Sustainable World Radio- Ecology And Permaculture Podcast

A discussion with author, Permaculture Designer, and psychotherapist Rachel Kaplan about her book Urban Homesteading: Heirloom Skills for Sustainable Living.  Kaplan, with co-author K. Ruby Blume, has written a book that is a veritable treasure trove of information about everything sustainable and regenerative.  Lavishly illustrated, detailed instructions are given for dozens of projects: including constructing a solar cooker, starting an urban seed bank, butchering a chicken, and greywater for renters.

In this interview, fiber and dye expert Rebecca R. Burgess shares her techniques for growing and harvesting color.  Burgess talks about her favorite dye plants and the impact that chemical dyes have on the environment.  Plants, minerals, and insects can yield brilliant, vibrant hues.  These natural dyes produce little waste, are nontoxic, and are easy to make at home.

Chicken expert and admirer Pat Foreman shares why she believes that chickens are an integral part of the local food movement.  Foreman, author of the books City Chicks and Chicken Tractor- The Permaculture Guide to Happy Hens and Healthy Soil, talks about how chickens are talented composters, soil builders, living fertilizer machines, and bio-recyclers. Listeners beware!  According to Foreman, chickens are also the gateway to other livestock.

Author of Edible Forest Gardens- Volumes 1 and 2, Dave Jacke is a longtime permaculture teacher and designer.  In this interview, he talks about the history of forest gardening, its many benefits, and how gardening like a forest can enrich your life.

Every two years, permaculturists from around the globe gather together at the International Permaculture Conference and Convergence (IPC).  This year, the IPC takes place in Jordan and its theme is "Plan Jordan- Water For Life. Water For Nature."  Margie Bushman and Wes Roe, volunteer coordinators for the IPC Support Group, clue us in on what happens at the Conference, why they believe that travel is the best teacher, and how, for the first time ever, you can watch the IPC10 Conference live-streamed through the internet.

Warren Brush, Permaculture Designer and educator talks with us about his work in Africa, the power of storytelling, and why children need us to be part of the solution.  Brush, co-founder of Quail Springs Learning Oasis and Permaculture Farm, has mentored youth and educated adults around the world teaching them Permaculture and other practical life skills. 

Have you ever wondered why we poop in fresh water?  In Part 2 of an interview author Carol Steinfeld, we talk more in-depth about human waste as a resource.  Carol, co-author of The Composting Toilet System Book and Reusing the Resource: Adventures in Ecological Wastewater Recycling, shares her extensive knowledge about human waste management practices around the globe, how to clear human waste of possible pathogens, and different waste-composting systems for the home. 

Have you ever wondered why we poop in fresh water?  In this interview author Carol Steinfeld,  of Ecowater Projects, talks about human waste as a resource.  Carol, co-author of The Composting Toilet System Book and Reusing the Resource: Adventures in Ecological Wastewater Recycling, shares her extensive knowledge about human waste management practices around the globe, innovative ways of re-using this neglected and often taboo material, and discusses why peeing outside might be a good idea.

Dr. Scott Fisher, Director of Conservation for the Hawaiian Islands Trust, speaks to us about his work at the Waihe'e Refuge, a 277 acre protected site on the island of Maui.  Dr. Fisher talks about traditional Hawaiian land stewardship, sensitive island ecosystems, biodiversity on Maui, and the importance of malama 'aina (care for the land).  

Botanist, seedsman, and landscape architect Gabriel Howearth talks about his life with plants.  Howearth, co-founder of Seeds of Change, and Buena Fortuna Botanical Garden, spoke with Jill Cloutier at the 2008 Southern California Permaculture Convergence at Quail Springs Learning Oasis and Permaculture Farm.  (This was the last interview that I conducted with my once-trusty, but now defunct, mini disc recorder; so please forgive the audio quality.)

Part 2 of an interview with the Soil Doctor, Doug Weatherbee. In this interview, Doug talks about soil organic matter, carbon sequestration, how to tend your soil to support either fungal or bacterial populations, and how home gardeners can minimize soil disturbance and increase soil fertility.

Doug Weatherbee, a Soil Foodweb Advisor and owner of SoilDoctor.org, talks about the biodiversity that lies beneath our feet.  Soil is alive!

Rebecca Burgess is an ecological restoration educator, author, and textile artist.  Burgess is the founder of the Fibershed Project; a year-long challenge to live in clothes made from fibers sourced within 150 miles from her home.  In this interview, Burgess explains what a fibershed is, talks about the hidden environmental costs of the textile industry, and shares with listeners some of her favorite natural fabrics. 

Interview with Clive Neeson, director of the documentary Last Paradise.  Last Paradise contains 45 years of footage from beautiful places all around the globe and chronicles the adventure of extreme sports pioneers.  As kids, they played in nature.  As adults, they protect it. 

Interview with Lyn Hebenstreit and Tara Maria Blasco of the all-volunteer non profit organization Global Resource Alliance (GRA) about their work in Tanzania.  Promoting a "natural, holistic, and sustainable approach" to the challenges facing the region, GRA works on many issues including malaria control, primary water resource development, solar cooking, and permaculture.

Interview with permaculturist, peace, environmental, and global justice activist Starhawk.  Award winning author and educator, Starhawk talks about her global work, classes and trainings, her love for the Earth, and why the police arrested her seedballs. 

Visionary architect Mark Lakeman talks about the inception of the City Repair movement, and his mission of creating villages within cities. By reclaiming urban spaces, we can transform cities into places of beauty, art, creativity, and connection.

Tahara Ezrahti, intuitive energy healer and environmental educator, leads us on a guided meditation, and talks about the importance of grounding, and how healing ourselves can help heal the Earth.  For more on Tahara's work, visit appliedintuition.org.

Declan Kennedy, architect, permaculturist, mediator, spiritual healer, and founding chairman of the International Advisory Board of Gaia University, speaks with us about his excitement for life, nature, and lifelong learning. 

Foodsheds or neighborhood food exchanges are popping up all over the US.  In this interview, sustainable landscape architect Owen Dell, nutritional chef Carrie Clough, and Permaculturist and Beekeeper Jacob Rodrigue share with listeners how to start a neighborhood foodshed. Foodsheds provide hours of fun, pounds of fresh, local produce, and lots of community.  Note- the Mesa Exchange has a new website address- www.sbfoodnotlawns.org.