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Climate Change got you down? Worried about the fact that *everything* seems to be getting worse? Wondering how we got to this point in the first place, and what can we do to build a more resilient future? We take a look at historical pastoral & agricultural societies to see what worked and what didn’t, as well as what resources we have today to make better decisions to build equitable systems. We don’t just discuss ecology and history but also take a leftist perspective on prepping, foraging, homesteading, weapons, community-building, and basically anything that needs discussing during late-stage capitalism.
Episodes
Sunday Dec 10, 2023
The Hickory
Sunday Dec 10, 2023
Sunday Dec 10, 2023
If the oak tree is the tree that fed the world, Hickories are the tree that helped humans thrive in North America. Across eastern North America until only 300 or so years ago, hickories were the staple crop consumed most commonly. Like the oaks, their mast years drove the successes of communities, and even until recently, there were records of thin-shelled hickories that were likely planted and protected by indigenous people. To eat a hickory nut is to taste thousands of years of history on the continent.
For the uninitiated, hickory nuts are a treat; they can mostly similarly be compared to pecans, which is unsurprising given that they are so closely related they can interbreed (and hicans are an area of breeding worth exploring for several reasons). Hickories, specifically from shagbark hickories, have a subtle, maple flavor which underscores the pecan-esque flavor. The hard part is getting to the nut itself. While we call hickories and pecans nuts, they are referred to as drupes or drupaceous nuts rather than true botanical nuts because they grow within an outer husk. The scientific term, tryma, is how these unique types of fruits are classified. This can seem confusing at first, but if we consider the husk as an inedible fruit and the nuts the pit, they’re much easier to understand and categorize.
In this episode, we dive into the history of hickories, their misunderstood use on the landscape, why folks should care a whole lot more about them, and what the future of the hickory is on the American landscape!
Check out the corresponding substack article for resources, citations, and more information! https://poorprolesalmanac.substack.com/p/hickories?utm_source=profile&utm_medium=reader2
To support this podcast, join our patreon for early 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/
Sunday Dec 03, 2023
Breeding Hazelnuts with Dr. Thomas Molnar
Sunday Dec 03, 2023
Sunday Dec 03, 2023
We're joined by Dr. Thomas Molnar from Rutgers University's Plant Biology program where they're actively working with American Hazelnut genetics to breed eastern filbert blight resistance into European hazelnuts.
Thomas Molnar received his PhD from Rutgers University in 2006. He is currently an Associate Professor in the Plant Biology Department of the Rutgers University School of Environmental and Biological Sciences (New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA). His research program concentrates on the genetic improvement and study of hazelnuts (Corylus) and large-bracted dogwoods (Cornus). Part of this work includes germplasm exploration, collection, and evaluation. A major aspect of his current research is developing and characterizing genetic resistance to eastern filbert blight, a fungal disease which is the primary limiting factor of hazelnut production in the eastern North America.
CHeck out the Rutgers Hazelnut research program at: https://research.rutgers.edu/agricultural-products/hazelnuts
Check out our research on the American Hazelnut here:
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
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/
Sunday Nov 26, 2023
The American Hazelnut
Sunday Nov 26, 2023
Sunday Nov 26, 2023
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
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/
Sunday Nov 19, 2023
Restoring Chinquapins with the Ozark Chinquapin Foundation
Sunday Nov 19, 2023
Sunday Nov 19, 2023
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
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/
Sunday Nov 12, 2023
North America’s Forgotten Chestnut- The Chinquapin
Sunday Nov 12, 2023
Sunday Nov 12, 2023
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
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/
Sunday Nov 05, 2023
Protecting American Genetics with the UTennessee Tree Improvement Program
Sunday Nov 05, 2023
Sunday Nov 05, 2023
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
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/
Sunday Oct 29, 2023
A History of the Black Walnut
Sunday Oct 29, 2023
Sunday Oct 29, 2023
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
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/
Sunday Oct 22, 2023
Breeding Oak Trees with Oikos Tree Crops
Sunday Oct 22, 2023
Sunday Oct 22, 2023
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
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/
Sunday Oct 15, 2023
The humble acorn and a history of the oak tree
Sunday Oct 15, 2023
Sunday Oct 15, 2023
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
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/
Sunday Oct 08, 2023
Sunday Oct 08, 2023
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.youtube.com/@Bionutrient
and on instagram:
@Bionutrientfoodassociation
@Bionutrientinstitute
To support this podcast, join our patreon for early 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/