Land Ethic

Lakhan Clark is an outdoorsman and writer from Auckland, New Zealand. He's passionate about connecting to the natural world through the pursuit of wild food in the NZ backcountry. He's committed to helping preserve this human and wildlife connection by sharing his adventures and experience with others.We connected a while back on social media through shared interests in the outdoors and the tough questions surrounding ethical wildlife management. Lakhan has some interesting perspectives as a kiwi hunter. New Zealand is often thought of as a sportsman's paradise with abundant wild game and relatively few restrictions. As you will hear, all of that comes at a price.We spent most of the episode talking about the various introduced species in New Zealand, how they got there, and how they are being managed. From Red Deer and Wallaby to Wild Turkeys and Peacocks, it's a bizarre place. We also touched on firearms restrictions, culling programs, feral cats and all sorts of interesting wildlife stories. Thanks to Lahkan for coming on the show, and I hope you will check out his content online. I'd start by reading his articles on Meateater and by following him on Instagram @fillthefreezer2.0.

Robert Kent is the Texas State Director for The Trust for Public Land, where he leads a team of colleagues and volunteers working to make the health, climate, equity, and community benefits of parks and nature accessible to all. Born and raised in Dallas, Robert is passionate about building green, resilient cities in the Lone Star State.Since joining the TPL in 2014, Robert has led their work to develop a network of parks and trails across southern Dallas, help pass a $310 million bond package for parks and trails, develop an open space plan for City of Fort Worth, and acquire hundreds of acres of land for new parks throughout Texas, to name a few things. In 2009, Robert completed a 2,100-mile thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail, followed by a coast-to-coast hike across Scotland in 2011.You will hear about Robert's formative time at Baylor University in my home town of Waco, TX, his international studies in Scotland, his Appalachian Trail thru-hike, and all about the TPL's work in Texas communities, from dusting off historic city plans for urban greenways and parks to the 2 billion dollar idea for a Texas Land and Water Conservation Fund.Head to TPL.org to find out more and to see some of the projects we discussed.

Dr. Jason LaBelle is a professor of anthropology at Colorado State University. He is the director of a research lab called the Center for Mountain and Plains Archaeology, and serves as the curator of the Archaeological Repository at CSU. He specializes in the study of hunter-gatherers, specifically pre and post-contact Native American cultures of the Intermountain West. He and his students research the early peopling of the North American continent, including such topics high altitude and mountain archaeology, communal hunting, and lithic technology.We talked about some of the incredible archaeological sites found throughout Colorado that help tell the stories of the first people in the Americas. These sites include ancient hunting grounds in high mountain passes and seasonal camps in the plains, the oldest evidence dating back to over 12,000 years ago. Dr. LaBelle's research, and his ability to communicate it to a broader audience, opens a window to our shared past, connecting us to an ancient story of survival. It's fascinating to speculate on the lives these people lived, and hard to imagine how they withstood it all.

Seth Wilson is the Executive Director of the Blackfoot Challenge, a leading collaborative conservation group based in western Montana. As an applied conservation biologist, Seth has worked on resolving issues between people and wildlife in the United States, Canada, and Europe for more than 20 years. He began working for the Blackfoot Challenge in 2001 as the organization's first Wildlife Coordinator, conducting scientific research and developing strategies to reduce conflicts with grizzly bears and wolves as they returned to this part of their historic range. Recently, he spent three years in Slovenia as an advisor to the Slovenian Forest Service and partners from Italy, Austria, Croatia, Slovakia, and Romania to support brown bear and Eurasian lynx conservation and management.We talked about the history and structure of the Blackfoot Challenge, the unique and majestic landscape it's situated in, the challenges of working with such a diverse group of landowners, and their carnivore coexistence work that has become a model for other parts of the world.Check out Blackfootchallenge.org for more information and for stunning visuals of this landscape. You can start with a short 13-minute film called Landscape of Hope under the history page.

Jaden Bales is a sportsman and western hunting tag expert from Wyoming. He's written for outdoor media websites like Rokslide and Modern Huntsman, and has appeared regularly on podcasts such as Eastman's Elevated and the Rich Outdoors. When he's not hunting or talking about hunting, he's advocating for wildlife as the communications director for Wyoming Wildlife Federation, an organization that provides leadership in conservation for Wyoming's wildlife, hunters, and anglers through policy, education, advocacy, and habitat projects. We did a deep dive into western hunting, from some of Jaden's personal stories, to how he helps people find good opportunities through his new venture, Hunt West. A few days after this recording, I hired Jaden for a consultation. He put a lot of effort into producing a custom package for me to help me achieve some of my hunting goals and understand where and how I need to be applying for tags. Well worth it for anyone from new hunters trying to understand the system to experienced sportsmen looking for some new opportunities or places to hunt. One aspect of this podcast is that it gives me an avenue to connect with people that I admire and can learn something from. I found Jaden's early hunting stories to be very relatable to my own experiences so far, and he's been able to advance as an outdoorsman to the point where he's having consistent success and some amazing adventures, so it was nice to pick his brain a bit, and I hope you enjoy the conversation. Even if you aren't into hunting, this is about growth and love for the outdoors. You can learn more at Huntwest.net, follow Jaden on Instagram at @HuntsWest, and see what the awesome team at Wyoming Wildlife Federation is doing by visiting Wyomingwildlife.org.

