The Poor Prole’s Almanac

We chat with Morgan Swanson of the John Deere Cal Poly Tractor Hacking Project about the role of hackers in moving innovation forward, the future of computer-laden infrastructure, and the future of farming.   Check out Morgan's work at: https://tractorhacking.github.io/   Support this podcast by becoming a Patron at: https://www.patreon.com/PoorProlesAlmanac

We chat with Michael from 4 Thieves Vinegar Collective about medicine and self-determination, autonomous zones, hacking in some very loose understandings of the word, and the role of open-source projects in an interconnected world.   Check out 4 Thieves Vinegar Collective: https://fourthievesvinegar.org/     Support this podcast by becoming a Patron at: https://www.patreon.com/PoorProlesAlmanac

We chat with Elena Kanagy-Loux & Kara Quinteros of the Brooklyn Lace Guild to discuss the return of artisan crafts, the terminology and culture surrounding those crafts, and their place in an industrialized world.   Learn more about the Brooklyn Lace Guild: https://www.brooklynlaceguild.com/ https://www.instagram.com/brooklynlaceguild/     Support this podcast by becoming a Patron at: https://www.patreon.com/PoorProlesAlmanac  

In this episode, we chat with Alex Langlands, former star of the BBC Historic Farms Series', including Wartime Farms, Victorian Farms, Medieval Farms, Edwardian Farms, and Tales from the Green Valley. Alex is also the author of Craeft; An Inquiry Into the Origins and True Meaning of Traditional Crafts. We talk about the role of Crafts as a method to reintegrate humanity into nature and to build better relationships with our ecology. To check out his work, visit his Youtube Channel Shedcrafter:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZ4HLEEoVLs&feature=youtu.be His book is also available wherever you get your books. Support this podcast by becoming a Patron at: https://www.patreon.com/PoorProlesAlmanac

In this episode, we chat with Ramesh, an administrator from the Facebook group 'Ask for PDFs from People with Institutional Access' and we discuss self-organization, the academic research model, and 21st century colonialism.   Check out the group at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/850609558335839     Support this podcast by becoming a Patron at: https://www.patreon.com/PoorProlesAlmanac  

In this episode, we chat with Executive Director of Project Gutenberg, Dr. Greg Newby. We talk about the role of open access to knowledge and how copyright has played into a complicated mess that inhibits artistic development. To learn more, check out Project Gutenberg at https://www.gutenberg.org/ The Distributed Proofreaders volunteer page can be found at https://www.pgdp.net/c/     Support this podcast by becoming a Patron at: https://www.patreon.com/PoorProlesAlmanac  

We chat with Dr. Greg Susla of the Pry Civil War Garden at the National Museum of Civil War Medicine about the role of plants in medicine, as well as the history of plant-based medicine, and the challenges that come from it.   The National Museum of Civil War Medicine's Pry Garden website can be found at https://www.civilwarmed.org/pry-garden/   To see Greg's work, check out https://www.civilwarmed.org/pry-garden/   Support this podcast by becoming a Patron at: https://www.patreon.com/PoorProlesAlmanac  

In this episode we talk about invasive species and their relationship with climate change, globalism, and ecology. We also talk about our favorite edible invasives.   For more of Jackson's work, check out his two books "Eating Aliens" and "The Beginners Guide to Hunting Deer for Food"     Support this podcast by becoming a Patron at: https://www.patreon.com/PoorProlesAlmanac  

We chat with Princeton's Dr. Dan Rubenstein and we talk about the science behind holistic grazing and the role of horizontal, cooperative-models can provide a resilient framework for food systems as climate change further tests our global food systems.   You can support this project at patreon.com/poorprolesalmanac or visit us at poorproles.com    

  Podcast Summary Discover the transformative world of food justice and climate-resilient farming with Nathan Kleinman, co-founder of the Experimental Farm Network. Nathan shares his vision of empowering local growers to cultivate plants tailored to their unique climates, challenging the corporate dominance in agriculture. Our conversation illuminates the potential of perennial crops like sorghum and kernza, highlighting their environmental benefits and promising role in sustainable agriculture. We explore how grassroots initiatives can redefine our food systems, emphasizing the resilience of historical agricultural practices. The pandemic has reshaped our approach to food security, and we discuss the vital role of community-based solutions. Explore seed rematriation, a movement to return seeds to indigenous communities, and the establishment of seed libraries and banks to bolster local food production. Nathan's insights reveal the cultural and historical significance of these efforts, advocating for a future where communities reclaim their agricultural heritage. We delve into the complexities of plant intellectual property and champion the Open Source Seed Initiative as a beacon of hope for open-access seed sharing. Uncover the untapped potential of rare edible plants and underutilized crops like tartary buckwheat and acorns, which offer exciting possibilities for sustainable food sources. As we expand seed diversity, we underscore the importance of genetic variety in preventing agricultural vulnerabilities. The Experimental Farm Network's work to promote diversity in plant genetics is vital for food security and resilience. Join us as we imagine a future where localized food systems thrive, driven by the ingenuity of community growers and the rich tapestry of regional flavors and cultural identities. For more information, visit: https://www.experimentalfarmnetwork.org/ For sources, transcripts, and to read more about this subject, visit: www.agroecologies.org To support this podcast, join our patreon for early, commercial-free 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/ Key Words: Food Justice, Climate-Resilient Farming, Experimental Farm Network, Perennial Crops, Sorghum, Kernza, Sustainable Agriculture, Grassroots Initiatives, Seed Rematriation, Seed Libraries, Seed Banks, Edible Plants, Genetic Diversity, Open Source Seed Initiative, Rare Crops, Tartary Buckwheat, Acorns, Localized Food Systems, Regional Flavors, Cultural Identities