The study of ecological processes in agriculture
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What if the future of regenerative agriculture won't be decided in Europe… but in India, Africa, and the Global South?In this powerful Deep Seed mini-episode, we sit down with Professor Nitya Rao, leading gender and climate researcher and contributor to the Lancet Commission on Food Systems, to explore a perspective we rarely hear in the regenerative agriculture movement.Because here's the uncomfortable truth:
On Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg, Dani speaks with Rosinah Mbenya, the Country Coordinator for PELUM Kenya, a network dedicated to advancing agroecological principles among smallholder farmers and pastoralists. They discuss policy developments protecting farmers rights, agroecology as a climate solution, and the innovations that are drawing a new generation to the agriculture sector. While you're listening, subscribe, rate, and review the show; it would mean the world to us to have your feedback. You can listen to "Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg" wherever you consume your podcasts.
Can regenerative agriculture really restore biodiversity, rebuild soil health, increase farmer profits and still feed the world? Or is it just a powerful story we want to believe?In this evidence-based Deep Seed conversation, biodiversity scientist Professor Lynn Dicks shares groundbreaking real-world research from commercial farms in the UK and India — revealing what the science actually says about regenerative agriculture, agroecology, nature-based solutions, and the future of our food system.This episode is essential listening for farmers, policymakers, sustainability professionals, researchers, and anyone working to transform agriculture.
This week on American Family Farmer, host Doug Stephan sits down with Jack Algiere, Director of Agroecology at Stone Barns Center for Food & Agriculture in New York's Hudson Valley.Jack has been actively farming for more than two decades and was Stone Barns' very first official employee back in 2004. Since then, he's helped build one of the country's most innovative four-season regenerative farming operations—bringing together multi-species grass-fed livestock, grains and field crops, greenhouse production, orchards, flowers, composting systems, and even wild landscape stewardship under one integrated approach.In this conversation, Jack shares what it really takes to run a holistic farm system that supports biodiversity, soil health, animal welfare, and long-term resilience—while also serving as a training ground for young farmers, chefs, and changemakers. Doug and Jack also explore how Stone Barns is working with partners like the Rockefeller State Park Preserve to manage hundreds of acres of public land through rotational grazing and ecological monitoring.From cover crops and seed trials to composting, conservation planning, and the future of sustainable farming, this episode is packed with real-world insight from someone doing the work at the highest level—every single day.Website: AmericanFamilyFarmerShow.com Social Media: @GoodDayNetworks
The difference between agroecology and regenerative agriculture is the deep social change we need in the food and agriculture system. As Laura Ortiz Montemayor told us once "ecology without social justice is just gardening". Million Belay, who leads the Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa, the largest social movement on the African continent, is very clear stop intervening with agriculture on the continent, stop imposing all kinds of rules, practices, seeds, inputs etc, which don't serve in this context (and we could argue in the context we come from as well, how many European banned pesticides are exported to the continent?)We talk about the shut down of the USAID which was actually a good shock to the system. And finally donors, which unfortunately dictate quite a bit the direction, are talking and slowly also acting around agroecology. We discuss how through lobbying they managed to get many countries to adopt agroecology policies in the last few years, what Million would do with a billion dollar and what his message for investors is.More about this episode.==========================In Investing in Regenerative Agriculture and Food podcast show we talk to the pioneers in the regenerative food and agriculture space to learn more on how to put our money to work to regenerate soil, people, local communities and ecosystems while making an appropriate and fair return. Hosted by Koen van Seijen.==========================
What priorities excite you? Heirloom Chrysanthemums, soil health, and contributing back to the community are exciting priorities for Harmony Harvest Farm. In the previous episode, we learned the vision of Harmony Harvest Farm and their overarching aim to help people live and experience a better life through fresh flowers. Our returning guest, Jessica Hall, talks with us about her passion for growing heirloom mums and building healthy soil, and how these are two essential ingredients for achieving their vision.Jessica emphasizes the importance of engaging your roots and making them stronger. For Jessica and her team, the farm business roots started with research, collection, and cultivation of heirloom mums. Mums are dear to Jessica's heart and are a phenomenal crop with great potential for small-acreage flower farmers in Virginia and beyond.To learn about their heirloom chrysanthemums, plan a pick-your-own flower trip, experience a virtual mum summit and on-farm educational events, or order a floral bouquet, please visit Harmony Harvest Farm's website. To register for the Virginia No-Till Alliance (VANTAGE) Winter Conference scheduled for Wednesday, February 18, 2026, at the Rockingham County Fairgrounds, please visit https://www.virginianotill.com/winter-conference. Speakers of note include Dr. Ray Weil and James Hoorman. We can all be 4 The Soil, for the future! Here is how with four principles:1) Keep the soil covered -- with living plants and residue. Cover crops are our friends and allies; avoid leaving soil bare.2) Minimize soil disturbance -- Practice no-till or gentle tillage as much as possible in your field or garden.3) Maximize living roots -- for the longest time to improve biodiversity, soil structure, and life in the soil.4) Energize with diversity -- aboveground and belowground with high-quality food for soil and plants, and integration of livestock on cropland. If you are interested in art and framing the 4 The Soil posters for your office or home, the 16” by 20” posters are available for purchase and printing as single posters or a set of five posters.If you have questions about soil and water conservation practices, soil health principles, and composting practices to restore the life in your soil, call or visit a USDA Service Center, a Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District office, or your local Virginia Cooperative Extension office. 4 the Soil: A Conversation is made possible with funding support from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and The Agua Fund. Other partners include the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service; Virginia Cooperative Extension; Virginia State University; Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation; and partners of the Virginia Soil Health Coalition.Disclaimer: Views expressed on this podcast are those of each individual guest.To download a copy of this, or any other show, visit the website 4thesoil.org. Music used during today's program is courtesy of the Flip Charts. All rights reserved. 4 the Soil: A Conversation is produced by On the Farm Radio in collaboration with Virginia Tech. The host and co-hosts are Jeff Ishee, Mary Sketch Bryant, and Eric Bendfeldt.
In this episode of Deep Seed, I sit down with Andrew Voysey, Chief Impact Officer at Soil Capital, to go beyond slogans and dig into what it actually takes to scale regenerative agriculture in a world built for short-term output.We unpack why most farmers feel trapped, why markets alone won't fix our food systems, and how credible impact measurement — paired with smart policy and aligned incentives — could unlock transition at scale.Whether you're a farmer, a food-chain professional, a policymaker, an investor, or someone who eats food every day (which is all of us), this conversation reframes regenerative agriculture as economic reality rather than idealistic aspiration.In plain language and big ideas, we cover:Why soil is a hidden systemic lever - and why degraded soil is behind so many global crisesThe real reason farmers are stuck - risk, cashflow pressures, and fragile livelihoodsHow Soil Capital is forging real economic pathways - paying farmers for measurable impact, not just good intentionsWhy big companies actually care - resilience, supply-chain security, and risk managementBeyond carbon - how soil, biodiversity, water, and farm resilience can be credibly measured at scaleThe limits of markets - why policy and public finance still matterHeadwinds and opportunities - political shifts, economic pressures, and the resilient core of the transitionThis is not another “optimistic farming chat.” This is a real-world, systems-level, deeply practical conversation about how change actually happens when you remove the fantasy, face the bottlenecks, and structure incentives that work.If you care about food, climate, landscapes, rural economies, or simply how the world actually works beneath the headlines, this episode is for you!
