Mothering Earth Podcast

Most people may not think much about where the wood they use in building projects comes from, but Jordan Zettle aims to change that. Zettle is the Green Markets Manager at an organization called Sustainable Northwest and their focus is in sourcing wood from forestlands that are sustainably managed. They work with tribal communities and other landowners who care deeply about all of nature contained in a forest, and who take seriously their stewardship of the land.

Native plants are local plants. They have been growing in a particular region for possibly thousands of years. They grow well without much “care” because they are well adapted to the habitat. They like the type of soil in that region. They do perfectly well with the amount of sunlight they receive there, and are quite happy with the climate, which includes the normal temperatures and the usual amount of rainfall for the area. Wildlife populations in their particular region, have evolved a close relationship with the native plants, which they use for shelter, and for food. That’s why when you plant native plants you naturally increase the populations of pollinators, birds and other wildlife. In this program, we’ll learn a lot about native plants and how you can use them to promote biodiversity in your outdoor spaces.

Putting a tax on carbon emissions from fossil fuels isn’t a new idea. Many governments worldwide now implement either direct taxes on fossil fuels, or have set up cap-and-trade programs. This includes Canada, Mexico, many European countries, and the United Kingdom. The United States does not have a carbon tax, although nine northeastern states now cap emissions from the power industry. A grassroots organization called the Citizens' Climate Lobby has been working for years to convince the U.S. Congress to put a price on carbon pollution. My guest, Kalpana Sutaria, is a member of the organization and dedicates her time to persuading people to support a carbon tax and dividend plan.

Herbicide-Free Campus is an organization that provides students with the tools and resources to eliminate synthetic herbicide use on their school or college campuses. It is a movement that began in 2017, with two students at the University of California at Berkeley, and has spread to campuses around the U.S. Their aim is to push for change to organic land management, to protect human and animal health, and to protect the environment. In the process, Herbicide-Free Campus is creating and empowering the next generation of environmental leaders. In this Mothering Earth episode, my guest is a great example of this; a young woman who cares deeply about the environment, and who dedicates time and energy to work for organic land care at the university she attends in Atlanta, Georgia.

Have you thought about how many plastic items you use every day? It is quite a staggering amount, from our toothbrushes, to the plastic bags in which we carry home our groceries, to the water bottles we may buy by the dozens and so much more. In this program, my guest Rebecca Prince-Ruiz challenges us to eliminate single-use plastics from our lives, for a month. It's a journey she began years ago and the challenge has been taken up by millions of people around the world.