In this episode, we dive into the history and use of the American hazelnut. Often an afterthought in nut production, the American hazelnut offers significant potential as a food crop while also offering critical ecosystem services. We compare its production to other tree crops and discuss where breeding work for American hazelnuts should focus to bring this plant back into food crop discussions.   Check out the corresponding substack article for resources, citations, and more information! https://poorprolesalmanac.substack.com/p/the-american-hazelnut  To support this podcast, join our patreon for early episode access at https://www.patreon.com/poorprolesalmanac

In this episode, we're joined by the Ozark Chinquapin Foundation to discuss the historical context of the Ozark and the breeding work they're doing to create blight-resistant native chinquapin chestnuts. What potential do they have to restore chestnuts to the North American landscape? If you're unfamiliar with the chinquapin, you can check out the previous episode or read the piece linked below to learn more! https://poorprolesalmanac.substack.com/p/chinquapins   To learn more about the Ozark Chinquapin Foundation, check out the following link: https://ozarkchinquapinmembership.org/   To support this podcast, join our patreon for early episode access at https://www.patreon.com/poorprolesalmanac

In this episode, we dive into the history of the forgotten chinquapin and what new research tells us about its diversity and actual range. For folks unfamiliar, the chinquapin is often considered the smaller cousin of the American Chestnut, despite the fact that research today suggests that isn't the whole story. We're talking about the Ozark, Allegheny, and the Alabama chinquapins and what role these trees can play in our climate-change driven future!   Check out the corresponding substack article for resources, citations, and more information! https://poorprolesalmanac.substack.com/p/chinquapins  To support this podcast, join our patreon for early episode access at https://www.patreon.com/poorprolesalmanac

In this episode, we're joined by the director of the University of Tennessee’s tree improvement program, Dr. Scott Schlarbaum. Most people listening are probably surprised that any university offers a tree improvement program, and they’d be even more surprised to know that the program isn’t designed specifically with future cash crops in mind, but rather protecting ecotype genetic diversity and developing the foundation for potential tree crops, such as acorns, black walnuts, butternuts, and more. We chat about tree diversity, the potential of tree crops from wild trees, the impacts of invasives on our forests, and much more!   Check out the program's work at: https://treeimprovement.tennessee.edu/ On instagram at @tenntip   To support this podcast, join our patreon for early episode access at https://www.patreon.com/poorprolesalmanac

The prole boys finally tackle the most divisive of nuts-- the black walnuts. Are they feety? How important have they been historically, anyway? Is juglone actually a problem-- and if so, what can be done about it? Lastly, what about the black walnut industry can we take away for other potential wild tree crops as potential food sources for our communities? This will be the first and (hopefully) last episode you'll ever need to understand the black walnut.   Check out the corresponding substack article for resources, citations, and more information! https://poorprolesalmanac.substack.com/p/black-walnuts To support this podcast, join our patreon for early episode access at https://www.patreon.com/poorprolesalmanac

We're joined by Ken Asmus from the infamous Oikos Tree Crops to talk about 40 years of plant breeding, the future of perennial crops. We chat extensively about the work he's been doing around oaks, black walnuts, potatoes, chufa, sunchokes, and many, many more. It's great to hear his thoughts and reflections after decades of work in this field and where he thinks this work will continue to move. Follow Ken on instagram at @oikostreecrops Check out Ken's writing at: https://oikostreecrops.com/ecological-enrichment/ Check out the substack article for sources cited and a more extensive review of the subjects discussed in this episode! https://poorprolesalmanac.substack.com/p/oaks-and-acorns To support this podcast, join our patreon for early episode access at https://www.patreon.com/poorprolesalmanac

Elliott & Matt are back to discuss the oak tree, acorns, whether or not Elliott works for the CIA, and the pecularities of processing acorns.    The Quercus genus is arguably the most important genus for all living things on earth, including humans. Spanning 55 million years, five continents, over six hundred species, including over ninety of which are here in North America, the oak tree is a central figure in folklore across the globe. Found as both deciduous and evergreens, as massive keystone trees in forests, and as small shrubs, it’s no surprise that the ubiquitous oak is a foundational part of human existence. Oaks provide us with food, firewood, building materials, tannins for processing the leathers that shielded us from the elements, and feed for the animals and fungi we also consume. Our existence is predicated on their existence, and that’s clearly manifested in its cultural significance, from the names of places (such as Oakland) to its central role in religions (such as paganism).   Check out the substack article for sources cited and a more extensive review of the subjects discussed in this episode! https://poorprolesalmanac.substack.com/p/oaks-and-acorns   To support this podcast, join our patreon for early episode access at https://www.patreon.com/poorprolesalmanac

