Biophilic Solutions: Nature Has the Answers

This week, we're speaking with Beth Sauerhaft, the Vice President of Programs at American Farmland Trust. If you've seen the 'No Farms, No Food' bumper stickers, you're familiar with AFT whether you know it or not. In her current role, Beth oversees all of the programming that helps American Farmland Trust achieve its mission of preserving farmland, protecting farmers, and promoting environmentally sound farming practices. Prior to joining AFT, Beth has worked in sustainability roles at EPA, the Department of Agriculture, and even Pepsico. We'll talk about corporate responsibility, the importance of farmland for combating climate change, and the practices that can help farmers (and the planet) thrive. Show Notes:Beth Sauerhaft, Vice President of Programs, PhD, American Farmland TrustRegenerative Agriculture is a System, Not a Single Practice, American Farmland TrustFarmland for a New Generation in New York, by Erica Goodman (American Farmland Trust)Farms Under Threat: Biodiversity and Agriculture, American Farmland TrustCover Crops Create Resilient Farms and Landscapes, by April Ann Opatik Murray (American Farmland Trust)Women for the Land Initiative, American Farmland TrustDonate to American Farmland Trust and Help Save the Land that Sustains UsGet Your FREE ‘No Farms No Food’ Bumper StickerVote in the 13th Annual Farmers’ Market Celebration Biophilic Solutions is available wherever you get podcasts. Please listen, follow, and give us a five-star review. Follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn and learn more on our website. #NatureHasTheAnswers

On this episode of Biophilic Solutions, we talk to Jacqui Patterson, the Senior Director of the NAACP’s Environmental and Climate Justice Program, about why we cannot separate our fight for planetary health from the fight for racial justice. Why is race, even more so that socioeconomic status, the single biggest indicator for placement of toxic facilities in the United States? Why do we silo issues like public health, race, and climate, when they are so closely related? Why is campaign finance reform essential as we move toward a greener and more equitable planet? We’ll address all of these questions and more. Show NotesEnvironmental and Climate Justice (NAACP)At the Intersections by Jacqueline Patterson in All We Can Save: Truth, Courage, and Solutions for the Climate Crisis, ed. by Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson and Dr. Katharine K. Wilkinson, 2020Just Energy: Reducing Pollution, Creating Jobs Toolkit (NAACP)20 Things We Can Do to Advance a Just and Sustainable Planet by Jacqueline PattersonThe Necessity of Harmony for a Sustainable Planet by Jacqueline Patterson (Humans & Nature), 2013Q&A with Jacqueline Patterson, director of the NAACP’s Environmental and Climate Justice Program by Holly Bowers (Arcadia), 2021Move to AmendDemocracy InitiativeShowing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ): A home for white people working for justiceBiophilic Solutions is available wherever you get podcasts. Please listen, follow, and give us a five-star review. Follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn and learn more on our website. #NatureHasTheAnswers

How do we build a biophilic movement? Halfway through our first season, Monica and Jennifer reflect on the lessons they have learned so far and bring it all back to our innate love of and need for nature. They’ll dive deeper into their own backstories and relationships with nature, discuss why biophilia is a useful way to reframe the environmental conversation, and explore the importance of consciousness raising when growing a movement. Show NotesFollow The Biophilic Institute on Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and FacebookPrescribing Nature by Jennifer Walsh with Beth McGroarty (for the Global Wellness SummitI Lived in a Tent for 3 Months. It Changed Everything … In a Good Way by Jennifer Walsh (Medium)SerenbeFollow Monica and Jennifer on TwitterBiophilic Solutions is available wherever you get podcasts. Please listen, follow, and give us a five-star review. Follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn and learn more on our website. #NatureHasTheAnswers

The podcast explores the intersection of nature, humanity, and race with Dr. Drew Lanham. They discuss birding in the context of systemic racism, conservation linked to activism, and the importance of understanding differing perspectives. Lanham's work highlights the need for continuous learning and improvement for a sustainable future.

Fast fashion’s impact on the environment is well-known, but do you have to sacrifice style in order to protect the environment? Marci Zaroff, the founder and CEO of EcofashionCORP and a sustainable fashion pioneer, says absolutely not. Learn about the hidden impacts of the fashion industry, from the massive environmental and human toll to the microfibers that make their way into our food supply. We also talk to Marci about where the industry is headed, the shift in consumer expectations, and why she is optimistic about the future of fashion.Follow Marci  on Instagram and check out her brands: Metawear Organic, Farm to Home, Seed to Style, and YES AND.Show NotesEcorenaissance: A Lifestyle Guide for Co-creating a Stylish, Sexy, and Sustainable World, by Marci Zaroff (2018).The 5 Levels of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs (Verywell Mind)The environment and economy are paying the price for fast fashion -- but there’s hope (Vox).Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)Farm to Home launches second collection with TENCEL™ Lyocell available exclusively at QVC (Textile World).The Outside View: Looking Back at 2020’s Balancing Act by Marci Zaroff (Women’s Wear Daily).The Outside View: The Cool Factor of Sustainability by Marci Zaroff (Women’s Wear Daily).The Textile Exchange | Creating Material ChangeBiophilic Solutions is available wherever you get podcasts. Please listen, follow, and give us a five-star review. Follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn and learn more on our website. #NatureHasTheAnswers