Dr. Mark Elbroch is a scientist, tracker, writer, and storyteller. His is the lead scientist for the Puma Program at Panthera, a global nonprofit focused on wild cat conservation. Mark's research on mountain lions is changing what we thought we knew about the species, especially with regards to their social lives and their keystone roles in ecosystems. His work was the central storyline of the BBC film, Big Cats in High Places, and National Geographic's Wild's Cougars Undercover.Mark earned a Senior Tracker Certificate in 2005 in Kruger National Park, South Africa, after successfully following African lions across the terrain without being detected. He was the 17th person to receive one and the first non-African. He has also authored 10 books on natural history, including field guides to animal tracking, animal skulls, survival skills, and his latest, The Cougar Conundrum, which we talk about in this interview.We cover Mark's scientific and academic background, his tracking experience, and then spend most of the conversation talking all about mountain lions and how we manage and coexist with them. You can learn more about his work with wild cat conservation at www.panthera.org, and you can peruse his books and scientific publications at www.markelbroch.com.

Stephanie Williams (her friends call her Steph) is a mountain guide, field biologist, and co-founder of the Cascades Wolverine Project. She has over a decade of experience in field science, and two decades in the outdoor industry. She first worked as a guide in 2003 on the glaciers of Alaska's Wrangell Mountains. Since then, she has skied and guided in alpine wildlands of India, Iceland, Switzerland, New Zealand, China, Chile, and across western North America.I contacted Steph after seeing her appearance in a short film called Finding Gulo - Gulo gulo being the scientific name for wolverines. Finding Gulo is about the Cascades Wolverine Project's efforts to monitor and share images of the elusive creatures as they attempt to recover in parts of their historic range. The film shows the immense effort that goes into finding wolverines, and the people who are passionately trying to support them through field monitoring, storytelling, and backcountry community science.We talked about what drew Steph toward living and working in the mountains, and the formative experiences that led to her backcountry skiing career. We covered wolverine behavior and characteristics and, finally, the recent film. You can watch Finding Gulo online at CascadesWolverineProject.org. It's really concise and beautiful, and you'll get to see Steph in her element trying to track down these critters. If you're new to the podcast, welcome and thanks for listening. All I ask is that you please take a moment to rate and review the show on iTunes or wherever you listen. It takes less than a minute, and it really means a lot to me.

Kenyon Fields is a conservationist and rancher from western Colorado. His background is in conservation biology and landscape scale conservation planning. He worked for many years in Alaska for the U.S. Forest Service and as executive director of Sitka Conservation Society, before serving as western strategic director of Wildlands Network.Kenyon was one of the founding members of Western Landowners Alliance, along with Mary Conover. Now husband and wife, Kenyon and Mary own and operate Mountain Island Ranch, a generational 32,000-acre cattle ranch along the Utah-Colorado border entirely under conservation easement, with another 100,000 acres of grazing allotments on public land.We talked about Kenyon's own “Green Fire” moment, a reference to Aldo Leopold and the experience that led him toward the ideas we now celebrate. Kenyon's was a transformative summer spent working in forestry in Southeast Alaska. We also delved into Mountain Island' Ranch's current operations, their restoration projects, and their approach to public grazing allotments.I'd encourage you to visit KenyonFieldsPhoto.com for some context of the landscape we're discussing. He does a great job capturing the drastic seasonal change, the diverse wildlife, and the everyday ranching scenes out there, along with stunning landscapes across the world. And, of course, you've heard about Western Landowners Alliance by now in some of the recent episodes. I hope you'll go to their website and peruse some of their content as well.

Helena Norberg-Hodge is a Linguist, author and film maker. She is the founder and director of the international non-profit organization, Local Futures, a pioneer of the new economy movement, and the convener of World Localization Day.She is the author of several books, including Ancient Futures, which you'll hear about in this conversation. Together with a film of the same title, Ancient Futures has been translated into more than 40 languages and sold half a million copies world-wide.Her work, spanning almost half a century, has received the support of a wide range of international figures, including the likes of Jane Goodall and the Dalai Lama.Starting in 1975, Helena worked in the Himalayan region with the people of Ladakh to find ways of enabling their culture to meet the modern world without sacrificing social and ecological values. She was the first Westerner in modern times to become fluent in the language. She has helped to initiate localization movements on every continent, and co-founded both the International Forum on Globalization and the Global Ecovillage Network.I was very honored to speak with Helena after reading her first book recently. She advocates for localized alternatives to the global economy, particularly involving the creation of robust local food systems and democratic structures that can effectively resist authoritarianism.We talked all about her work in Ladakh and the effects of global economic pressures on that place, as well as her other writings, films, and the work she does with Local Futures. You can find all that content at LocalFutures.org.

