By Stephanie Hildmann
In her bold and eye-opening webinar, Rage Against Ragwort, regenerative soil expert Stephanie Hildmann urges us to rethink everything we believe about weeds—particularly the much-maligned ragwort.
To Stephanie, weeds aren’t the enemy. They’re the early responders in nature’s emergency crew—pioneers that show up to protect, stabilize, and begin healing damaged soils. Ragwort, flatweeds, and others aren’t intruders—they’re indicators.
With over two decades of experience in soil health, including time spent rehabilitating radioactive land in Fukushima and degraded landscapes in Hawaii, Stephanie shares her deep insights into how weeds signal the underlying condition of the soil. And the message is clear: the plant is never the problem—the soil is.
Weeds reflect issues such as:
-
Compacted soil
-
Low organic matter
-
Imbalanced soil biology
-
Bare or uncovered ground
One of the key messages in the webinar is the power of soil biology—the invisible web of bacteria, fungi, and microbes that drive all life below and above the ground. These creatures need soil organic matter to live and multiply. When soils are lifeless or exposed, biology dies—and weeds step in to help restart the process.
Stephanie also discusses livestock and plant toxicity, explaining how proper mineralization using the Pat Coleby free-choice method enables animals to self-regulate and avoid over-consuming plants like ragwort. She stresses the importance of biodiversity in the pasture, which gives animals a full buffet of options—reducing the risks associated with any one species.
Rather than removing weeds at all costs, Stephanie advocates for a mindset shift. Ask not, “How do I kill this weed?” but “What is this weed telling me about my soil?”
The webinar ends with a powerful reminder: regenerative farming isn’t about controlling nature—it’s about listening to her.