Through cutting-edge research, consumer education, and farmer training, Rodale Institute has been at the forefront of the organic movement for over 70 years, so we were thrilled to have the opportunity to sit down with their Chief Impact Officer, Jeff Tkach, to discuss all things agriculture. In this episode, we’ll dive into regenerative farming, the scalability of organic production, fostering a greater connection to the food we consume, and why human & planetary health starts with soil. Without giving anything away, there were multiple jaw-dropping moments during this interview; trust us, you don’t want to miss it!Follow Rodale Institute on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.Follow your hosts Monica Olsen and Jennifer Walsh on Twitter.Biophilic Solutions is brought to you by the Biophilic Institute and the Biophilic Leadership Summit. Show NotesRodale Institute Southeast Organic Research Center in Chattahoochee Hills, GARegenerative Organic Certified™ led by the Regenerative Organic AllianceShop Regenerative Organic Certified™ products at Patagonia ProvisionsVegetable Systems Trial (VST), a side by side comparison of organically and conventionally grown vegetables.Help solve nutrition insecurity by checking out Wholesome WaveBell & Evans U.S. Organic Grain Initiative - partnership between Rodale, Cargill, and Bell & EvansRegenerative Ag Could Sequester 100 Percent of Annual Carbon Emissions (Rodale Institute)Regenerative Organic Agriculture and the Soil Carbon Solution (Jeff Moyer, Andrew Smith, PhD, Yichao Rui, PhD, Jennifer Hayden, PhD).Biophilic Solutions is available wherever you get podcasts. Please listen, follow, and give us a five-star review. Follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn and learn more on our website. #NatureHasTheAnswers

For this week’s episode, we sat down (in person!) with Sarah Milligan-Toffler, President and CEO of the Children and Nature Network, an organization that is dedicated to increasing equitable access to the outdoors so that both children and the environment can thrive. In this episode, we discuss nature’s impact on brain development in early childhood, ways that we might reimagine the traditional schoolyard, and the historic barriers that have prevented  underserved communities from enjoying nature’s benefits. We also dive into the tools that city officials and engaged citizens alike can use to advocate for the rights of all children to play outside. Show Notes:About the Children & Nature NetworkUrban Nature: Promoting Nature in Cities, Children & Nature NetworkCreating Systems Level Change in Cities: A Toolkit, Children & Nature NetworkAdvancing Equity in Children’s Connections to Nature, Cities Connecting Children to Nature (Children & Nature Network + National League of Cities)The Urgent Case for Green Schoolyards During and After Covid-19, by Sarah Milligan-Toffler and Richard LouvTo Build a Healthier City, Atlanta is Opening its Schoolyards to Everyone, by Monica Humphries (Nationwell)Policy Spotlight: Georgia Creates Outdoor Learning Committee (National Caucus of Environmental Legislation)How the City of Grand Rapids Became a Leader in Connecting Children to Nature, by Alejandra Pallais (National League of Cities)We’re Here, You Just Don’t See Us, by Latria Graham (Outside)Register for Sum of Us: A Conversation with Heather McGee and Dr. Gail Christopher, presented by the Children & Nature Network (June 10, 2021 at 1:00pm).Biophilic Solutions is available wherever you get podcasts. Please listen, follow, and give us a five-star review. Follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn and learn more on our website. #NatureHasTheAnswers

What does it mean for a city to be ethical? To explore this thought-provoking idea, we spoke with Tim Beatley, professor of sustainable communities at the University of Virginia and founder of the Biophilic Cities network. In a new book proposal, Tim argues that we need to move away from a view of cities as purely legal and political entities and expand our definition to include the city’s moral obligations. Do cities have a duty to measure their impact beyond local boundaries? Should a city government consider the lives and wellbeing of future citizens? What ethical obligations do cities have towards local wildlife? How does nature (and crucially, access to nature) play a role in all of this? We’ll attempt to answer all of these questions and more on today’s episode of Biophilic Solutions.Follow Tim and Biophilic Cities on Twitter. Follow your hosts Monica Olsen and Jennifer Walsh on Twitter.Biophilic Solutions is brought to you by the Biophilic Institute and the Biophilic Leadership Summit. Show NotesBiophilic Cities for an Urban Century: why nature is essential for the success of cities, by Timothy Beatley, 2020.The Bird-Friendly City: Creating Safe Urban Habitats, by Timothy Beatley, 2020.The Good Ancestor: A Radical Prescription For Long-Term Thinking, by Roman Krznaric, 2020.The Charter for CompassionCully Park in Portland, OregonSouth Mountain Park in Phoenix, ArizonaMayor Stoney announces 5 new green spaces in Richmond’s southside (NBC12)Biophilic Solutions is available wherever you get podcasts. Please listen, follow, and give us a five-star review. Follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn and learn more on our website. #NatureHasTheAnswers

Exploring the impact of nature on design and well-being, including the positive effects on cognitive function. Discussing the role of biophilic design in stress recovery and the allure of natural patterns. Highlighting the transformative effects of awe-inspiring experiences and the importance of integrating natural elements into architecture.

To answer this question, we spoke with Dr. Phill Tabb, Professor Emeritus of Architecture at Texas A&M and the author of multiple publications on topics such as solar energy, green architecture and sustainable urban design. His most recent work, Biophilic Urbanism: Designing Communities for the Future, explores the tools to create nature-based urban environments that are climate positive, sustainable, and healthy. In this episode we discuss the five positive outcomes of biophilic urban planning, the factors at play when scaling biophilic principles from the individual to the community to the city-wide level, and we’ll dive into the mystery of ‘thin places.’Biophilic Solutions is brought to you by The Biophilic Institute, creating a world in which individuals take local and global actions that nurture the living, social and economic systems that will sustain future generations. Learn more about programs, research and the Annual Biophilic Leadership Summit at biophilicinstitute.comBiophilic Solutions is available wherever you get podcasts. Please listen, follow, and give us a five-star review. Follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn and learn more on our website. #NatureHasTheAnswers