Jeff Laszlo is a fourth-generation owner of the Granger Ranches, a 13,000-acre cattle ranch in Montana's Madison Valley. Over the past 20 years or so, he and a team of public agencies and professionals have been restoring a large wetland on the property, which was drained generations ago for grazing use. What has become known as the O'Dell Creek restoration project has restored some 15 miles of spring-fed streams and 1,000 acres of wetlands. The results include a 900 percent increase in waterfowl numbers, a 600 percent increase in waterfowl species diversity, an improved fishery with reduced water temperatures, the return of rare native vegetation, the reintroduction of imperiled species such as Trumpeter Swans and Arctic grayling, and a vast increase in use for migrating sandhill cranes. With the rising water table, the bottomland became more productive and better able to support the ranch's cow-calf operation and hay production. The Granger Ranches has actually grown its livestock operations, demonstrating that ecological balance, sustainable ranching, and economic viability can coexist. This work has garnered numerous awards, including the 2010 National Wetlands Award for Private Land Stewardship, and has been the subject of films and numerous articles. Jeff and I talked about the history of the family ranch, draining of the valley floor, and all about the restoration project, from impetus through implementation. Jeff articulated the complexity of such an endeavor, and how this sort of local effort has far reaching positive benefits.Links: Western Landowners Alliance - Stewardship with Vision Ep. 1Trout Unlimited - A Public Lands StoryMontana Audubon - O'Dell Creek Restoration

Hallie Mahowald is the programs director for Western Landowners Alliance, a landowner-led group that advances policies and practices that sustain working lands, connected landscapes, and native species. At WLA, Hallie manages people and strategy to support private stewardship across the West. She holds a B.A. in Environmental Science from the University of Denver and a M.A. in International Environmental Policy from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey. In conjunction with her academic studies and early career in the non-profit sector, she worked on many natural resources management and sustainable development projects in the American West and Central and South America. Hallie currently serves on the advisory board of Colorado State University's Center for Collaborative Conservation and as vice president on the board of directors for the Central Colorado Conservancy.We talked all about the reintroduction of Grey Wolves to Colorado, from the original ballot initiative that set it in motion, to the various arguments, to the management implications. It's a complex issue that will require a whole lot of cooperation and experimentation. Lucky for us, Hallie is on the stakeholder advisory group that is helping to navigate all this. We also touched on public land cattle grazing, something I want to understand better and maybe cover on the podcast more fully in the future. Finally, we discussed a few of WLA's various programs, which include their Habitat Lease Partnership program, the Working Wild Challenge, and Women in Ranching. You can learn about all these things and more at westernlandowners.org.

Travis Custer is the executive director of the Montezuma Land Conservancy, a Southwest Colorado land trust established in 1998 in the town of Cortez. They are working to explore unique solutions to conservation through an emphasis on a community-informed process, and believe that conservation is not just setting aside important lands, but also working to educate the community, address social issues, and connect people to the land that sustains them.As for Travis, he has spent most of his life in Colorado, and nature has always been an important part of his life. He was formerly a board member of the Mancos Conservation District and spent time working for the Natural Resource Conservation Service and High Desert Conservation District where he worked closely with farmers and ranchers, as well as local and state agencies and land conservation organizations. In 2016, Travis was the recipient of the John Stencel Leadership Award from the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union for dedication and leadership in agriculture. He also serves on the Keep It Colorado board where he hopes to help drive forward the innovation of the statewide land protection community.We talked about the amazing landscape of the Four Corners region that Travis and his team work to conserve. We covered MLC's efforts to go beyond transactional land conservation and to build a community around love of land, including fostering connections with Tribal Nations and facilitating youth programs. Finally, we discussed creating a land ethic at home and raising kids to love and care for Mother Nature.Check out Montezuma Land Conservancy at this link and Keep it Colorado here.

