did its release - as if its call to action wasn’t as pressing as the film insists. After two years of delay, I can't help but question if this prolonged timeline has eroded the immediacy and impact that Common Ground could have had. The film takes us deep into America’s farming landscape, scrutinizing the industrial agriculture practices that have depleted our soil and eroded human health. With its human-centered approach, the film showcases farmers embracing regenerative agriculture - a blend of Indigenous and modern methods based on four principles: no tillage, no chemicals, cover crops, and herd grazing. Through vivid visuals, the film juxtaposes lush, biodiverse regenerative farms with desolate monoculture fields, illustrating not only the ecological damage but also the hopeful potential for renewal. The documentary is unflinching in its portrayal of the health impacts of industrial agriculture, especially regarding glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup. Beyond chemicals, Common Ground takes aim at our dietary landscape, where over 60% of calories come from government-subsidized crops like corn, soy, and wheat. These “commodity crops” are foundational to cheap, processed foods linked to heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. Diets rich in processed foods have deep societal consequences, as the film reminds us, while regenerative farming, with its emphasis on biodiversity, could instead yield more nutrient-dense foods that benefit both bodies and ecosystems. One of the film’s most heartbreaking moments reveals the mental health crisis plaguing rural America. We learn of a 35-year-old South Dakota farmer, overburdened with debt, who ultimately took his own life - a tragedy emblematic of the financial and emotional toll on small farmers in an increasingly corporatized agricultural economy. The film’s sensitivity to these struggles highlights the human cost of the corporatocracy controlling our current food system and underscores the regenerative movement’s potential to restore not just soil, but also the lives and livelihoods of farmers. Yet, with such a powerful, timely message, Common Ground raises a curious question: Why has it taken two years to release? In a time when action in favor of our planet feels more pressing than ever, and supporting famers on the verge of commiting suicide is more poignient than ever, delaying a film centered on such urgency seems contradictory. Nicole Shanahan, the ex-wife of Google co-founder Sergey Brin and the 2024 running mate for Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is one of the major funders behind the film. Given this political backdrop, it’s hard not to wonder if the release has been timed for maximum visibility during the election season. With Kennedy’s and Trump’s shared “Make America Healthy Again” slogan, one might ask: Is the documentary aligned with a genuine environmental mission or a politically strategic narrative? The filmmakers’ choice to spend millions on a limited theatrical release, yielding a modest box office return of less than $1,000 per screen, further adds to the puzzle. Rather than maximizing reach with a well leveraged online release - where environmentally conscious audiences are already engaged - Common Ground has been pushing for an exclusive theater run, limiting its accessibility, trying to get people to do what they’ve been doing less and less over the last eight years - get the car out and drive to the theatre. If the urgency of the climate and agricultural crises portrayed is truly as imminent as the film insists, then why not prioritize spreading the message rather than delaying its accessibility? The film’s themes and its very title, “Common Ground,” echo language frequently seen in Kennedy’s and Trump’s rhetoric. Whether intentional or not, this shared phraseology makes one wonder if the film’s release is less about catalyzing immediate action and more about fostering a political platform. Ultimately, for a documentary with such a crucial environmental message, timing is everything, and this film’s carefully timed rollout hints at an agenda that may not be entirely apolitical.Despite these complications, Common Ground remains a well-produced, eye-opening reminder of the importance of soil health. Its evocative imagery and personal stories make a compelling case for regenerative agriculture as a pathway to climate resilience, improved health, and economic stability. However, the film’s release strategy and its potential political ties complicate its message, leaving audiences to wonder whether this is truly an urgent call for change - or a well-crafted campaign tool.