In this episode, we're joined by Dan Kittredge to discuss the work his organization the Bionutrient Food Association is doing. The Bionutrient Institute team is a global collection of scientists, technicians, engineers, organizers, and others working toward our collective goal to define nutrient density. We chat at length about the surprising results of their studies, and how their testing allows us to better assess the claims of various farming methods, from permaculture, no-till, broad-forking, organic, all the way to conventional agriculture. How can we take this unique data to grow better food, and what are the implications of making food quality knowledge more democratic to consumers?   To check out Dan's work, visit: https://www.bionutrientinstitute.org/ https://www.bionutrient.org/ https://www.youtube.com/@Bionutrient and on instagram: @Bionutrientfoodassociation @Bionutrientinstitute     To support this podcast, join our patreon for early episode access at www.patreon.com/poorprolesalmanac For more information and updates, visit www.poorproles.com and subscribe to our e-mail list. For the supplemental reader that goes along with the podcast, visit: https://poorprolesalmanac.substack.com

In this episode, we're joined by Dr. Eric Burhart from Penn State's Environmental Center. Eric's focus is around wild plant research, stewardship, and use, and we get to dive into this subject specifically around ramps and ghost pipe, although he has an extensive background in American ginseng and goldenseal as well. We explore the ways these plants are impacted and can be impacted by invasives, and what the future holds for these special species that inhabit our forests across the east coast.     For more information: https://www.shaverscreek.org/about-us/meet-the-staff/ericburkhart/ You can also find Eric on Instagram at @PA_Botany_and_ethnobotany   To support this podcast, join our patreon for early episode access at www.patreon.com/poorprolesalmanac For more information and updates, visit www.poorproles.com and subscribe to our e-mail list. For the supplemental reader that goes along with the podcast, visit: https://poorprolesalmanac.substack.com

This episode is special, as we have paired it with a lengthy 2-part scything 101 collaborative substack piece. We're joined by Benjamin Brownlow of Fox Holler Almanac & Farmstead to discuss the application of the scythe and basics around making this traditional tool more accessible for first-time users. What are the benefits of using a scythe, how can it change the trajectory of a landscape, and when is it not appropriate? Further, what exactly is a scythe, and how can your decisions around the scythe you use impact your success? We explore all of these questions and more in this episode.   Additionally, Fox Holler Farmstead is seeking apprentices for 2024 in cooperative land management, agroforestry, natural building, sustainable agriculture and gardening. Contact Ben at brownlow.benjamin@gmail.com for more information!   Check out the substack pieces and subscribe to Ben's substack as well! https://poorprolesalmanac.substack.com/p/revitalizing-the-scythe https://benjaminbramble.substack.com/    To support this podcast, join our patreon for early episode access at www.patreon.com/poorprolesalmanac For more information and updates, visit www.poorproles.com and subscribe to our e-mail list. For the supplemental reader that goes along with the podcast, visit: https://poorprolesalmanac.substack.com

In this episode, we're joined by musician and organizer Ben Potrykus to talk about building community and how music and politics interplay. Ben's a veteran in the greater Boston music scene, and spent years touring the country with a number of different bands, including the Receiving end of Sirens, Christians & Lions, Get Loose!, Sharp Teeth, Baixa, Girlfriends, Bent Shapes, Fake ID, and more.    Imposed Magazine describes Ben's place in the music scene succinctly, stating that "Over the years, he’s torpedoed two major label deals, temporarily fractured his relationship with his brother, and sabotaged a rock doc, all results of his idealism, impulsiveness, and neurosis about selling out. His devotion has made him one of the most revered songwriters in Boston, though it was never his intention to become anything, really." (read the article here, if you are curious) We chat about where he stands on these issues today, and further, how these relationships in and around music have informed the way in which he engages with his other work around tenant organizing. If you're not familiar with tenant organizing, we discuss the benefits of this type of organizing over unionizing workplaces, and the increased presence it will likely have in a world which increasingly isolates due to work from home and more. We also discuss various resources for tenant organizing, which are included below: https://atun-rsia.org/ https://powrpvd.org/ https://bostontenantsunion.org/   And of course follow @Christiansandlions on Instagram & check out their music at www.christiansandlions.com   Intro music: Christians & Lions- "The Changeling" Transition music: Christians & Lions- "Firebelly Salamander" Outro music: Christians & LIons- "Bird's Milk"   To support this podcast, join our patreon for early episode access at www.patreon.com/poorprolesalmanac For more information and updates, visit www.poorproles.com and subscribe to our e-mail list. For the supplemental reader that goes along with the podcast, visit: https://poorprolesalmanac.substack.com