Nelson Mathews is the Vice President of Western Rivers Conservancy, a group whose slogan is “Sometimes, in order to save a river, you have to buy it.” WRC buys land along the West's finest rivers and streams to conserve habitat, protect key sources of cold water and provide public access.They buy strategic properties that allow for the greatest conservation impact, and then transfer those lands into the hands of permanent conservation stewards. They partner with long-term stewards like the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, state parks, Tribal Nations and universities to ensure their conservation efforts are permanent. As for Nelson, he developed a passion for all things rivers when he took a summer job in the 80's as a whitewater rafting guide in the Sierra Foothills. After a stint practicing law in California, Nelson followed his passion and went to work managing The Trust for Public Land's river conservation efforts in the West. During his 27-year tenure with the organization, he worked to conserve more than 100,000 acres of land with recreational, historic and environmental significance.Nelson grew up in the foothill town of Placerville, California, and now resides with his family in Bend, Oregon. He continues to lead trips as a whitewater guide and serves as the chairman of the board of directors for the American River Touring Association (ARTA).Thanks to Nelson for the conversation, thanks Western Rivers Conservancy for their important work, which you can see at https://www.westernrivers.org/

Juan Carlos Bravo is the Conservation Director of Wildlands Network. Until recently, he led their efforts in Mexico and the borderlands region, where he advocated for improved conservation in the Sky Islands and the northern Sierra Madre Occidental regions, which we'll talk about. He worked with landowners to advance the practice of private lands stewardship; collaborated with transportation authorities to develop wildlife crossings; and provided partners, media, and key decision-makers with information related to habitat connectivity and keystone species protection in both Mexico and the U.S. He advocates for wildlife and connectivity in regional planning, interprets conservation issues and approaches for U.S. audiences.We talked about Wildlands Network, their organizational history and areas of interest, and their focus on landscape connectivity. We discussed the impacts of the US Mexico border wall, both ecologically and socially, at length. We also covered the Sky Islands region, an incredible hub of biodiversity that spans the Southwestern US and Northwestern Mexico, and a few other things like the power of maps and the reintroduction of Mexican Gray Wolves. I'm really glad to be able to meet folks like Juan Carlos from different backgrounds and life experiences, and looking forward to continuing to expand the subject matter covered on the podcast.** New merch is up on the website! For the remainder of May, you can get 20% on extra soft tri-blend shirts and enamel coffee mugs by using code LEOPOLD20 at check out. The bugling Elk lustration is by wildlife artist Ty Hallock. Have a look!

Vanessa Caldarelli is the president of EcoEra, a conservation group protecting 7,500 acres of rainforest in one of the most biodiverse regions of Costa Rica. Their mission is to protect the rainforest's ecosystems by preventing poaching and deforestation, and to re-connect people to nature, which they are also doing through their sister project Posada Natura, a wellness retreat devoted to holistic healing located at the base of their conservation lands.We talked about how Vanessa's family got involved with this land, the ecological function of the rainforest, the species they are trying to protect from poaching, the factors that contribute to tropical deforestation, and we covered some tangents like globalism and Zen Buddhism. It was a really nice chat, and I want to thank Vanessa and Eco Era for reaching out to spread the word about their efforts down in Costa Rica. To learn more, you can go to EcoEra.org!

Whit Fosburgh is the president and CEO of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, an organization dedicated to advancing America's legacy of conservation, habitat, and access to public lands.Prior to joining TRCP in 2010, Whit spent 15 years at Trout Unlimited. Additionally, he served as fisheries' director for the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and was a wildlife specialist for the National Audubon Society. Whit grew up hunting and fishing in upstate New York and was a member of Team USA in the 1997 World Fly Fishing Championships. He has a BA in Government from Georgetown University and a Master's degree from the Yale University School of Forestry.We talked all about TRCP and their various areas of focus, from the Farm Bill, to the Colorado River, to Chronic Wasting Disease in deer species. Whit and the TRCP are keeping the spirit and vision of Theodore Roosevelt and the early American conservation movement alive by leveraging the voice of outdoor enthusiasts to influence policy.You can visit their website for more, sign up for their newsletter to stay informed on these issues, and consider a donation to help the cause.

Kristy Bly works for World Wildlife Fund's Northern Great Plains Program as their Black-footed Ferret Restoration Manager. She's involved in conserving and restoring populations and habitat for ferrets, black-tailed prairie dogs and swift foxes across the Great Plains. We talked all about the conservation story of the Black-footed Ferret, the only ferret native to North America, once thought to be extinct. This story includes clones, drones, plague, peanut butter, and a dog named Shep. I really enjoyed picking Kristy's brain and learning all about these enigmatic animals!To learn more or to offer your support, visit worldwildlife.org

Jason Lauritsen is the Chief Conservation Officer for the Florida Wildlife Corridor, where he and his colleagues are helping to connect, protect and restore essential conservation habitat throughout the state of Florida. We discussed the vision for the Florida Wildlife Corridor, the various stakeholders, the biggest threats facing habitat connectivity in the state, Jason's experience working at the Audubon Corkscrew Swamp, and some general thoughts relating to the Land Ethic.Head to Florida Wildlife Corridor to see some of their expedition films, and to explore maps of the corridor!

