The Poor Prole’s Almanac

Latest Episodes:

A New Future for Old Growth Forests with Kentucky Heartwood Sep 05, 2022

Show notes

We're joined by Chris from Kentucky Heartwood to discuss protecting old-growth forests and unique ecosystems that are home to rare and endangered species from clearcutting by the forestry service. Your first thought might be, "Why is the forestry service clearcutting public lands?" We chat about this, and how their solutions fall short.

Kentucky Heartwood was formed in 1992 by people concerned about logging, mining, and off-road vehicles on the Daniel Boone National Forest (DBNF). We advocate for the greatest protections of Kentucky’s public lands, with the twin values of protecting and restoring ecological integrity and a reverence and respect for wild nature as our guiding principles. Through public education, outreach, forest monitoring, and the suite of administrative and legal avenues of public participation and recourse, Kentucky Heartwood continues our tradition of effective advocacy.

You can learn more about Kentucky Heartwood at KYheartwood.com & at @KentuckyHeartwood on Instagram

Support this podcast through Patreon at www.patreon.com/poorprolesalmanac

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The Hidden Legacy of American Groundnuts; The LSU Groundnut Project with Dr. Bill Blackmon Aug 29, 2022

Show notes

Have you ever considered that a forgotten plant could hold the key to sustainable agriculture and enhanced nutrition? Today, we take you on a journey through time to rediscover the American groundnut, a plant that was a lifeline for indigenous communities and even supported the Pilgrims in 1620. We honor Dr. Bill Blackman, whose pioneering work at Louisiana State University in the 1980s aimed to revive and improve this incredible plant. Despite the program's abrupt end, Dr. Blackman's continued dedication into his 90s keeps the dream alive for the groundnut's resurgence.

What are the barriers and breakthroughs in transforming a historical staple into a modern agricultural marvel? We'll explore the trials and triumphs of cultivating American groundnuts on a large scale, from breeding challenges and mechanical farming difficulties to the promising yields and rich nutritional benefits. The episode delves into innovative efforts to develop herbicide systems and non-viney varieties, emphasizing the need for ongoing research to fully harness the plant's potential. Reflecting on the historical use of groundnuts, we consider its role in future farming practices and its remarkable anticancer properties.

Join us as we question long-held scientific beliefs and celebrate the enduring curiosity that drives agricultural innovation. From comparisons to the introduction of potatoes in Ireland to personal experiences in cultivating LSU groundnuts, this episode is a testament to the passion and perseverance of those dedicated to this unique crop. We share heartfelt stories of growing interest and community involvement, culminating in a hopeful vision for the future of American groundnuts. Don't miss this inspiring exploration of an ancient plant with the potential to revolutionize modern agriculture.

For sources and a transcript of this episode, visit: https://poorprolesalmanac.substack.com/p/the-hidden-legacy-of-american-groundnuts

To support this podcast, join our patreon for early episode access at https://www.patreon.com/poorprolesalmanac

For PPA Writing Content, visit: www.agroecologies.org

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/

Keywords:

American Groundnut, Rediscovery, Historical Significance, Indigenous Communities, Pilgrims, Nitrogen-Fixing, Perennial Plant, Cultural Importance, Agricultural Significance, Dr. Bill Blackman, Louisiana State University, Breeding Program, Tubers, Market Viability, Challenges, Mechanical Farming, Promising Yields, Nutritional Benefits, Herbicide Systems, Non-viney Varieties, Research, Anticancer Compounds, Resurgence, Passion, Cultivation, Distribution, Momentum, Resurgence, Legacy, Future Potential, Curiosity, Passion, Groundnut Growers, Gardening, Newcomers, Comprehensive Look, Envision, Possibilities, Journey, Viney, High-Nutritional Value, Sensitivity, Climates, Product Development, Regional Adaptability, Scientific Beliefs, Agriculture, Perennial Crops, Indigenous Peoples, Potatoes, Ireland, Disease-Resistant Varieties, Scientific Theories, Experimentation, Inquiry, Curiosity, Interest, Varieties, LSU Strains, Satisfaction, Enthusiasm, Unique Plants

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The Solutions are Already Here with Peter Gelderloos Aug 22, 2022

Show notes

Peter Gelderloos joins us again to discuss his recent book "The Solutions are Already Here: Strategies for Ecological Revolution from Below". The conversation is framed around ecological collapse, the complexity of tackling these issues, and detangling climate change from the conversations around the carbon footprint. How does capitalism utilize climate change to continue its path to exploit the resources on the planet through tools like the green new deal, and how do we respond to this greenwashing?

We explore the concept of community-building, the power of utopia, and what kind of tools are at our disposal to find ways to gum up the system destroying the ecosystem.

You can get Peter's book from Pluto Press: https://www.plutobooks.com/

Find Peter on Twitter @PeterGelderloos

Support this podcast through Patreon at www.patreon.com/poorprolesalmanac

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Endangered Maize with Helen Anne Curry Aug 15, 2022

Show notes

The role of corn in our diet cannot be overstated, whether it's through animal feed for meat production, ethanol to transport our food, high fructose corn syrup, corn flour, or any of the other ways it has been introduced. Corn is a staple for good reason; it stores well, grows incredibly efficiently, and we've gotten really, really good at growing it. Despite this, there's an underbelly to this industry that often gets overlooked in the conversation about what the future of our food looks like. How did we get here, and how does the modern corn we eat today related to the crops indigenous people across the Americas have been harvesting and breeding for thousands of years?