We're joined by Whitney Johnson, a forager who has focused on highlighting the complex and beautiful cultural history of foraging in Appalachia. Johnson has become known to the internet as the @appalachian_forager on Tiktok & Instagram, which she built by hunting mushrooms – and her passion for Appalachian culture and dedication to authenticity keeps people coming back. Her work highlights the ways in which food, ecology, and community intersect, and point to a way in which foodways can help us navigate our way towards healthier communities and healthier ecosystems.   To support this podcast, join our patreon for early episode access at www.patreon.com/poorprolesalmanac For more information and updates, visit www.poorproles.com and subscribe to our e-mail list. For the supplemental reader that goes along with the podcast, visit: https://poorprolesalmanac.substack.com

We're joined by the one and only Chris Newman of Sylvanaqua Farms to talk about cooperative farming, figuring out who to work with, why he hates chestnuts, and what the pumpkin spice girls got right. We dive deep into conversations about scalability and what it means to be a part of the loosely affiliated eco-left, and how we figure out to build food systems while operating under capitalism.   Check out Chris's work at Sylvanaqua Farms and Skywoman on Instagram and sylvanaqua.com. From Sylvanaqua Farms' website: Good food is a human right, period't. We need to get it to everyone; not just the denizens of our wealthiest enclaves fortunate enough to "vote with their food dollars." Everyone deserves good choices, and they should be available at the corner stores, our grocery stores, our restaurants, our schools, our hospitals, our institutions, and beyond. To do this, we must deprecate the romanticized Jeffersonian yeomanry that's dominated food discourse for centuries, and create deeply collaborative, de-individualized, sophisticated, human-centered, circular food supply chains inspired by this landscape's first and best stewards. Sylvanaqua Farms is one farm among several other food businesses coordinating to make this happen in the Chesapeake Bay region." To support this podcast, join our patreon for early episode access at www.patreon.com/poorprolesalmanac For more information and updates, visit www.poorproles.com and subscribe to our e-mail list. For the supplemental reader that goes along with the podcast, visit: https://poorprolesalmanac.substack.com

We're joined by Tim Clemens at Ironwood Foraging to discuss fitness, health, and the left's relationship with sports. What does fitness really mean, how do we engage with fitness when so many of us have complicated relationships with food and sports? Tim founded Ironwood Foraging in 2017 to offer hands-on plant and mushroom foraging workshops. He is the past president of the Minnesota Mycological Society, a Minnesota Master Naturalist, and a certified wild mushroom expert. Tim holds a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology/Archaeology from the University of Minnesota and a certificate in Environmental Education from Cornell University. You can also find Tim on Instagram @mnforager.   To support this podcast, join our patreon for early episode access at www.patreon.com/poorprolesalmanac For more information and updates, visit www.poorproles.com and subscribe to our e-mail list. For the supplemental reader that goes along with the podcast, visit: https://poorprolesalmanac.substack.com

In this episode, we're joined by Lake of The Revolutionary's Garden podcast to talk farming, climate change, and commune living. Lake discusses the challenges and process of building a commune space, finding ways to create a healthy, sustainable community while operating under laws designed for businesses and nuclear families, and, of course, deciding who does the dishes. We swap stories about podcasting and our goals with our projects, and much much more.   Check out the Revolutionary's Garden's website below and find their show wherever you get your podcasts! https://www.therevgarden.com/   To support this podcast, join our patreon for early episode access at www.patreon.com/poorprolesalmanac For more information and updates, visit www.poorproles.com and subscribe to our e-mail list. For the supplemental reader that goes along with the podcast, visit: https://poorprolesalmanac.substack.com

