Plant Cunning Podcast

In this episode we speak with jim mcdonald, a folk herbalist and educator from Michigan about how he fell in love with plants, using pool noodles to teach complicated scientific concepts, "herbal energetics", the importance of using common plants and wildcrafting ethics, and how he found out new uses for New England Aster. You can find his website here: https://www.herbcraft.org/ and don't forget to sign up for his new classes at https://herbcraft.podia.com/

In this episode we are honored to speak with Stephanie Rose Bird, author of some of the most important practical guides to Hoodoo, including "Sticks, Stones, Roots and Bones" and "365 Days of Hoodoo." We speak with her about growing up in the country (her dad built their house!), what "Hoodoo" is, how to use roots, herbs, stones, sticks, candles, mojo bags and other elements of hoodoo to help yourself and your community, and about her new herbal product line she started with her daughter. Here's a link to her website.

We talk with esteemed permaculturist Michael Pilarski about Bill Mollison, science & "woo", working with nature spirits, "Restore the Earth" party, restoring the earth, and making $$$ from growing herbs in a regenerative way. https://friendsofthetrees.net/michael-pilarski-blog - Michael's site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG4uqbuuwBGAgC02SHLTnXg - Anna Pallota Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCylekw2DaAsQHsIWaR-js_A - Friends of the Trees Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNPSTkjWIrl7FD31xbJ5STg - Global Earth Repair Channel

In this episode we speak with herbalist, permaculturist, blogger, artist and current Grand Archdruid of the Ancient Order of Druids in America, Dana O'Driscoll. The topics include growing up in the forests of Western PA, studying with herbalist Jim McDonald in Michigan, working with New England Aster to heal her own asthma, art, blogging and divination. You can find Dana's blog at: https://druidgarden.wordpress.com/, and her etsy shop at: https://www.etsy.com/shop/Phyteasana

In this episode we talk to Kate Miller of Weathertop Farm about how she became a farmer, how to be adaptable, and what a "switchel" is. You can find her website at: https://www.weathertopfarmny.com/ And on IG at @weathertopfarmny

In this episode we speak with community herbalist, writer, earth poet and animist mystic Stephen Harrod Buhner about using the heart as an organ of perception, following the "Golden Thread", having plants as primary teachers, pantheistic animism, becoming your own authority, and a bit about his own journey.  Stephen has written a lot of books, and you should check them all out, but the ones that form the basis of our conversation are "The Secret Teachings of Plants", "Plant Intelligence and the Imaginal Realm" and the others in that series. These books give exercises for developing the heart as an organ of perception, adjusting sensory gating and communicating with plants. 

In this "Intro to Spagyrics" episode, we speak with herbalist and alchemist Shannon Garity about what spagyrics are, how to make them, and some of her experiences with them. You can find her on IG and FB under @RipplingMedicinals 

In this episode, AC and Isaac give their top ten tips for surviving the winter.

In this episode we speak with Zamboni of Zamboni Funk about astrology, what got him into it, what it is, how it intersects with magic and herbalism, and about the great conjunction happening in a few days.   His website is https://www.zambonifunk.com/home and his InstaGram handle is @zambonifunk 

In this episode we speak with Joe Hollis about how he came to be tending his little bit of paradise for almost 50 years, what the concept of "Paradise Gardening" is, his community apothecary, how to live with little money (on purpose!) and how climate change has affected his gardening. Here's his website, with tabs for how to apply for the apprenticeship program, an essay on "Paradise Gardening" and how to purchase seeds. Here's his YouTube channel, where I first heard about him.