Season 5 Episode 2 - "Taking power into their own hands ": Women Leading Food Systems Change in Canada's North, Ecuador, and Uganda Featuring: Dr. Alison Blay-Palmer, Dr. Andrea Brown, and Carla Johnston In this episode of Handpicked: Stories from the Field, we take listeners behind the scenes of a special International Women's Day panel hosted by the Laurier Centre for Sustainable Food Systems. This event brought together women scholars and practitioners working across diverse food systems in Ecuador, Canada's Northwest Territories, and Uganda. Featuring insights from Dr. Alison Blay-Palmer, Carla Johnston, Dr. Andrea Brown, and your co-host, Dr. Laine Young, the episode explores how gender justice in food systems is deeply interconnected with migration, Indigenous governance, urbanization, power, and lived experience. Through case studies on urban agriculture in Quito, Indigenous food governance and agroecology in Canada's North with the Sambaa K'e First Nation and Ka'a'gee Tu First Nation, the Committee on World Food Security for the Voluntary Guidelines on Gender Equality and Women and girls empowerment, and migrant food insecurity in Kampala, the speakers reflect on feminist and intersectional research, positionality, and the importance of community-based knowledge. Together, they ask timely questions about who produces knowledge, whose voices are prioritized in research and policy, and how women and gender-diverse people are shaping more just and resilient food systems locally and globally. Contributors Co-Producers & Hosts: Dr. Laine Young & Dr. Charlie Spring Sound Design & Editing: Laine Young Guests Dr. Alison Blay-Palmer Dr. Andrea Brown Carla Johnston Support & Funding Wilfrid Laurier University The Laurier Centre for Sustainable Food Systems Balsillie School for International Affairs Music Credits Keenan Reimer-Watts Resources Price, M.J., Latta, A., Temmer, J., Johnston, C., Chiot, L., Jumbo, J., Scott, K., & Spring, A. (2022) "Agroecology in the North: centering Indigenous food sovereignty and land stewardship in agriculture 'frontiers'". Agriculture and Human Values. Johnston, C. & Spring, A. (2021) "Grassroots and Global Governance: can global-local linkages foster food systems resilience for small northern Canadian communities?" Sustainability. 13(2415). Brown, A.M. (2024). Refugee Protection and Food Secuirity in Kampala, Uganda. Migration & Food Security (MiFOOD) Paper No. 18. Brown, A.M. (2022). Co-productive urban planning: Protecting and expanding food security in Uganda's secondary cities. In Liam Riley and Jonathan Crush (eds). Transforming Urban Food Systems in Secondary Cities in Africa. Palgrave Young, L. N. (2025). Operationalizing intersectionality analysis for urban agriculture in Quito, Ecuador. Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive). 2762. Rodríguez, A., Jácome-Polit, D., Santandreu, A., Paredes, D., & Álvaro, N. P. (2022). Agroecological urban agriculture and food resilience: The Case of Quito, Ecuador. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 6. Theory of Water: Leanne Betasamosake Simpson Moving Beyond Acknowledgments- LSPIRG Whose Land Connect with Us: Email: Handpickedpodcast@WLU.ca LinkedIn: Handpicked: Stories from the Field Podcast Facebook: Handpicked Podcast Glossary of Terms Feminist Research Research that centers gendered power relations, values lived experience and seeks social justice and equity. Food Security Having reliable access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food that meets dietary needs and preferences. https://www.wfp.org/stories/food-security-what-it-means-and-why-it-matters Food Sovereignty The right of people and communities to define their own food systems, including cultural foodways, land access, and governance. https://viacampesina.org/en/what-is-food-sovereignty/ Gender-Diverse Encompassing identities beyond the binary categories of woman and man. Global Food Governance International institutions, policies, and processes that shape food systems and food security worldwide. Indigenous Governance Decision-making systems rooted in Indigenous laws, knowledge, and self-determination. Intersectionality A framework that examines how overlapping identities (such as gender, race, class, Indigeneity, and migration status) interact with systems and structures of power to shape lived experiences. Positionality The recognition of how a researcher's identity, background, and social location influence the research process. Reflexivity Ongoing critical self-reflection by researchers about their role, assumptions, and impact. Discussion Questions In what ways do women act as knowledge holders, leaders, and connectors within food systems across different contexts? How do global governance frameworks (like the UN Committee on World Food Security) both support and limit gender justice and Indigenous rights? What similarities emerge across the case studies in Quito, the Northwest Territories, and Kampala despite their very different contexts? How do positionality and reflexivity shape the ethics and outcomes of research conducted across cultures and geographies? What does an intersectional feminist approach reveal about food systems that gender-neutral or technical approaches often miss? Bringing Intersectionality into Research Practice: Questions to Ask Yourself as a Researcher Where does knowledge come from and what am I counting as knowledge? Who's bringing this knowledge forward? How do the power relations present impact my results? How? Why do I need to think about scale? Am I using reflexivity in this research? How has history impacted where we are? Am I applying social justice principles? Am I promoting and/or furthering equity in the research that I'm doing? How does resilience and resistance impact the work that's being done?
Our food system is on the verge of collapse — but we can fix it.In this episode, we're joined by Tim Benton, one of the world's leading experts on food security, to unpack the deep systemic drivers behind the crisis… and what a truly regenerative future could look like.We cover:Why the food system is fundamentally unsustainableThe 3 “lock-ins” keeping us stuckHow planetary boundaries apply to farming and dietsThe myth of green growthWhat gives Tim hope — and what needs to change nowThis is one of the most powerful and important episodes we've recorded. If you care about the future of food, farming, or the planet, you need to hear this.
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This explosive opening segment exposes how meat production is accelerating climate collapse through biodiversity loss, deforestation, land misuse, and ocean dead zones. #AnimalAgriculture #ClimateCrisis #PlanetaryHealth
What does “sustainable agriculture” actually mean, and why do scientists disagree about it? This episode explores how two influential scientific discourses - Agroecology and Sustainable Intensification - start from different values, ask different questions, and often talk past each other. Drawing on an interdisciplinary study at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, ecologist Riccardo Bommarco and ethicist Helena Rocklinsberg examine how those different approaches shape research, priorities, and solutions. The conversation turns to what might change when scientists begin to listen to each other across divides.For more info, transcript and resources, visit: https://tabledebates.org/podcast/episode94Want to share your reflections on the episode? Send us an email or voice memo to podcast@tabledebates.orgEpisode edited and hosted by Matthew Kessler. Music by Blue dot sessions.
What if every bite of cheap food you eat is secretly costing society triple the price you paid at checkout?In this eye-opening episode, food systems expert Adele Jones (former Executive Director of the Sustainable Food Trust) pulls back the curtain on the true cost of our food. From soil health and ecosystem collapse to diet-related disease and skyrocketing healthcare costs, Adele explains how we're already paying the true price of industrial farming. And it's way more than what we spend at the supermarket! But it's not all bad news. Adele lays out a hopeful, inspiring roadmap to a regenerative food system where farmers are rewarded for improving soil, boosting biodiversity, and producing truly nutrient-dense food. We cover groundbreaking concepts like True Cost Accounting, the Global Farm Metric, and why livestock farming might just be part of the solution.If you've ever wondered how to fix food, protect nature, and improve public health all at once: this episode is a must-listen! It's one of the most mind-expanding conversations we've ever had.⎯⎯⎯
Agroecology is often framed as an environmental solution - but today, it's also a business opportunity.As climate pressures reshape food systems, agroecology offers a climate-resilient model that reduces risk, strengthens supply chains, and opens new sustainable markets. Early adopters aren't just protecting the planet - they're positioning themselves for long-term commercial gain.We are joined by Joachim Ewechu Co-Founder & CEO, SHONA Group, Ivan Mandela, CFACEO & Co-Founder, SHONA Capital and Fabio Leippert Co-Head of Policy & Advocacy at Biovision
In one of the driest, most degraded landscapes in Europe, farmer and agroforester Antonio Coelho has built 60 cm of fertile topsoil, raised organic matter to 7.4%, and slashed irrigation by 85% - all in just six years! In this #REWIND episode, Antonio shares his deeply inspiring journey into entropic agroforestry, a form of regenerative agriculture that mimics forest ecosystems to grow food, restore land, and rebuild water cycles. He explains how complex, layered polycultures can outcompete monocultures - not just ecologically, but economically too - if we shift how we define productivity.You'll learn:Why dense, multi-species systems don't compete — they cooperateHow to retain water and thrive even with 8-month droughtsWhat it means to feed the soil first, not just the cropWhy economic models must account for real planetary costsHow biomass, pruning, and photosynthesis create energy loops that regenerate land over timeThis episode challenges conventional logic about competition, inputs, and profitability — and offers a bold, hopeful vision for the future of farming.