In this episode, we're joined by Zach Elfers to talk about tree crop breeding history, creating marketable products from tree crops, and bridging the present with the past. What is our role in building future food systems that we may never see, and how can we do this while engaging with our beliefs around equitable business models? These questions frame up how the Keystone Tree Crop Cooperative operate and build up their business model to showcase what our food system can look like when centered around native tree crops, and offer us a novel way to think about food and industry.   Check out Zach's work with the Keystone Tree Crop Cooperative: https://keystonetreecrops.com/   Find Zach on Instagram at: @susqu_alum   To support this podcast, join our patreon for early episode access at www.patreon.com/poorprolesalmanac For more information and updates, visit www.poorproles.com and subscribe to our e-mail list. For the supplemental reader that goes along with the podcast, visit: https://poorprolesalmanac.substack.com

In this episode, we're joined by Matt from Symbiop to discuss what it looks like to develop cooperatives in the landscaping world. How do we showcase alternatives to the norm that draw folks in, and how can we also leverage that ownership to center native plants in our landscaping design choices?   SymbiOp started off as a one-person landscaping business, operated by one of their co-founders, Nutmeg. On Oct 1st, 2021, they opened an ecological garden shop, using their plant expertise to make ecological gardening even more accessible to the greater community. Find them in Portland if you're in town, or otherwise check out their work on social media or at their website: www.symbiop.com   To support this podcast, join our patreon for early episode access at www.patreon.com/poorprolesalmanac For more information and updates, visit www.poorproles.com and subscribe to our e-mail list. For the supplemental reader that goes along with the podcast, visit: https://poorprolesalmanac.substack.com

In this episode, we're joined by Eliza Greenman to discuss two of the most underutilized American crops, acorns and persimmons. While folks are familiar with oak trees, what evidence do we have to better understand how these ubiquitous trees could be used for food production? Persimmons, on the other hand, have remained mostly a fruit known in the southeastern parts of the United States and overseas. What makes these two so special, and what kind of work is going into them today for a better, more resilient future food system?   Check out Eliza's work at https://elizapples.com/ , @elizapples on Instagram, and her work with the Savanna Institute!   To support this podcast, join our patreon for early episode access at www.patreon.com/poorprolesalmanac For more information and updates, visit www.poorproles.com and subscribe to our e-mail list. For the supplemental reader that goes along with the podcast, visit: https://poorprolesalmanac.substack.com

We're joined once again by Nate Kleinman of the Experimental Farm Network to talk about their work breeding potential food crops. We dive into crops lost to history, future ecologies, and what decentralized plant breeding looks like for community liberation in relation to community ecology.   The Experimental Farm Network (EFN) works to facilitate collaborative plant breeding and sustainable agriculture research in order to fight global climate change, preserve the natural environment, and ensure food security for humanity into the distant future. They believe participatory plant breeding on a massive scale can lead to breakthroughs to help us not only adapt to climate change, but one day actually stabilize the climate. Founded in 2013, EFN is composed of professional and amateur farmers, gardeners, plant breeders, and researchers. The network's main organizing tool — this open-source website — is free to use and open to all. Check out their work at https://www.experimentalfarmnetwork.org/ and on Instagram at @ExperimentalFarmNetwork.   To support this podcast, join our patreon for early episode access at www.patreon.com/poorprolesalmanac For more information and updates, visit www.poorproles.com and subscribe to our e-mail list. For the supplemental reader that goes along with the podcast, visit: https://poorprolesalmanac.substack.com

In this episode, we're joined by Dr. Doug Tallamy to talk about native plants, their significance, what people get wrong about invasives, and what pragmatic steps you can do to make your environment better for local wildlife populations.    Dr. Doug Tallamy is an American entomologist, ecologist and conservationist. He is a professor in the Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware. He has written and co-authored several books, as well as many papers. Tallamy advocates for home gardens and landscaping that bridge the gaps between parks and preserves in providing habitat for native species   You can check out Dr. Tallamy's work at: https://www.homegrownnationalpark.org/ https://www.udel.edu/canr/departments/entomology-and-wildlife-ecology/faculty-staff/doug-tallamy/   To support this podcast, join our patreon for early episode access at www.patreon.com/poorprolesalmanac For more information and updates, visit www.poorproles.com and subscribe to our e-mail list. For the supplemental reader that goes along with the podcast, visit: https://poorprolesalmanac.substack.com