Gabe Brown is one of the pioneers of the current soil health movement, and a proponent of regenerative agriculture. He's the author of Dirt to Soil: One Family's Journey into Regenerative Agriculture, co-founder of the Soil Health Academy, and co-owner of Understanding Ag, an agricultural consulting agency. Gabe's property, called Brown's Ranch, is a diversified, no till 5,000-acre farm and ranch near Bismarck, North Dakota.We discussed Gabe's transition away from conventional agriculture and some of the lessons he learned, including his 6 principles of soil health. We also talked about some of the economic policies surrounding agriculture, and the hurdles farmers and ranchers face. Gabe's entire message is about farming in nature's image by understanding the biological processes taking place beneath our feet, rather than fighting them. You can find his book wherever they are sold, and you can see him in the documentary Kiss the Ground on Netflix.

Jess Johnson leads Wyoming Wildlife Federation's efforts on behalf of wildlife through policy and local advocacy. She grew up ranching in Montana, Northern California and Wyoming, and has a deep appreciation for wildlife and wild lands. She's a bowhunter, co-founder and advisory board member of Artemis Sportswomen, and serves as the policy seat on the board of directors for 2% for Conservation.I reached out to Jess in the hopes of understanding a bit more about some of the recent developments and changes happening in wildlife management at the level of state policy. We talked about the current state of hunting, federal and state protections around wolves and grizzly bears, Jess's once-in-a-lifetime hunt for Dall sheep and caribou in Canada's Northwest Territories, and the need for empathy and cooperation in conversations of wildlife management. If you have ideas for topics or people you'd like to hear on the podcast, write in at landethicpodcast@gmail.com.

Natalie Dawson is the executive director of Audubon Alaska, a conservation organization dedicated to protecting habitat for Alaska's birds and wildlife.Before joining Audubon in 2019, Natalie was the director of the Wilderness Institute and a professor of Wilderness Studies at the University of Montana. Prior to that, she worked as a research biologist with the US Geological Survey at the Alaska Science Center, a wildlife biologist with the US Fish and Wildlife Service in Alaska, and a public policy fellow with the American Institute of Biological Sciences in Washington, D.C. She received her PhD from the University of New Mexico while studying the impacts of forestry practices on endemic mammals in the Tongass National Forest.I reached out to Natalie after her appearance in the film Understory, which features her two friends as they seek to encounter and understand the destructive logging practices that have long taken place in the old growth temperate rainforest of the Tongass.We talked about Natalie's experience in Alaska, her role in the aforementioned expedition, the importance and distinction of old growth forests, the political and economic situation surrounding Tongass national forest, the impact of other extractive industries across Alaska, and the work that Natalie does with Audubon.For more information on these topics, check out Audubon Alaska's work and watch the short film Understory.

Kristine Tompkins is the president and co-founder of Tompkins Conservation, and former CEO of Patagonia Clothing Company. For nearly thirty years, she has committed her life to protecting and restoring Chile and Argentina's wild beauty and biodiversity by creating national parks, restoring wildlife, inspiring activism, and fostering economic vitality. Having protected nearly 15 million acres of parklands in South America through Tompkins Conservation and its partners, Kristine and Douglas Tompkins, her late husband who died in 2015, are considered some of the most successful environmental philanthropists in history.We covered Kristine's early career and growth with Patagonia, her beginnings in conservation, national park projects, the process of re-wilding, and much more. To learn more, check out Tompkins Conservation and watch Kristine's 2020 TED Talk, "Let's Make the World Wild Again.”

Kurt Holtzen is a senior field advisor for the Wood River Wolf Project, based in central Idaho. He has 20 years of agriculture experience and a decade of experience observing and tracking wolves in the greater Yellowstone ecosystem. He performs predator surveys, wildlife camera monitoring, and investigates depredations as part of a larger effort to conserve wolf populations in an area with an abundance of livestock. Kurt's experience photographing wildlife in Yellowstone altered his impression of wolves and their role in the ecosystem, leading him to his current work in carnivore coexistence.We discussed wolves' ecological niche and relation to their prey, the politics of wolf management, and some of the non-lethal methods that are being used to deter them.To see more of Kurt's work, follow @wilderness_trails_project on Instagram and check out the Wood River Wolf Project.

Matt Brown is the Managing Director of Global Conservation at The Nature Conservancy, and oversees their conservation initiatives in 59 countries across the globe. Prior to his current position, Matt worked with TNC Africa for 14 years. He is a dedicated conservationist with nearly 30 years of experience, from the grassroots level to the global scope. He has lived and worked on the ground in West and East Africa, including serving as Peace Corps forestry volunteer in northern Ghana and living in Tanzania for eight years.We spoke about The Nature Conservancy's work around the globe and some of the economic solutions they are able to apply to environmental problems, from carbon markets to debt conversion models. We also delved into the effects of the Covid 19 pandemic on ecotourism, and the outcomes of the recent COP26 UN Climate Change Conference.To see some of the work TNC is involved in or to offer your support, simply go to Nature.org.