This is a short-form episode featuring Natalie Sturm, pulled from our recent interview and focused on one of the most important—and often overlooked—drivers of soil health: crop rotations.We're launching these short-form episodes to better serve our audience. Instead of listening to a full 60–90 minute conversation, you can now jump straight into the most valuable insights—practical, research-backed takeaways you can apply immediately.In this segment, Natalie explains why the tillage vs. no-till debate misses the bigger picture. Drawing from her research at the Dakota Lakes Research Farm, she shares how two side-by-side no-till fields—managed with the same equipment and soil type—can perform completely differently based on rotation history alone. The difference shows up not just in yields, but in soil structure, organic matter, and resilience.For the full interview with Natalie, please stream the long-form episode here.Natalie Sturm didn't grow up in agriculture—she's originally from suburban Chicago. Her early concern for climate, biodiversity, and human health led her to Montana State University, where she earned a B.S. in Agroecology through the Sustainable Food and Bioenergy Systems program.She went on to complete her M.S. at South Dakota State University, studying long-term no-till crop rotations at Dakota Lakes Research Farm. Her thesis demonstrated that rotation diversity, small grains, cover crops, and livestock are key to improving soil quality and yields—not just no-till.Natalie is currently pursuing a Ph.D. at Washington State University, where she studies the effects of cropping systems on soil compaction in the Palouse region. In 2025, she will return to Dakota Lakes as its new Research Farm Manager.
Industrial agriculture is often framed as the only way to feed the world, yet its pesticide-heavy model is deepening environmental and climate risks. Sarojeni Rengam, the Executive Director of Pesticide Action Network Asia and the Pacific (PANAP), joins us to explain why agroecology offers a more sustainable path forward that builds soil health, strengthens biodiversity and empowers farmers. We'll discuss how agroecology works on the ground, the systemic changes needed to shift away from hazardous chemicals and toward climate-smart, community-led farming. Image Credit: PANAPSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
What if you could bring a dead river back to life by working with farmers, not against them? In this powerful #REWIND episode, Silvia Quarta shares the story of a forgotten valley in one of Europe's driest regions, where springs stopped flowing, wells ran dry, and the river disappeared. But through radical listening, community trust, and regenerative agriculture, a new vision is starting to emerge. Rooted in hope, soil, and local food systems. This episode is about reimagining what rural life can be, and showing that farmers, shepherds, and citizens can become stewards of large-scale ecological restoration.
What if we stopped just talking about regeneration… and started measuring it? In this #REWIND episode, Peter Fröhlich, engineer, farmer, and co-founder of AgriPurpose, lays out a powerful, outcome-driven approach to regenerative agriculture. No fluff! Just clear, data-informed tools to guide land restoration at scale. Peter explains how satellite data, targeted soil testing, and simple metrics like biomass productivity, plant cover, and input efficiency can help farmers, funders, and policymakers align around real impact — not vague promises. This is regeneration with roots. Practical, radical, and full of hope. ⸻
This episode will change the way you think about farming, food, and fairness. When we talk about regenerative agriculture, we often focus on soil. But what about value? What about money, structure, and power in the food system?In this #REWIND episode, agronomist and regenerative ag pioneer Nicolas Verschuere unpacks how we can rebuild fair, functional value chains that truly reward farmers without making food more expensive. From launching a barley-to-beer cooperative in Belgium to scaling regenerative grains across Europe, this is a powerful look at what it takes to make regeneration viable and scalable.If you've ever wondered how we connect healthy soil to a healthy economy -> this one's for you!
Guest: Natalie SturmHosts: Dr. Buz Kloot and Dr. Gabe KenneRunning time: 62 mins“We could take a shovel, and shovel up some soil in one field, and then just go across the dirt road, and the soils would look completely different... it kind of blew my mind that the only difference between those two fields was the crop rotation they had been under for the past 20 to 30 years.”—Natalie SturmEpisode Summary:Natalie Sturm is a rising voice in cropping systems and soil health. She joins us to reframe the tillage conversation—not as a binary between conventional and no-till, but as part of a broader system that includes crop rotation, residue management, livestock integration, and long-term soil function. Drawing on her M.S. research at the Dakota Lakes Research Farm, Natalie shares insights about why no-till alone isn't enough and how thoughtful rotation design can drive both soil quality and profitability.We talk about:Why two side-by-side no-till fields can look dramatically differentHow biomass, not just crop diversity, builds better soilsThe drought resilience of long rotationsHow longer rotations can reduce herbicide and pesticide useThe economics of dryland vs. irrigated systemsPractical tips for transitioning into more resilient systems, one step at a timeNatalie's journey from suburban Chicago to the helm of Dakota LakesFeatured Guest Bio:Natalie Sturm didn't grow up in agriculture—she's originally from suburban Chicago. Her passion for climate, biodiversity, and human health led her to Montana State University, where she earned a B.S. in Agroecology. She then completed her M.S. at South Dakota State University studying long-term no-till crop rotations at Dakota Lakes Research Farm. Natalie is currently pursuing a Ph.D. at Washington State University on the effects of cropping systems on soil compaction in the Palouse region. In 2026, she will return to Dakota Lakes as its new research farm manager.
Farmers aren't the problem... they're the solution! In this eye-opening episode, agronomist Nicolas Verschuere dismantles common myths about soil health, tillage, and agrochemicals. He reveals what actually works to make farming more regenerative, resilient, and profitable.Drawing on decades of hands-on experience with European farmers, he explains why cover crops, minimal disturbance, and smarter input use are not about perfection but about progress. It's practical, grounded, and surprisingly hopeful. If you're curious about how we can heal soils without blaming farmers, this is a must-listen.
What if farms were owned by communities... and managed for generations to come?
What if “weeds” could become the future of farming?
Wolves are returning to Europe... and it's stirring up powerful emotions! Can we learn to coexist with predators in a human-dominated landscape?
Are funders in the agroecology sector effectively communicating within the capital markets to secure the necessary funding? We'll also explore the progress of policy development across the continent and what this means for the thriving agroecology community.
Innovation is the driving force behind all progress; as the saying goes, you either evolve or become obsolete. Agroecology, like every other discipline, is undergoing transformation. We will challenge CEOs and policy leaders to share their perspectives on how innovation is shaping the future.
In this episode, I sit down with Simon Kraemer from the European Alliance for Regenerative Agriculture (EARA) a fast-growing, farmer-led network that's quietly shaking the foundations of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).Simon takes us inside the movement's origins, its mission to regenerate both ecosystems and democracy, and the groundbreaking farmer-led report that could redefine how we measure agricultural success in Europe.
In this episode, we bring you a thought-provoking discussion on agroecology. What do you know about agroecology? Is it just a passing trend, or is it here to stay? We have assembled a roundtable of CEOs and top experts to break down the concept. Joining us are: - Joachim Ewechu, Co-Founder & CEO of SHONA Group - Ivan Mandela, CFA, CEO & Co-Founder of SHONA Capital - Lucy Asiimwe, Programs Manager at AfriFood Founders, SHONA Group - Fabio Leippert, Co-Head of Policy & Advocacy at Biovision - Francis Shivonje, Country Coordinator at Biovision - Herbert Thuo, CEO & Founder of ANSA Africa We will start by exploring the fundamentals of agroecology and the components that make up an agroecological enterprise.