In this "Tomorrow, Today" crossover episode, we're joined by Helen Anne Curry, author of "Endangered Maize: Industrial Agriculture & the Crisis of Extinction" and Kranzberg Professor of the History of Technology in the School of History and Sociology at Georgia Tech. We chat about this complex relationship between modern corn and its relatives, often called landrace or unimproved corn varieties. But are these actually unimproved varieties? Researchers became aware that the corn we grow today had a very narrow genetic pool, and it was imperative to make sure the diversity of corn that existed across the continents was protected. Like most things, it was more complex than that. How did the cold war, multinational corporations, and the green revolution impact the evolution of corn? Tune in to find out!

Historian Helen Anne Curry on her book "Endangered Maize: Industrial Agriculture and the Crisis of Extinction" from University of California Press.

www.ucpress.edu/book/978052030769…/endangered-maize

Find Helen Anne Curry on Twitter at @HACurry

Support this podcast through Patreon at www.patreon.com/poorprolesalmanac

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The Future of Wild Buffalo with Buffalo Field Campaign Aug 08, 2022

Show notes

In this episode we're joined by James Holt, the Executive Director of the Buffalo Field Campaign, a non-profit focused on restoring the rights of the wild buffalo to manage the landscape similarly to how it has in the past. What's the difference between bison, beefalo & buffalo, and what exactly is the problem with how Yellowstone Park is managing them currently? We talk about these subjects and explore the role non-indigenous people have in both restoring the buffalo and hunting them.

To learn more about the Buffalo Field Campaign, visit their website at www.buffalofieldcampaign.org or visit them on social media @buffalofieldcampaign

Support this podcast by becoming a Patron at: https://www.patreon.com/PoorProlesAlmanac

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Fossil-Free Farming & Food as a Public Work with Maseualkualli Farms Aug 01, 2022

Show notes

In this episode, we're joined by Panteleon from Maseualkualli Farms, a small fossil-free farm in northeast Kansas. We discuss the importance of relearning to farm without petrochemicals and petrofuels, building community, and the Florentine Codex-- a text that outlines traditional indigenous land stewardship as recorded by the Spanish upon their arrival.

We also chat about food apartheid and the concept of food as a public work.

Check out their farm at: https://www.masefarm.org/ and on social media at @Maseualkuallifarms

Support this podcast by becoming a Patron at: https://www.patreon.com/PoorProlesAlmanac

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Indigenous Stories with Joe Yates of Molly of Denali Jul 25, 2022

Show notes

In this episode, we're joined by writer & producer Joe Yates, who is part of the Yawk'laanaas tribe. We discuss the PBS award-winning show 'Molly of Denali', the importance of TV that reflects very complicated realities around representation and finding common threads across audiences. If you're not familiar with the show 'Molly of Denali', it is an animated children's show created by Dorothea Gillim and Kathy Waugh. The series is the first American nationally distributed children's show to feature an Alaska Native as the lead character.

You can learn more about Joe's work at alaskanfilms.com

Support this podcast by becoming a Patron at: https://www.patreon.com/PoorProlesAlmanac

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The Decolonizing Diet with Dr. Martin Reinhardt Jul 18, 2022

Show notes

We're joined in this episode by Dr. Martin Reinhardt to discuss a unique project focused on what decolonized foods look like & how these diets impact health. When foods aren't easily available at the grocery store, how does that change your relationship with your food, and what are the health effects of these dietary changes.

The Decolonizing Diet Project (DDP) was an exploratory study of the relationship between people and indigenous foods of the Great Lakes Region. Very few studies have ever been conducted on this subject matter, and studies that examine the physical, cultural, and legal/political dimensions are practically non-existent.

This research program is being led by Dr. Martin Reinhardt, Assistant Professor – Center for Native American Studies at Northern Michigan University and is being supported by the USFS and Cedar Tree Institute.

The results can be found at: https://na.eventscloud.com/file_uploads/0c98117111bd526196a14015c8f3489f_Reinhardt_Day3_1020am.pdf

The Decolonizing Diet book is available at the Northern Michigan University bookstore:

https://nmu.bncollege.com/c/Decolonizing-Diet-Project-Cookbook/p/MBS_2042696_used

Support this podcast by becoming a Patron at: https://www.patreon.com/PoorProlesAlmanac

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Community Skillsharing with the Cempazúchitl Collective Jul 11, 2022

Show notes

In this episode, we're joined by Jacqueline form the Cempazúchitl Collective to discuss street medic training for communities in their communities, as well as the variety of care that we should be thinking about as we prepare for more government crackdowns on dissent.

Check out their work at: https://linktr.ee/cempazuchitl

Folks can donate to their work anytime through venmo: @BIPOCskillshares

Support this podcast by becoming a Patron at: https://www.patreon.com/PoorProlesAlmanac

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Reclaiming Ancestral Farming with Ancestral Acres of Seeding Sovereignty Jul 04, 2022

Show notes

Food scarcity is prevalent within every city in the U.S. The pandemic, systemic oppression and escalating climate change have exacerbated existing needs. One solution to food scarcity is food sovereignty and community health. In 2021 Seeding Sovereignty embarked on our first-ever farming adventure, Ancestral Acres Farm & Garden on Tiwa Territory in Albuquerque, New Mexico!

In this episode, we're joined by Mayam from Ancestral Acres, land steward and program director, to discuss finding place and time in restoring landscapes for the benefit of human and non-human inhabitants.

You can check out Ancestral Acres at: https://seedingsovereignty.org/aafg

You can learn more about Seeding Sovereignty's various projects at: https://seedingsovereignty.org/

Support this podcast by becoming a Patron at: https://www.patreon.com/PoorProlesAlmanac

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