Preston McKelvey is a co-owner of Wild Willow Outfitters, a hunting and fishing guide service offering excursions in the Roaring Fork Valley and throughout Western Colorado. This conversation was recorded following an early morning duck hunt with Preston and his young Yellow Lab, Oak. We recounted our morning and discussed Wild Willow's guided trips, sharing the landscape with predators, hunting with dogs, increased outdoor recreation on public lands, and some of the conservation aspects of hunting. I had a great time talking to Preston, and I look forward to doing more of these in-person interviews when possible.Check out Wild Willow Outfitters on Instagram, and if you are in Colorado or planning a visit, consider booking a trip with them online for an incredible outdoor experience and a great learning opportunity!

Chef Nephi Craig is a White Mountain Apache who is interested in the development and preservation of Native American foodways. He is the founder of the Native American Culinary Association, and was featured in a recent documentary called Gather, which centers around the indigenous food sovereignty movement. Over the past eighteen years, Chef Craig has cooked throughout the United States, as well as in London, Germany, Brazil, and Japan. He is the Executive Chef of Café Gozhóó on the White Mountain Apache Reservation in Whiteriver, Arizona, and works in addiction recovery and wellness.We spoke about his approach to food sovereignty and the obstacles that native communities face in re-gaining their food culture. He also shared a bit about his youth and professional journey, as well as his perspective on the lasting effects of colonialism on indigenous peoples.Links:Gather FilmLetters to a Young FarmerCafe GozhooNephi Craig InstagramForbes Article

Will Harris is the owner of White Oak Pastures, a nearly 5,000 acre farm in southern Georgia that raises 10 species of livestock and produces organic vegetables and honey. He is a fourth-generation cattleman, who tends the same land that his great-grandfather settled in 1866.After graduating from the University of Georgia's School of Agriculture in 1976, Will returned home to Bluffton where he and his father continued to raise cattle with pesticides, herbicides, hormones, antibiotics, and a high-carbohydrate diet of corn and soy. Over the years Will grew disenchanted with industrialized agriculture, beginning with concerns over animal welfare. In 1995, he made the decision to return to the farming methods his great-grandfather had used 130 years before.Since Will has abandoned intensive agriculture in favor of a wholistic system, he has been recognized all over the world as a leader in humane animal husbandry and environmental sustainability. He served as President of the Board of Directors of Georgia Organics, is the Beef Director of the American Grassfed Association, and was selected 2011 Business Person of the year for Georgia by the Small Business Administration.Head over to White Oak Pastures to learn more and to order their various animal products.

Danny Christensen is a Danish photographer and director based in Northern Italy. While working and living in New York City, he began a project called Urban Huntsman as an excuse to get out of the city and explore while also using his talents for visual communication. Through his website and social media Danny portrays, as he puts it, the “hunt for silence and a good meal.”We discussed outdoor media, European hunting laws and culture, and some of the incredible experiences Danny has had while documenting traditions in Eastern Europe and British Columbia. At the end, he also shared some very exciting news about an upcoming project.To find Danny's beautiful photography, stories, and wild game recipes, head to The Urban Huntsman.

Brian Yablonski is the CEO of the Property and Environment Research Center (PERC) based in Bozeman, Montana. PERC is a 40 year old research institute dedicated to free market environmentalism, and they are actively exploring ways that voluntary trade can produce positive environmental outcomes.Brian regularly contributes commentary on conservation topics to major media outlets, serves on the board of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, and is a professional member of the Boone and Crockett Club.Early in his career, Brian was director of policy and deputy chief of staff for Florida Governor Jeb Bush, where he helped craft the administration's major policy initiatives, including Everglades restoration and the Florida Forever conservation program. From 1989 to 1990, he worked in the West Wing of the White House as a personal staff assistant to President George H.W. Bush. He served as chairman of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission prior to joining PERC.We discussed the group's mission and values, Brian's career path, The concept of free market environmentalism, current topics of research including wildfires and forest management, wildlife/livestock conflict, the feral horse issue, western water rights, and finally Brian's take on some of the new administration's environmental initiatives.Head over to PERC.org to learn more and offer your support!

Tara Chapman is a beekeeper and beekeeping consultant from central Texas. After 10 years working in the Middle East for the C.I.A and other U.S. counter intelligence agencies, she left her day job to create Two Hives Honey near Austin, TX.We discussed basic bee biology and behavior, their pollination role, their importance to the global food system, and the threats facing our bee populations, as well as some of Tara's experience overseas in her former career.Head to Two Hives Honey to buy high quality local honey or to start you own hive!