This week, the 30th U.N. Climate Change Conference (COP30) kicks off in Belem, Brazil; a new report reveals that hundreds of millions of people have been displaced by changing weather patterns in the last decade; and East Africa countries take steps to boost trade of agroecological produce. While you're listening, subscribe, rate, and review the show; it would mean the world to us to have your feedback. You can listen to "Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg" wherever you consume your podcasts.
Join agricultural economist Joseph Kau from the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) as he explores how indigenous crops can thrive profitably through agroecology. Kau explains how agroecology balances ecological sustainability, social justice, and economic viability. He shares insights on how crops like rooibos tea and Karoo lamb demonstrate the power of respecting local knowledge, securing premium prices through geographic indicators, and building niche markets. Discover how agroecology not only enhances soil health and biodiversity but also empowers local farmers, preserves indigenous knowledge, and opens doors to long-term profitability.
Even before the publication of Paul Ehrlich's The Population Bomb in 1968, we heard warnings that humanity would be doomed to a future of famine, hunger and starvation unless industrial agriculture were unleashed to grow food as efficiently as possible in every nook and cranny of the world's arable lands to feed the “ten billion.” Those warnings continue today. But is it correct? In “The Enduring Fantasy of ‘Feeding the World',” a recent article in the journal Spectre, four members of the Agroecology Research-Action Collective challenge those who make this claim. Join host Ronnie Lipschutz for a conversation about feeding the world with Dr. Adam Calo, Assistant Professor in the Geography, Planning and Environment group at Radboud University in the Netherlands, and Dr. Maywa Montenegro, Associate Professor of Agroecology and Critical Technology Studies in the UCSC Environmental Studies Department.
Is the economic rationale of soil health always the top priority for farmers? Or, do other soil values rise to the top of farmers' minds, for example, having a healthy habitat for soil fungi? Kasper Krabbe, a doctoral student at Aarhus University in Denmark and a visiting guest scholar at Virginia Tech, returns to talk with Mary, Jeff, and Eric about his research into understanding farmers' intrinsic and extrinsic values in caring for soil. Kasper states that a deeper understanding of farmers' values and motivations is needed because of the degraded condition of agricultural soils globally. For instance, peer pressure to maintain and strive for tidy fields can inhibit experimentation with alternative minimum till systems and diverse cropping mixtures because of neighboring farmers' perceptions of certain aesthetics. The videos Kasper created of his interviews and interactions with cooperating Danish farmers as part of the Soil Values research initiative can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxwHRB9ybRM As always, we encourage you to cooperate with other farmers, graziers, and gardeners for peer-to-peer learning and to follow the four core soil health principles: 1) Keep the soil covered -- Cover crops are our friends and allies;2) Minimize soil disturbance -- Practice no-till or gentle tillage in your field or garden as much as possible;3) Maximize living roots year-round -- to improve biodiversity, soil structure, and life in the soil; and4) Energize with diversity -- through crop rotation, farm enterprises, and/or livestock integration.More details about the Virginia Farm-to-Table Feast and Harvest Celebration scheduled for Saturday, October 25, 2025, from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at On Sunny Slope Farm in Rockingham, Virginia, can be found at https://virginiafarmtotable.org/2025vaf2tharvestcelebration/To enjoy recent 4 The Soil blog posts and additional soil health resources, please visit https://www.4thesoil.org/blog and https://www.virginiasoilhealth.org/. For questions about soil and water conservation practices, natural resource concerns, and the financial rationale of soil health, call or visit a USDA Service Center, a Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District office, or your local Virginia Cooperative Extension office. 4 the Soil: A Conversation is made possible with funding support from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and The Agua Fund. Other partners include the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service; Virginia Cooperative Extension; Virginia State University; Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation; and partners of the Virginia Soil Health Coalition.Disclaimer: Views expressed on this podcast are those of each individual guest.To download a copy of this, or any other show, visit the website 4thesoil.org. Music used during today's program is courtesy of the Flip Charts. All rights reserved. 4 the Soil: A Conversation is produced by On the Farm Radio in collaboration with Virginia Tech. The host and co-hosts are Jeff Ishee, Mary Sketch Bryant, and Eric Bendfeldt.
Kai Heron, Keir Milburn and Bertie Russell discuss Radical Abundance, transition and public-commons partnerships. Shownotes Heron, K., Milburn, K., Russell, B. (2025). Radical Abundance. How to Win a Green Democratic Future. Pluto Press. https://www.plutobooks.com/product/radical-abundance/ Kai Heron at Lancaster University: https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/lec/about-us/people/kai-heron Keir Milburn's contributions at Novara Media: https://novaramedia.com/contributor/keir-milburn/ Bertie Russell at the Autonomous University of Barcelona: https://portalrecerca.uab.cat/en/persons/bertie-thomas-russell Abundance (the collective): https://www.in-abundance.org/ on Marta Harnecker: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marta_Harnecker on Michael A. Lebowitz: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_A._Lebowitz Lebowitz, M. A. (2013). Contested Reproduction and the Contradictions of Socialism. Socialist Project. https://socialistproject.ca/2013/09/b877/ on Yevgeni Preobrazhensky: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yevgeni_Preobrazhensky Preobrazhensky, Y. (1965). The New Economics. Oxford University Press. https://files.libcom.org/files/%5bPreobrazhensky%2C_Evgeny_Alekseevich%5d_The_New_Econo(BookZZ.org).pdf Nunes, R. (2021). Neither Vertical nor Horizontal. A Theory of Political Organization. Verso. https://www.versobooks.com/products/772-neither-vertical-nor-horizontal on Public-Commons Partnerships: https://www.in-abundance.org/what-is-a-public-commons-parntership https://www.in-abundance.org/reports/public-common-partnerships-building-new-circuits-of-collective-ownership for case studies on Public-Commons Partnerships, see: https://www.in-abundance.org/case-studies on Public-Private Partnerships: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public%E2%80%93private_partnership on council farms in the UK: https://www.cpre.org.uk/explainer/county-farms-explainer/ Common Wealth (the organization): https://www.common-wealth.org/ Common Wealth's recent project on privatization and Public-Private Partnerships in the UK: https://www.common-wealth.org/interactive/who-owns-britain/home on Che Guevara: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Che_Guevara on Stuart Hall: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stuart_Hall_(cultural_theorist) on Hugo Chávez: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugo_Ch%C3%A1vez Gilbert, C. (2023). Commune or Nothing! Venezuela's Communal Movement and its Socialist Project. Monthly Review Press. https://monthlyreview.org/9781685900243/ on agroecology: https://agroecology-coalition.org/what-is-agroecology/ SCOP-TI: https://www.scop-ti.info/ the Berlin Housing Campaign: https://dwenteignen.de/en on the Wards Corner Market: https://www.in-abundance.org/case-studies/wards-corner Amarnath, S. et al. (2023): Varieties of Derisking. Phenomenal World. https://www.phenomenalworld.org/interviews/derisking/ on the Great Replacement conspiracy theory in the US: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Replacement_conspiracy_theory_in_the_United_States on marronage communities and their role in slave rebellions: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maroons on the coal strikes in Appalachia in the late 19th and early 20th century: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coal_Wars on the Black Panther Party: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Panther_Party on SYRIZA and their development: https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/rethinking-populism/the-systemic-metamorphosis-of-greeces-once-radical-left-wing-syriza-party/ on Erik Olin Wright's “Transition Troughs” concept, see chapter 9 and 10 of: Wright, E. O. (2010). Envisioning Real Utopias. Verso. https://www.versobooks.com/products/2143-envisioning-real-utopias the “Abundance” report on the social property of water in the UK: https://www.in-abundance.org/latest/beyond-bailouts on the 2023 strike in France where workers cut energy to certain sectors: https://www.euronews.com/green/2023/03/30/robin-hood-electricians-and-oil-blockades-the-radical-tactics-of-frances-striking-energy-w van Dyk, S. & Haubner, T. (2021). Community-Kapitalismus. Hamburger Edition. https://www.hamburger-edition.de/buecher-e-books/artikel-detail/community-kapitalismus/ van Dyk, S. (2018). Post-Wage Politics and the Rise of Community Capitalism. Work, Employment and Society, 32(3), 528-545. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0950017018755663 on municipalism: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Municipalism Bianchi, I. & Russell, B. (eds.) (2026). Radical Municipalism. The Politics of the Common and the Democratization of Public Services. Bristol University Press. (forthcoming) https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/radical-municipalism on the Occupy Movement: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occupy_movement on Climateflation: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/aug/26/tuesday-briefing-how-climateflation-is-pushing-food-prices-ever-higher-and-changing-how-we-eat on hernani burujabe (the tripartite economic planning system in the city of Hernani): https://hernaniburujabe.eus/es/que-es/ Egia-Olaizola, A., Villalba-Eguiluz, U. and Gainza, X. (2025), Beyond the New Municipalism. Towards Post-Capitalist Territorial Sovereignty in the Case of Hernani Burujabe. Antipode, 57: 1448-1469. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/anti.70030 on the Commons (concept): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commons on Evergreening: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evergreening Klein, E. & Thompson, D. (2025). Abundance. Avid Reader Press. https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Abundance/Ezra-Klein/9781668023488 on Marx's concept of the realm of necessity and freedom: https://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/subject/hist-mat/capital/vol3-ch48.htm on David Graeber: https://davidgraeber.org/ Suits, B. (2005). The Grasshopper. Games, Life and Utopia. Broadview Press. https://kevinjpatton.com/teaching/phil_3230/readings/Bernard%20Suits%20-%20The%20Grasshopper.pdf on the socialist ecomodernism and degrowth debate: https://www.resilience.org/stories/2023-01-23/ecomodernism-on-its-own-terms/ Future Histories Episodes on Related Topics S3E44 | Anna Kornbluh on Climate Counteraesthetics https://www.futurehistories.today/episoden-blog/s03/e44-anna-kornbluh-on-climate-counteraesthetics/ S03E30 | Matt Huber & Kohei Saito on Growth, Progress and Left Imaginaries https://www.futurehistories.today/episoden-blog/s03/e30-matt-huber-kohei-saito-on-growth-progress-and-left-imaginaries/ S03E29 | Nancy Fraser on Alternatives to Capitalism https://www.futurehistories.today/episoden-blog/s03/e29-nancy-fraser-on-alternatives-to-capitalism/ S03E19 | Wendy Brown on Socialist Governmentality https://www.futurehistories.today/episoden-blog/s03/e19-wendy-brown-on-socialist-governmentality/ S03E03 | Planning for Entropy on Sociometabolic Planning https://www.futurehistories.today/episoden-blog/s03/e03-planning-for-entropy-on-sociometabolic-planning/ S02E51 | Silvia Federici on Progress, Reproduction and Commoning https://www.futurehistories.today/episoden-blog/s02/e51-silvia-federici-on-progress-reproduction-and-commoning/ S02E13 | Tine Haubner und Silke van Dyk zu Community-Kapitalismus https://www.futurehistories.today/episoden-blog/s02/e13-tine-haubner-und-silke-van-dyk-zu-community-kapitalismus/ --- If you are interested in democratic economic planning, these resources might be of help: Democratic planning – an information website https://www.democratic-planning.com/ Sorg, C. & Groos, J. (eds.)(2025). Rethinking Economic Planning. Competition & Change Special Issue Volume 29 Issue 1. https://journals.sagepub.com/toc/ccha/29/1 Groos, J. & Sorg, C. (2025). Creative Construction - Democratic Planning in the 21st Century and Beyond. Bristol University Press. [for a review copy, please contact: amber.lanfranchi[at]bristol.ac.uk] https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/creative-construction International Network for Democratic Economic Planning https://www.indep.network/ Democratic Planning Research Platform: https://www.planningresearch.net/ --- Future Histories Contact & Support If you like Future Histories, please consider supporting us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/join/FutureHistories Contact: office@futurehistories.today Twitter: https://twitter.com/FutureHpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/futurehpodcast/ Mastodon: https://mstdn.social/@FutureHistories English webpage: https://futurehistories-international.com Episode Keywords #KaiHeron, #KeirMilburn, #BertieRussell, #JanGroos, #Interview, #FutureHistories, #FutureHistoriesInternational, #futurehistoriesinternational, #Transition, #SocioecologicalTransition #DemocraticPlanning, #DemocraticEconomicPlanning, #Capitalism #BerlinHousingCampaign, #DWE, #Economics, #Socialism, #Socialisation, #Commons, #PublicCommonsPartnerships, #RadicalAbundance, #Abundance, #Municipalism, #Agroecology, #Derisking, #Investment, #Degrowth, #SocialistEcomodernism, #Ecomodernism
When you close your eyes, how do you envision your farm and soil ecosystem? What ideals, values, and priorities are part of your vision and farm business model? Kasper Krabbe, a doctoral student at Aarhus University in Denmark and a visiting guest scholar at Virginia Tech, talked with Mary, Jeff, and Eric about these questions and his research interest in farmers' perceptions and decision-making. Kasper is particularly intrigued by the human and cultural elements of farming and how context informs and shapes the agroecological system and soil health of individual farms and regional farming. Kasper's ongoing inquiry into the agroecological dynamics of farming, soil health, and specific values-based business models aligns with the objectives of the European Union's Soil Values project https://soilvalues.eu/. Additionally, Kasper has created videos based on his interviews and interactions with cooperating Danish farmers. This sample Soil Values video is with a Danish farmer who owns and operates a community-supported agriculture farm https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxwHRB9ybRM As always, we encourage you to cooperate with other farmers, graziers, and gardeners for peer-to-peer learning and to follow the four core soil health principles: 1) Keep the soil covered -- Cover crops are our friends and allies;2) Minimize soil disturbance -- Practice no-till or gentle tillage in your field or garden as much as possible;3) Maximize living roots year-round -- to improve biodiversity, soil structure, and life in the soil; and4) Energize with diversity -- through crop rotation, farm enterprises, and/or livestock integration.More details about the Virginia Farm-to-Table Harvest Celebration scheduled for Saturday, October 25, 2025, from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at On Sunny Slope Farm in Rockingham, Virginia, can be found at https://virginiafarmtotable.org/2025vaf2tharvestcelebration/To enjoy recent 4 The Soil blog posts and additional soil health resources, please visit https://www.4thesoil.org/blog and https://www.virginiasoilhealth.org/. For questions about soil and water conservation practices, natural resource concerns, and farm decision-making dynamics you may be facing, call or visit a USDA Service Center, a Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District office, or your local Virginia Cooperative Extension office. 4 the Soil: A Conversation is made possible with funding support from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and The Agua Fund. Other partners include the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service; Virginia Cooperative Extension; Virginia State University; Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation; and partners of the Virginia Soil Health Coalition.Disclaimer: Views expressed on this podcast are those of each individual guest.To download a copy of this, or any other show, visit the website 4thesoil.org. Music used during today's program is courtesy of the Flip Charts. All rights reserved. 4 the Soil: A Conversation is produced by On the Farm Radio in collaboration with Virginia Tech. The host and co-hosts are Jeff Ishee, Mary Sketch Bryant, and Eric Bendfeldt.
