Plant Cunning Podcast

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. 

In this episode, we, AC and Isaac, take a brief pause and bit of reflection time. We talk about our roses, thorns and buds from the first season at Cohosh Creek, about isolation retreats, and plug our respective products.  Please email us your feedback! PlantCunning (at) gmail (dot) com Let us know what guests you liked the best, what you didn't like, what your favorite topics are, and if you have any guest suggestions! (we do have a long list of guest ideas, but it's always good to find new people.) Here's Isaac's album "Allegheny Elegies": https://thehillsandtherivers.bandcamp.com/ You can PayPal TheHillsandTheRivers (at) gmail (dot) com to get a signed CD, for $15, shipping included. You can email your shipping address to the same email.  AC's herbal website is https://www.travelingherbfarmer.com/ where you can find all your herbal supplies. Here's an essay on isolation retreats: http://mysticmissal.org/blog/?p=1015

In this episode we speak with John Michelotti of Catskill Fungi on how he quit his job and devoted his life to mushrooms, what mushrooms even are, the medicinal benefits of mushrooms and the best ways to make the highest grade medicines from them, and how science is catching up with folk lore. You can find John at https://www.catskillfungi.com/about-us.html

Meet  Greta and Ben of Unadilla Community Farm in West Edmeston, NY. Their  project focuses on educating beginner farmers with the skills required  for farming and homesteading. Their interns help them grow fruits, nuts,  herbs, greens, vegetables to serve the local community through their Veggie Box Program. The interns can choose the classes they wish to take, and which long term projects the wish to work on to hone skills such as carpentry, stone masonry or herbalism.  We hear about their two pronged approach of changing the  world via community organizing, political advocacy and activism on the  one prong and on the other, actively creating the alternatives to the  systems they are working to change by being as self sufficient as possible  through farming and homesteading, sharing food with the local  community, and training as many folks interested in these skills as  possible.  We dive deep into the permaculture world talking about  building a food forest and 'dynamic accumulators'. Enjoy! Unadilla Community Farm Website  National Young Farmers Coaliton  The Dynamic Accumulator SARE Grant information Dr. Dukes Plant Study Database 

In this episode we speak with homesteader and educator Chrisso Babcock about the disillusionment of youthful idealism, the practicality of food preservation, the necessity of organizing your kitchen and pantry, the importance of healthy fats, and how to shop in a global pandemic. Chrisso teaches classes, workshops and does 1-on-1 private tutoring on food preservation, gardening, and kitchen organization.  You can find Chrisso at his website: https://coyotekitchenworkshops.com/

In this episode we speak with clinical herbalist and educator 7Song about the importance of science in herbalism and in herbal education, a bit about his background, some good herbs for Covid, his work with the Ithaca Free Clinic, wildcrafting, botany, how to key out a plant, and more! 7Song runs the Northeast School of Botanical Medicine, in Ithaca NY. Find him at his website https://7song.com/. 

In this episode we speak with Byron Ballard, the village witch of Asheville, NC about the importance of place, how to use magic as a tool, what a witch grows in her garden during Covid, and how to befriend the local nature spirits. You can find her at http://www.myvillagewitch.com/, and order her books from your local bookstore! Her titles are:  "Earth Works: Ceremonies in Tower Time",  "Staubs and Ditchwater: a Friendly and Useful Introduction to Hillfolks' Hoodoo"  "Asfidity and Mad-Stones: A Further Ramble Through Hillfolks' Hoodoo"  "Embracing Willendorf: A Witch's Way of Loving Your Body to Health and Fitness" "Seasons of a Magical Life: A Pagan Path of Living" in 2021  "Roots, Branches & Spirits: The Folkways & Witchery of Appalachia" in 2021.

Today we welcome John Michael Greer (JMG) to the podcast. He is a well respected writer and blogger on the topics of nature spirituality and the future of industrial civilization. Author of over 50 books, he also blogs at https://www.ecosophia.net/ and https://ecosophia.dreamwidth.org/. 

In this episode, we speak with Marc Williams, an ethnobotanist and plant educator based in Asheville, NC. We talk about ethnobotany, rainbow gatherings, the legacy of legendary plant person Frank Cook, and lots of other fun stuff. You can find Marc at http://www.botanyeveryday.com/home and learn about Frank Cook at http://www.plantsandhealers.org/. You can also find more about United Plant Savers at https://unitedplantsavers.org/. Enjoy!

In this episode we speak with Violet Bertelsen, a mystic, magician, herbalist and writer, about herbs and how to use them magically! We go over tangible tips for spiritual cleansing and protection, get a little nerdy, and have fun.  You can find Violet at https://violetcabra.dreamwidth.org/ .