Dan Flores is a writer and historian who specializes in cultural and environmental history of the American West. He has written ten books, most recently Coyote America and American Serengeti, both of which we discuss in this episode. His essays on the environment, art, and culture of the West also appear in magazines such as Texas Monthly and Orion.We discussed Dan's lifelong fascination with the West, his early work and literary process, his most recent books, North American evolutionary history, predator hunting, and Dan's newest project. Stay tuned at the end of the episode to hear an indigenous creation story featuring the Coyote.

Tyler Sharp is the CEO and Editor in Chief for Modern Huntsman, a print publication and lifestyle brand based in Livingston, Montana. His career as a photographer, writer, director and creative consultant for hunting and outdoor brands led to this most recent project, which celebrates the wide range of hunting traditions that exist on earth and offers a new portrayal of hunters altogether.We discussed his early days as a photographer and filmmaker in Africa, hunting culture, the vision for the Modern Huntsman, their various collaborations, and what subscribers can expect in the near future. Head to Modern Huntsman to see their work and become a subscriber.

Pam Houston is a Western author of short stories, novels, and essays. She teaches at the Institute of American Indian Arts, is a Professor of English at UC Davis, and is a co-founder and creative director of the literary nonprofit Writing By Writers.We discussed her books, the decision to commit to a piece of land, her experience as a Dall Sheep hunting guide in Alaska, her upcoming projects, and the future of her Colorado ranch.“In essays as lucid and invigorating as mountain air, Deep Creek delivers Houston's most profound meditations yet on how “to live simultaneously inside the wonder and the grief…to love the damaged world and do what I can to help it thrive.”” – W.W. Norton & CompanyGo to Pam's Website to peruse her books, which include:Air Mail: Letters of Politics, Pandemics, and PlaceDeep Creek: Finding Hope in the High CountryContents May Have ShiftedSight HoundA Little More About MeWaltzing the CatCowboys Are My Weakness

Dr. J. Drew Lanham is an author, ornithologist, and professor of wildlife ecology at Clemson University. His research focuses on songbird ecology, as well as the African-American role in natural-resources conservation He is active on a number of conservation boards including the South Carolina Wildlife Federation, South Carolina Audubon, Aldo Leopold Foundation, BirdNote and the American Birding Association.Dr. Lanham is a widely published author and award-nominated poet, writing about his experiences as a birder, hunter and wild, wandering soul. His 2016 book, The Home Place: Memoirs of a Colored Man's Love Affair with Nature, describes his upbringing in South Carolina, his family history, and his lifelong affinity for nature. He writes “In me, there is the red of miry clay, the brown of spring floods, the gold of ripening tobacco. I am, in the deepest sense, colored.”We discussed Drew's rural upbringing and his family, his professional life, identity, birdwatching, hunting, and his interpretation of the Land Ethic. I really enjoyed learning his perspective through the book and this conversation. If you're interested in Dr. Lanham's work, consider reading The Home Place and his latest, Sparrow Envy: A Field Guide to Birds and Lesser Beasts.“In his debut memoir, self-described “eco-addict” J. Drew Lanham explores the connection between trees and family trees, birds and brethren, and most importantly of all, the place where mother nature and human nature meet. Taken together, it makes for a unique reading experience; one in which the book's meditative qualities far surpass any semblance of a conventional plot. Let the reader be warned, there are no fireworks here—simply the musings of an African-American naturalist who, throughout his lifetime, has trained himself to marvel at the minor. Trust me, that is enough.” - The Los Angeles Review

Alison Fox is the CEO of American Prairie Reserve, a nonprofit working to create the largest nature reserve in the contiguous United States. With an ultimate goal of 3.5 million acres, it would be similar in size to the Serengeti.We discussed the organization's guiding principles, the significance of this ecosystem and the animals that once inhabited it, the challenges and oppositions she and her team face, and some of the ways people can experience the reserve. Visit American Prairie to learn more!

Connor Coleman is a land management consultant based in the Roaring Fork Valley near Carbondale, CO. His interdisciplinary experiences in wildland firefighting, environmental management, forestry, ranching, and conservation have all shaped his career into what it is today. During the episode, we discussed all these subjects and more as we loosely followed Connors career path. Check out Resiliency Lands, and look out for Connor as a recurring guest!