Agroecology focuses on sustainably managing agricultural systems by applying ecological principles. The goal is to optimize the interactions between plants, animals, humans, and the environment. A four-year study by the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology found that incorporating nature-friendly practices within farming increases biodiversity, pollination by bees, natural pest control, and the numbers of […]
Elspeth Hay is the author of the new book Feed Us With Trees: Nuts and the Future of Food. The book helps us understand how many in Western society lost their relationship to nut producing trees. It explains how integral trees such as oaks, chestnuts, black walnuts and hazelnuts are to forest ecosystems and how their nuts were once a staple in North American diets.Hay, lives on Cape Cod and has been reporting on food and the environment for the past 15 years with The Local Food Report, a segment that has aired on a regional New England NPR station. Despite growing up on a farm in Maine, it was a revelation when she found out that acorns were edible and it sent her down a rabbit hole of curiosities that reshaped her understanding of food production, not to mention how she understood the world. In our conversation, we talk about the things in the way of returning tree nuts into our food supply, from land rights to a focus on yields that do not account for external costs.Coincidentally, I've been on a nut tree rabbit hole myself for the past few years. It started with the chestnut trees I have on my land, which drop so many nuts each year I don't always know what to do with them. Chestnuts have become a part of my seasonal diet, and I've now planted a few hazelnut trees as well. Meanwhile, I've been researching Brazil nuts for the book I'm working on in the Amazon, and in some communities I have visited, they remain a staple food. So the possibilities of how we can shift what we eat towards more sustainable solutions are a reality. Elspeth writes and talks about polyculture and how the yields of nut trees paired with other complementary crops are not far off from the amount of food produced in industrial agriculture, with few of the negative external factors.-- Host: Nicholas GillCo-host: Juliana DuqueProduced by Nicholas Gill & Juliana DuqueRecording & Editing by New Worlder https://www.newworlder.com Read more at New Worlder: https://www.newworlder.com
Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with Nébil Bourguiba, the Vegetal Sourcing Manager for Groupe Berkem, a French company focusing on innovative, plant-based solutions for the nutraceutical, cosmetic, and construction industries.
Exploring Regenerative Agriculture and Advanced Nutraceuticals with Nébil Bourguiba, the Vegetal Sourcing Manager for Groupe Berkem, a French company focusing on innovative, plant-based solutions for the nutraceutical, cosmetic, and construction industries. The conversation delves into the issues surrounding industrial chemicals, the importance of regenerative agriculture, and ethical sourcing. Bourguiba discusses the scientific approach his company takes to develop high-quality, organic nutraceutical ingredients and cosmetic products. They also explore the potential of plant-based materials in creating sustainable construction products and the challenges posed by current European regulations. Tune in to learn more about how regenerative practices can lead to healthier, more sustainable products across various industries.
SUMMARY In this episode of the Faith & Work Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Abram Bicksler, agroecologist and leader of ECHO, to explore how science, faith, and stewardship intersect in the world of sustainable agriculture. As part of our Voices from the Workplace series, Dr. Bicksler shares how his calling has led him from rural farms to the United Nations, all rooted in a commitment to creation care and serving the poor. Together, we discuss what faithful scientific work looks like, the church's role in supporting those in the sciences, and why every occupation—including agroecology—can be a gospel-centered vocation. Do you like The Faith & Work Podcast? Be sure to subscribe! Now available on iTunes and Spotify. HIGHLIGHTS On Your Skills "We need every occupation to be a gospel-center occupation and to use your skills, your god-given gifts, the way that god has wired you to bring about the kingdom of God, right here and right now." On the Role of the Church "I'd love to see the church get more worked up about what's right in front of our faces, in terms of how is our pollution, how are the greenhouse gasses which we are polluting in the world, affecting our neighbors in Bangladesh? How are they affecting the ecosystems and the species that we are losing everyday? How are they leading increased droughts and unpredictability of rain that are causing famine and starvation of our global neighbors." Colossians 1:15-20 (NIV) "The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross." RESOURCES Download the Episode Transcript Here Join us on July 19, 2025 in Denver at the American Scientific Affiliation public event to hear more from Dr. Bicksler. Open to all! Check out Biologos for more resources to support the integration of faith and the sciences Other Organizations mentioned: World Relief, World Vision
In this episode of the Soil Sisters Podcast, we chat with our friend Chris Jones, an R&D project manager and designer at Symbiosis in central Texas. Chris shares his compelling journey from a career in finance to regenerative land management, inspired by his mental health struggles. He explains how changing how and what he ate and connecting with nature guided his path to health, clarity, and ecology. The discussion dives into his transition, the importance of healthy local food, and his work on developing universal soil amendments at scale to restore degraded lands. Chris also recounts his recent survival trek experience, underscoring the essential roles of food and community. This conversation leans into holistic well-being, community efforts, and restorative agricultural practices.TIME STAMPS & LINKS:00:00 Welcome to Soil Sisters Podcast00:48 Meet Chris Jones02:10 Chris's Journey to Mental Health Through Healthy Eating04:15 From Finance to Farming: Chris's Transition05:26 Exploring Regenerative Agriculture Across the U.S.09:15 Symbiosis: Regenerative Landscape Design13:11 The Importance of Organic Matter in Soil Health16:17 Mental Health and Regenerative Practices22:06 Principles Over Practices28:34 The Importance of Local and Regenerative Food Systems31:38 Survival Trek Experience with Earth Native43:22 Symbiosis Soil Amendments53:02 Conclusion and Message to Elon Musk
On Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg, Dani speaks with Daniel Moss, Co-Director of the Agroecology Fund. They discuss what it means to build a model of trust-based philanthropy, the benefits that agroecology offers to women and youth, and the flexibility that allows for the experimentation inherent in agriculture. Plus, here about progress being made to halt deforestation in the Amazon rainforest, Kenya's plan to address the rising rate of diet-related diseases, U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s decision to remove all members of the CDC's vaccine advisory committee, and the key crops that could lose half their best land for their production by 2100. While you're listening, subscribe, rate, and review the show; it would mean the world to us to have your feedback. You can listen to “Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg” wherever you consume your podcasts.
Welcome back to Pizza Quest!When I first met Randy Clemens he was a seventeen-year old guy looking for a purpose in life, something to sink his teeth into, and volunteering to be my assistant for a bread class I was teaching at Sur la Table in Los Angeles. Fast forward 23 years and join me as I catch up with Randy who, after writing three books (including the famous "The Sriracha Cookbook") and working in many aspects of the culinary world, seems to have found what he's been looking for in, of all places, Uruguay, by founding the Las Bandurrias Food Forest and Homestead. What, you may ask, is that? Well, as you'll hear during our conversation, think back fifty years ago when the so-called "back to the earth movement" was happening and all sorts of folks, often called hippies (and way ahead of their time), were engaged in what we now call sustainability and regenerative agriculture. And now, even newer terms like bioconstruction, syntropic agriculture, food sovereignty, and agroecology are the fleshed-out current incarnations of that earlier movement. Bottom line, as Randy says, is "I just wanted to be able to make things from scratch." He is on his own version of a pizza quest, his quest for meaning and purpose, and is bringing along a lot of folks with him and teaching anyone who wants to learn how to do it. It's all here in this episode of Pizza Quest.Note: As promised during our conversation, here are some links for any of you who want to connect with Randy and Las Bandurrias. You'll love these videos and postings, which beautifully show what's going on way down there in South America:PatreonYoutubeInstagramTikTokFacebook
Joshua Sparkes is a grower whose innovative, soil-centered approach blends regenerative principles with a deep reverence for the natural world. We dig into his unique style of farming, how it's shaped by observation and experimentation, and why it offers a glimpse into what must be the future of sustainable food production. Links The Collective at Woolsery Joshua Sparkes on Instagram Other episodes if you liked this one: If you liked this week's episode with Joshua Sparkes you might also enjoy this one from the archives: Episode 328: Soil, Health & Nutrition Guest: Sam Hamrebtan Link: Roots and All Nutritional therapist and sustainable cooking expert Sam Hamrebtan explores the vital connection between soil and the nutrients in our food. As the founder of the Life Larder newsletter and Course Director at CNM's Natural Chef School, Sam brings a wealth of knowledge on how growing practices impact the quality of what we eat. Episode 306: The Soil Habitat Guest: Eddie Bailey Link: Roots and All Eddie Bailey, a geologist, organic no-dig gardener, and soil food web specialist who runs Rhizophyllia, discusses the soil food web, what inhabits the soil habitat, why soil health impacts plant health and ultimately our health, and what you can do to get the best out of your garden. Please support the podcast on Patreon
