Episode 47 from Roots and All - School Gardening with Louise Moreton and the MiniHorts

Air date: February 11 2020. 24 minutes. Web page for episode,

"Louise Moreton who heads up the horticultural programme at Wicor Primary School and 2 of the MiniHorts themselves, Rebecca and Kieran. Louise set up a horticultural programme at the school 11 years ago, initially in a voluntary capacity. The programme became such a success she’s now employed by the school and works 4 days a week to deliver what has become a vital part of the curriculum. Rebecca and Kieran are Year 6 pupils who are members of the after school gardening club and leads in the MiniHorts programme, passing on their knowledge and enthusiasm to younger pupils."

Episode from Y on Earth – Episode 15 – Dr. Ghita Carroll & Greening Schools

Air date: November 1. 26 minutes. Web page for episode.

" Dr. Gita Carroll, Sustainability Coordinator for the Boulder Valley School District in Colorado, discusses the tremendous opportunities for impact that schools and school districts (aka “communities”) have for environmental stewardship and the cultivation of health and well-being! Ghita discusses the district’s “Traveling Green Trophy” for school gardens, green building, climate readiness, purchasing and waste mitigation, and community partnerships – which are all key to cultivating a more sustainable world together. As a devoted mother, she also shares the at-home practices of getting outside, gardening, hauling water, and composting, and tells us of the joy of these simple lifestyle choices "

Episode 9 from The Overstory – Birding for Change

Air date: November 6, 2019. 27 minutes. Web page for episode.

On Episode 9 of The Overstory, we go birding with Jason Ward, an impassioned birder in Atlanta, Georgia whose enthusiasm and social media savvy is helping to attract younger and more ethnically diverse groups of people into the world of bird-watching. We also hear from climate activist Patrick Houston about his tips for social change, and talk with Haviland Whiting, the youth poet laureate of Nashville. Plus: Ms. Green discusses the challenges of being a vegan.

Episode from Destination Nature- Soaking Up Stormwater

Air date:?. 20 minutes. Web page for episode.

"When a storm rolls in and raindrops hit the city streets, where do they go?Stormwater is becoming a challenge in cities, threatening the health of the people who live there and the ecosystems that surround them. In this third episode of Destination Nature hear from urban conservationists and community partners about the challenges of stormwater and the natural solutions which bring hope.

CLICK HERE to listen to the episode

Episode from Pennsylvania Legacies - Rooting for Restoration

Air date: April 5th, 2019. 22 minutes. Web page for episode.

"Here's a pretty good reason to root for the Philadelphia Eagles (even you, Steelers fans): under the team's award-winning Go Green initiative, every field goal they put on the board means another ten trees planted in Bucks County's Neshaminy State Park. We celebrate another tree-planting season with the greenest team in pro sports, and share more opportunities for Pennsylvanians to get involved in reforestation projects. "

Episode 129 from PolliNation - Ron Bitner – Vineyards for Pollinators

Air date: February 25, 2020. 18 minutes. Web page for episode.

"Idaho and Oregon’s Treasure Valley have a deep connection to bee management for alfalfa seed, but in this episode we hear about how that tradition is being transferred to pollinator management in vineyards.

Ron Bitner is the newest board member of Pollinator Partnership. He received his Ph.D. in Entomology from Utah State University in 1976, where he conducted his dissertation research on the alkali bee. He has decades of experience in management and consulting of non-Apis bees and crops requiring their pollination. Today, Ron and his wife Mary live in the beautiful Snake River Valley of Southwest Idaho. Along with their family, they are the Owner/Operators of Bitner Vineyards LLC, growing 15 acres of premium wine grapes, first planted in 1981. "

CLICK HERE to listen to the episode.

Questions for discussion

[1] Which episode on this list was your favorite episode? Explain.

[2] How crucial is the need for horticultural to be taught in schools?

[3] Has any of these podcasts above been a problem addressed in your own community?

[4] What one action do you feel that you can take for nature? What action do you wish you could take that you do not know how to move forward with?

[5] Advocacy is defined as "the act or process of supporting a cause or proposal." Do all of us have a responsibility for advocating for natural environments? What are the challenges and opportunities with advocacy?

The following podcasts are not part of our discussion, but we thought you might be interested in listening to these topics to learn about:

• Restoring the American Chestnut (from In Defense of Plants, 51 minutes, July 5, 2020)

• Rewilding Patagonia (effective environmental advocacy, from The Sierra Club's The Overstory, 34 minutes, November 6, 2019)

• A Path for Mountain Lions (from The Nature Conservancy, 26 minutes, August 20, 2019)

• Simple, Reusable, Chic - Scout Bags Elevate The Tote Task (from American Fashion Podcast, 18 minutes, March 16 20??)

• 545: Matt Provost on Student Farming. (from The Urban Farm, 22 minutes, June 30, 2020)

• Restoring the Reef (from Destination Nature, 22 minutes, July 13th, 2019)

Recommended websites by participants from the July 29th discussion:

For identifying nature, in nature

• Philadelphia City Nature Challenge

• iNaturalist

• eBird

• Audubon Bird Guide app

For the Philadelphia Eagles sustainability initiatives

• Eagles Go Green

• Journeys of Dr. G blog - Sustainability tour of Lincoln Financial Field

To address plastics in the environment

• Beyond Plastics - Building a movement to end plastic pollution