Listening to the Land

Who are we and how do we fit together? We talk with two deeply soulful activists and afro-ecologists working with women and children of African and Caribbean heritage in London, to 'go grow food with love'. Drawing on their ancestral knowledge and remembering, from living in a Rastafarian community in Jamaica to initiating in the Dogon tradition of West Africa, we talk about how the earth speaks with all of us, in different languages, whether we know it or not, and it's time to put our pieces together. Listening to the Land is a podcast from the Real Farming Trust and Animate Earth Collective. Hosted by Francesca Price and Rachel Fleming, it explores how to build a deeper and more reciprocal relationship with the Land. Subscribe on PodBean, Apple Podcasts or Spotify to be the first to hear new episodes. Introduction music: The Great Turning by Simmy Singh.

Satish Kumar has walked the world and come into contact with everyone from world leaders to the greatest mountains and deserts on our planet.  He is a tireless activist who has never stopped advocating for a more reciprocal relationship with Nature.  “If we look after the land, it will look after us” he says.  Now in his late eighties, he’s still campaigning, walking, making compost and planning a revolution in radical love. Listening to the Land is a new podcast from the Real Farming Trust and Animate Earth Collective. Hosted by Francesca Price and Rachel Fleming, it explores how to build a deeper and more reciprocal relationship with the Land. Subscribe on PodBean, Apple Podcasts or Spotify to be the first to hear new episodes. Introduction music: The Great Turning by Simmy Singh.

Manda Scott, an acclaimed author and contemporary shamanic teacher, teams up with Colin Campbell, a lineage holder of African traditional indigenous systems, to dive into the wisdom of traditional Indigenous knowledge. They discuss how these ancient practices can reshape modern environmental consciousness. Key topics include the disconnect between today's society and nature, the importance of rites of passage, and the need for a nurturing relationship with the land. Their insights encourage a deeper, more reciprocal engagement with the natural world.

In this engaging discussion, Angharad Wynne, a ceremonialist and writer devoted to Welsh land-based wisdom, teams up with Abel Pearson, a farmer and community leader from Glasbren. They share how seasonal rituals can deepen connections to the land and foster community. Topics include embracing midwinter traditions as a time for renewal and celebrating the interplay of farming and ceremony. The conversation highlights the importance of reviving ancestral practices, promoting emotional ties to nature, and creating joyful, inclusive rituals that honor seasonal changes.

In this fascinating discussion, Patrick MacManaway, a third-generation land healer and doctor, joins therapist and land healer Bríd Walsh to explore the profound connection between human trauma and the land. They delve into the significance of listening to nature and how emotional wounds can affect landscapes. With personal anecdotes and professional insights, they highlight techniques for healing both land and soul, emphasizing the need for reciprocal relationships with nature to restore vitality and abundance.

In this edition of the Listening to the Land podcast we remember our great friend and ally, Marina O’Connell, who died last week at her farm in Devon. I had the privilege of interviewing Marina in March 2022 after the publication of her book, Designing Regenerative Food Systems, but the interview was never released. We are honoured to bring it to you here as a way of remembering the phenomenal contribution Marina made to the movement and to the lives of so many around her. Introduction music: The Great Turning by Simmy Singh.

Sharon Blackie, a psychologist and mythologist, and Manchán Magan, a writer and documentary-maker, discuss reconnecting with our land through myth and ancestral wisdom. They emphasize the importance of storytelling in fostering respect for nature and sustainable practices. The conversation journeys through folk tales that deepen our cultural heritage and explore the ancient Irish practice of the king's union with the goddess of the land. They also touch on gendered symbols in nature and invite listeners to share their intuitive connections with the environment.

What would it be like if we could hear the voice of the Land? What would it say to us and how would it change the way we live and work? Welcome to Listening to the Land, where Francesca Price (Oxford Real Farming Conference and the Real Farming Trust) and Rachel Fleming (Animate Earth Collective) will be exploring how to build a deeper and more reciprocal relationship with the Land.