This week you'll hear our chat with the author of Countering Dispossession: Reclaiming Land: A Social Movement Ethnography, the political ecologist David E Gilbert (not to be confused with the former Weather Underground prisoner in the US). For this episode, David and I speak about the book, the small community in south Sumatra, Indonesia known as Casiavera, the legacy of colonial land grabs, the people who live there and the agro-ecology of the rainforest at the base of the Arin volcano. You can find more of David's work at https://DavidEGilbert.Com Links: The Black Snake: Standing Rock, the Dakota Access Pipeline, and Environmental Justice by Katherine Wiltenburg Todrys Via Campesina: https://viacampesina.org/ Landless Workers Movement (MST): https://mst.org.br/ Sarakhat Patani Indonesia (SPI): https://spi.or.id/ Mentions of Tan Malaka in the Southeast Asian Anarchist Library (https://sea.theanarchistlibrary.org/search?query=tan+malaka ) or writings on Marxists.Org (https://www.marxists.org/archive/malaka/ ) Feed'em Freedom Foundation (Detroit): https://feedemfreedom.org/ Our interviews on the ZAD: https://thefinalstrawradio.noblogs.org/?s=zad Grassroots Indonesian Eco-movement Wahli: https://www.walhi.or.id/ Announcement May Day Happy upcoming May Day, comrades known and unknown! I hope that wherever you are and whatever you do, you're surrounded by siblings in love and struggle, you can take pleasure in the beauty of the world around you, take strength from our predecessors who share our vision of a life unencumbered by state / capital & the other anchors foisted upon our shoulders, and with the energy to create a path towards our desires Ángel Espinosa Villegas We had an interview scheduled with Ángel Espinosa Villegas, a trans masc butch dyke, formerly a 2020 uprising prisoner who was transferred to ICE detention for deportation, however the screws seem to have decided to escalate the deportation to Chile rather than let hir continue to speak to the media. Keep an eye out for upcoming interviews with Ángel, and consider checking out hir GoFundMe. At the end of this post there are some statements from Angel... Supporting The Show Hey listeners… we've had a string of early releases with more on the way coming out through our patreon for supporters at $3 or more a month, alongside other thank-you gifts. If you can kick in and help, the funds go to our online hosting, and creation of promotional materials like shirts and stickers, but MOSTLY to funding our transcription efforts. We hate to ask for money, but if you have the capacity to kick us a few bucks a month, either through the patreon or via venmo, paypal or librepay or by buying some merch from us (we have a few 3x, 4x & 5x sized tshirts in kelly green coming soon), we'd very much appreciate the support. We're hoping to make a big sticker order in the near future. If you need another motivator, the 15th anniversary of The Final Straw Radio is coming up on May 9th, 2025 and we are not above accepting birthday presents. That's 15 years of weekly audio (albeit at the beginning it was more music than talk), including 8 of which 7 of which aren't in our podcast stream (you can find some early show examples in this link _by skipping to the last page of posts on our blog). Other ways to support us include rating and reviewing us on google, apple, amazon and the other podcasting platforms, printing out and mailing our interviews into prisoners, using our audio or text as the basis for a discussion of an ongoing movement, contacting your local radio station to get us on the airwaves, and talking about us to others in person or on social media. Alright, capping this shameless plug! Angel statements: These are press statements and direct quotes that Ángel Espinosa-Villegas has provided from inside Prairieland Detention Center in Alvarado, TX, where she was held from April 1 to April 25, 2025. Ángel is currently in transfer to an undisclosed location, but has not been able to contact loved ones yet. These messages were received by loved ones on the outside throughout the past 3 weeks and she has given explicit permission to publicize these statements. “We dance a lot, draw our hopes and homes on the walls of this place any way we can. We tell stories of home, hold each other past language barriers because we all know all too well what it's like to be torn away from our families, hold onto hope, only for it to be crushed cruelly by these heartless fascist traitors. To remain utterly powerless at the mercy of the abusers of gluttonous power. People are quite literally dragged out, hogtied, by these pirates that speak of protecting democracy yet dehumanize and humiliate us without so much as a look in our eyes before ripping us apart from our newfound friends, and, more distantly, our families we have here. They rob us of the little money we have and have no paths of recovery. They tell us clean water is a privilege and not a right. That speaking to our families is a privilege. That seeing the sun is a privilege. That if we get too loud of this constant mistreatment, then we should get ready to eat mace.” “Most people here don't have the means to speak out against these human rights' violations we face every day. But I will take any and every chance to fight, to expose the way they treat us that these human traitors have normalized.” “This was supposed to never happen again. But here it is again. We need everyone demanding our freedom, to expose all the vultures robbing these vulnerable people of everything from money to merely see our families and small children. We're not even allowed to say goodbye, to hug our children goodbye. What madness is this? How is this STILL happening to us, I ask myself when I wake up. Is this country for the free? For those yearning for a safe, happy life? If this country and its people care about freedom and safety, then people should refuse to let this government and administration work a second longer until they free us ALL.” “A lot of women here are fighting their cases because they've been following protocol to obtain legal papers or asylum or were just rounded up randomly from racial profiling. One woman here lost her purse with all her money on a train and went to church to seek help. The church called ICE on her because she couldn't speak English! Another woman here was late to her job and her boss called ICE on her. Few of us have criminal records. Most were just following advice from their lawyers and continuing their appointments with ICE and USCIS to get their visa or temporary protected status or whatever it was they were doing. But because of Trump's administration they're all rounded up by ICE and deported.” “I'm feeling alright, mostly numb since being locked up is so abusive and heart wrenching. Here... It's a rollercoaster. I witness, every single day, cries of agony and anger and despair. I see people hogtied and dragged out. People being yelled at to gather their things and go into the unknown, being threatened with PREA for hugging as we say our goodbyes and well wishes. This place is much worse than prison in many ways. I hear guttural wails and sobs so many times a day. It's like being at a perpetual funeral; laying to rest this person's life, that one's dreams, the other's hope. Knowing they'll be inevitably harmed, kidnapped, sometimes disappeared or even killed when they go and we can do absolutely nothing.” “We're just hostages. Being one for so long now... I'm so hollow on the inside. I haven't dropped any tears the last year and a half. I just can't. Not even when I was sentenced. I don't know how I'll even begin to heal, but I sure as fuck ain't ever gonna stop fighting. My hope and ambition to fight... I've just been refueling his entire time being down.” “Fighting brings me solace. Helping others brings me solace, some meaningfulness, a melting of stone in my petrified heart. I spend most of my time going around and helping people as much as I can; working the tablets, giving phone calls, cooking food, doing little chores and tasks for the older, sick, or disabled ladies.“ With love & solidarity, Free All Dykes . ... . .. Featured Track: Judas Goat by Filastine from Burn It (a benefit for Green Scare defendants)
In this episode, Nicky Schauder of Permaculture Gardens continues the conversation about permaculture and the ins and outs of compost tea with Mary Sketch Bryant, Marian Dalke, and Jeff Ishee. Nicky received two USDA-Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Producer Grants to specifically research the benefits of compost tea and its effects on plant growth, yield, soil biology diversity, and the stability of soil health. Nicky's research question was does compost tea make certain leafy vegetables grow bigger or not?To read the Permaculture Gardens blog and other resources about soil regeneration, compost tea, permaculture, and growing food yourself, please visit https://www.permaculturegardens.org/Bill Mollison's books Introduction to Permaculture and Permaculture: A Designer's Manual are available online or through your local independent bookstore. Information about USDA-Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education's (SARE) grant programs and their free publications are accessible at https://southern.sare.org/To learn about the Virginia Soil Health Coalition and join the Coalition's quarterly meetings, please visit https://www.virginiasoilhealth.org/. For questions about soil and water conservation practices and outdoor educational activities for youth, call or visit a USDA Service Center, a Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District office, or your local Virginia Cooperative Extension office. As always, we encourage you to join the 4 The Soil movement at https://www.4thesoil.org/ and follow the four principles of soil health: 1) Keep the Soil Covered -- Cover crops are our friends; 2) Minimize soil disturbance -- Practice no-till or gentle tillage in your field or garden as much as possible; 3) Maximize living roots year-round -- to improve biodiversity and life in the soil; and 4) Energize with diversity -- through crop rotation and/or livestock integration. And please share your stories of how you are regenerating soil on your farm, in your garden, or backyard. Yes, we can all cheer "for" soil and be 4 The Soil!