Shane Hardy is the ecology director at Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture. He grew up in the Hudson River town of Nyack, NY, and has worked on farms in New York's Finger Lakes region, Orange County and Rockland County. At Stone Barns he is pursuing his passion for building soil, increasing resilience and biodiversity in agriculture and finding creative solutions to meeting our humans needs from the land as healthy partners in the natural system we live in.Shane and his team oversee all of the compost and nutrient management cycles, tend the landscape and gardens, care for the apiaries, and steward the regeneration of biologically rich and resilient pastures and forests in tandem with the livestock team. Since 2017 he has overseen the development of a comprehensive ecological monitoring program tracking soil health and carbon sequestration, biodiversity, and watershed health across 400+ acres of working pastureland and forests managed holistically with cattle, sheep, goats and pigs.Our conversation covered many aspects of Shane's role on the farm, including animal husbandry and soil science. Enjoy this episode, and go to Stone Barns to learn more.

Taylor Collins owns ROAM Ranch in Fredericksburg, TX, with his wife Katie Forrest. After selling their company, Epic Provisions, to General Mills in 2016, Taylor and Katie purchased 900 acres of degraded agricultural land in the Texas hill country with the goal of soil regeneration. ROAM is now a thriving multispecies regenerative ranch with over 120 American bison as well as chickens, ducks, turkeys, and geese. Taylor and I discussed their business model, the impetus for starting the ranch, the choice to use bison, and the ranch's hunting program, to name a few things. The ranch offers various learning opportunities and workshops based on regenerative practices for those interested. Check out Roamranch.com to learn more!

Mark “Merriwether” Vorderbruggen, Ph.D. is a leading authority on edible and medicinal plants in Texas. He grew up in the wilds of Minnesota, where his parents and grandparents utilized the wild foods and medicinal plants found in local woods, fields, and lakes.After earning a master's degree in medicinal chemistry and a doctoral degree in physical organic chemistry, Mark worked as a petroleum chemist for 20 years. He focused on replacing traditional harmful chemicals with natural compounds, developing multiple patents to improve the industry standards.Now, Mark extolls nature's benefits in new ways. He teaches foraging classes and medicine making workshops across Texas, and has written multiple books on foraging as well. In this episode, we discussed Mark's introduction to foraging, his ability to balance science and mythology, and some of the sketchy things that he has eaten in the wild.. Visit https://www.foragingtexas.com/ and https://medicinemanplantco.com/ to learn more.

Josh Crumpton is the owner and operator of Spoke Hollow Outfitters, and the primary steward of Spoke Hollow Ranch. He is also the host of the Sporting Diversity Podcast, which focuses on inclusivity in the outdoors. I recently had the pleasure of spending some time with Josh on his ranch in Wimberley, TX, on the Blanco River fishing, foraging, shooting clays, and discussing conservation. He is quick to share his hard-earned knowledge, from hunting and fishing to habitat management and naturalism. During the episode, we discussed our experience together on the ranch, Josh's journey as an outdoorsman, and his goals for Spoke Hollow. For more information visit https://hookandfield.com/ and listen to season 2 of Sporting Diversity Podcast now on all major platforms!

Ruben Cantu is a Certified Wildlife Biologist & Certified Professional in Rangeland Management. He spent 27 years with the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department as a Wildlife Biologist. Now "retired," he began teaching at Angelo State University, created Habitat Advantage, LLC, and is co-owner of Wildlife Consulting, LLC. He has authored and co-authored various publications about wildlife throughout his career, including one titled Scaled Quail in Texas: their Biology and Management, which is how I came across his name. We spoke about North American Model of Wildlife Conservation, management of Texas Wildlife, including exotic and invasive species, and the importance of private landowners in conservation. He also helped bring out my Texas accent.. Enjoy, and go to www.thewildlifeconsultants.com to learn more.

Chris Wood is the President and CEO of Trout Unlimited. Before joining TU in September 2001, Chris served as the senior policy and communications advisor to the Chief of the U.S. Forest Service where he helped protect 58 million acres of publicly owned land. He is the author and co-author of numerous papers and articles and three books including, Watershed Restoration: Principles and Practices, From Conquest to Conservation: Our Public Land Legacy, and My Healthy Stream: A handbook for streamside owners. Chris and I discussed his personal journey, the mission of Trout Unlimited, stream ecology, federal environmental policy, and being an ethical angler. Go to TU.org to learn more and to become a member of your local chapter.

Daron "Farmer D" Joffe is the founder of Famer D organics and Farmer D Consulting, where he designs and builds biodynamic farms and gardens all over North America. His book encourages readers to connect more fully with their food through biodynamic farming practices and community agriculture. We discussed his unique career path, agrihood developments including Serenbe, Georgia, and the role of mysticism and culture in cultivation. Check out Daron's podcast and his book, both called Citizen Farmers, to learn more.

In the inaugural episode of Land Ethic, I spoke with Duke Phillips III, CEO and founder of Ranchlands. Duke and his family manage over 300,000 acres of land across Colorado, Texas, Wyoming, and New Mexico. We discussed Duke's background, his philosophy of ranching and its role in conservation, and the issues of water and predator control in the American West.