This episode was originally aired March 25, 2022 Join this "fruitful" and enlightening conversation with tree crops specialist, horticultural historian and agroforestry practitioner Eliza Greenman as she explains the evolution of the apple, horticultural tree crop history and shares her love for fruit exploring. A creator of niche products, Eliza is passionate owner of charcuterie company, HogTree, and is working towards the goal of creating orchard systems that function symbiotically with livestock to replace costly livestock feed. After a time pruning apple trees on an island off the coast of Maine, paired with her time abroad in Germany in apprenticeship with an apple grower and a formative research trip to Asia, the homeland of fruits and nuts, Eliza found her calling and became single- mindedly obsessed with apples. Now she is an advocate for natural wildlife practices and indigenous systems, stressing the importance of eating in season and shying away from global commodities. The conversation includes various types of fruit and nut trees such as pawpaws, mulberry trees, hickory walnuts, acorns, autumn olive and the infamous Bradford Pear, exploring all the ways these beautiful gifts can be nurtured and enjoyed. Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podchaser, Podtail, or on your favorite podcast platform. Topics Covered: Agroforestry Agroecology Permaculture Food Forests Perennials Fruit and Nut Trees Bradford Pear Red Delicious Fire Blight Heart Rot Pollarding Autumn Olive Silvopasture agroforestry Resources Mentioned: US Apple - Lobbying Back River Market “Of New York” Series - Catalog of Fruit Varieties The National Soil Fertility League North American Fruit Explorers - NAFEX John Bunker, Fedco Trees Francis Fenton Silvopasture is the deliberate integration of trees and grazing livestock operations on the same land. These systems are intensively managed for both forest products and forage, providing both short- and long-term income sources. Source: https://www.fs.usda.gov/nac/practices/silvopasture.php Guest Info Connect with Eliza at elizaapples.com HogTree charcuterie company Fruit and Fodder Instagram @elizaapples
Welcome to episode 96 of Growers Daily! We cover: how much can you earn in a market garden, FSMA exemptions, and are you ready for march? ‼️ Hiring—Produce/Editor Application: https://forms.gle/vnbTTv24NHw52duj8 Links from this episode: Natalie Podcast from Yesterday: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-no-till-market-garden-podcast/id1441886206?i=1000695562553 Helpful FSMA document about exemptions: https://psdocs.spes.vt.edu/FSMA/PSR_who_is_covered.pdf#:~:text=To%20be%20Qualified%20Exempt%2C%20your%20farm's%20three%2Dyear,be%20directly%20to%20consumers%20and%20'qualified%20end%2Dusers'. Natalie's Research: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Natalie-Lounsbury Featured MUSIC TODAY “Weather” By Pandaraps, Big Soda, Is Our Children Learning Via https://www.epidemicsound.com Support our work (
Our latest episode navigates the turbulent water of South Korea's neoliberal rise, examining how austerity measures imposed by the IMF hit the working class hard and compromised environmental protections. Yet, within these adversities, seedbeds of change emerged, notably in the form of farming communes and radical agroecology. We unravel these complex threads with a nod to the contradictions they harbor, setting the stage for a deeper conversation about capitalism's imprint on democracy and nature. The narrative doesn't stop there. We turn our gaze to the evolution of environmental movements in South Korea, transitioning from the centralized NGO structures of the '80s to the grassroots-driven initiatives we see today. By spotlighting movements like the Life and Peace Movement, we highlight how ordinary citizens, pro-democracy advocates, and agroecological farmers are crafting a more resilient and balanced ecological future from the ground up. These community-driven efforts challenge the status quo not by dismantling capitalism directly but by fostering local autonomy and ecological alternatives, offering rich insights for similar movements in places like the United States. Finally, we explore the political landscape of agroecology with movements like JADAM and Korean Natural Farming at the helm, which challenge the artificial separation of politics from daily life. Consumer cooperatives are on the rise, transforming societal values and culture by creating alternatives to capitalism. In the realm of cooperative community agriculture, the Hansel and Movement stands as a testament to the power of collective endeavor, cycling financial and agricultural outputs back into the community. For sources, transcripts, and to read more about this subject, visit: www.agroecologies.org To support this podcast, join our patreon for early, commercial-free episode access at https://www.patreon.com/poorprolesalmanac For PPA Restoration Content, visit: www.restorationagroecology.com For PPA Merch, visit: www.poorproles.com For PPA Native Plants, visit: www.nativenurseries.org To hear Tomorrow, Today, our sister podcast, visit: www.tomorrowtodaypodcast.org/ Key Words: South Korea, Capitalism, Foreign Exchange Crisis, IMF, Austerity Measures, Working Class, Environmental Protections, Farming Communes, Radical Agroecology, Grassroots Movements, Democracy, Nature, NGO, Life and Peace Movement, Consumer Cooperatives, Political Agroecology, JADAM, Korean Natural Farming, Cooperative Community Agriculture, Hansel and Movement, Capitalistic Pursuits, Late Night Recordings, Passive Income, Patreon
Ever wondered why certain berries appear in folklore and medicine while others are forgotten in the underbrush? Join us as we unravel the mysteries of the elderberry, a plant that has been quietly thriving from the icy reaches of northern Canada to the sunlit coasts of Florida. Known for its tenacity and resilience, the elderberry has become a symbol of nature's durability. This episode takes a stroll through the history and cultural importance of the American elderberry, exploring its role in indigenous diets and its surprising rise to fame during the COVID-19 pandemic as a natural remedy. The episode continues with a curious blend of nostalgia and urgency, encouraging listeners to reconnect with traditional food practices. We discuss how societal norms have distanced us from the sources of our food and the psychological barriers that make imperfection unpalatable. By sharing personal tales of foraging, we underscore the value of passing down these skills to future generations. Focusing on maintaining a mutualistic relationship with the land, we delve into the intricate connections between people and plants, illustrated by age-old techniques for preserving the humble elderberry. Rounding off our exploration, we delve into the cultivation world, spotlighting unique elderberry cultivars like the Bob Gordon variety. Listeners gain insights into the cultivation art and understand how these native fruits hold the potential to enrich American landscapes. We navigate the challenges and triumphs of growing and harvesting elderberries, revealing the hidden potential of these often-overlooked berries. Whether you're an avid gardener or simply berry-curious, this episode offers a fresh perspective on the elderberry's role in our ecosystems, past and present. For sources, transcripts, and to read more about this subject, visit: www.agroecologies.org To support this podcast, join our patreon for early, commercial-free episode access at https://www.patreon.com/poorprolesalmanac For PPA Restoration Content, visit: www.restorationagroecology.com For PPA Merch, visit: www.poorproles.com For PPA Native Plants, visit: www.nativenurseries.org To hear Tomorrow, Today, our sister podcast, visit: www.tomorrowtodaypodcast.org/ Key Words: Elderberry, Cultural Significance, Resilience, Adaptability, Traditional Food Sources, Indigenous Communities, COVID-19, Pandemic, Disconnect from Nature, Cultivation, Harvesting Techniques, Cultivars, Foraging, Preserving, Traditional Skills, Mutualistic Relationship, Landscape, Archaeological Evidence, Breeding History, Research, Bob Gordon Variety, Challenges, Benefits, Agroecology, Merchandise, Discounts, Patreon, Substack, Porpralscom