Shows / The Poor Prole’s Almanac
The Poor Prole’s Almanac
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…
Episodes
- The Poor Prole’s Almanac
Living Rent-Free in my Head; Music & Tenant Organizing with Ben Potrykus
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 Poor Prole’s Almanac
For(a)ging Community with the Appalachian Forager, Whitney Johnson
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…
- The Poor Prole’s Almanac
The Future of Farming with Sylvanaqua Farms
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…
- The Poor Prole’s Almanac
Foraging Fit with Tim Clemens of Ironwood Foraging
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…
- The Poor Prole’s Almanac
Building Commun(iti)es with The Revolutionary’s Garden
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…
- The Poor Prole’s Almanac
The Role of Native Tree Crops in Sustainable Agriculture with Zach Elfers
Join us as we journey through the profound intersection of history and ecology with the insightful Zach Elfers, whose passion for native plants and…
- The Poor Prole’s Almanac
Cooperative Native Landscaping with SymbiOp
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…
- The Poor Prole’s Almanac
From Acorns to Apples; Ancient Practices Revived with Eliza Greenman
Join us in this engaging episode as we explore the fascinating world of flexible learning and sustainable agriculture with our special guest, Eliza Greenman…
- The Poor Prole’s Almanac
Breeding Future Foods with the Experimental Farm Network
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…
- The Poor Prole’s Almanac
From Lawns to Life: Embracing Native Plants with Dr. Doug Tallamy
Can our suburban lawns become thriving ecosystems that support wildlife and biodiversity? This week, we're thrilled to welcome Dr. Doug Tallamy, a renowned…
- The Poor Prole’s Almanac
Reflections on 50 years of Permaculture with David Holmgren
In this episode we're joined by David Holmgren to discuss the past 50 years of permaculture and some of his thoughts on its evolution. We dive into some of the…
- The Poor Prole’s Almanac
Iceland’s Pots & Pans Revolution; Pragmatic, Everyday Revolutionaries part3
The 2009–2011 Icelandic financial crisis protests, also referred to as the Kitchenware, Kitchen Implement or Pots and Pans Revolution, occurred in the wake of…
- The Poor Prole’s Almanac
Iceland’s Pots & Pans Revolution; Pragmatic, Everyday Revolutionaries part 2
The 2009–2011 Icelandic financial crisis protests, also referred to as the Kitchenware, Kitchen Implement or Pots and Pans Revolution, occurred in the wake of…
- The Poor Prole’s Almanac
Iceland’s Pots & Pans Revolution; Pragmatic, Everyday Revolutionaries part 1
The 2009–2011 Icelandic financial crisis protests, also referred to as the Kitchenware, Kitchen Implement or Pots and Pans Revolution, occurred in the wake of…
- The Poor Prole’s Almanac
Echoes of the Haitian Revolution: Denmark Vesey & the Charleston Uprising part 3
Denmark Vesey, a carpenter and formerly enslaved person, allegedly planned an enslaved insurrection to coincide with Bastille Day in Charleston, South Carolina…
- The Poor Prole’s Almanac
Echoes of the Haitian Revolution: Denmark Vesey & the Charleston Uprising part 2
Denmark Vesey, a carpenter and formerly enslaved person, allegedly planned an enslaved insurrection to coincide with Bastille Day in Charleston, South Carolina…
- The Poor Prole’s Almanac
Echoes of the Haitian Revolution, Denmark Vesey, The Bible, and the Machete
A Rebel with a Cause: Denmark Vesey and the Seeds of Insurrection This episode of "The Poor Proles Almanac" explores the life and legacy of Denmark Vesey, a…
- The Poor Prole’s Almanac
Erna Bennett and the Perils of the Green Revolution: Part Two
This episode picks up where the previous episode left off, exploring Erna Bennett's work with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and her increasing…
- The Poor Prole’s Almanac
From Antifascist Fighter Pilot to Gene Ecologist: The Erna Bennett Story
This episode of "The Poor Proles Almanac" introduces Erna Bennett, a lesser-known figure whose life intersected with major historical events and intellectual…
- The Poor Prole’s Almanac
Xolo's Ghosts of Chapingo: Student Unrest and the Legacy of Revolution
This episode of "The Poor Proles Almanac" continues the story of Efraím Hernández Xolokotzi and examines his experiences at the National Agricultural College…
- The Poor Prole’s Almanac
Seeds of Rebellion: Efraím Hernández's Growing Critique of the Green Revolution
This episode of "The Poor Proles Almanac" continues the story of Efraím Hernández Xolokotzi, a renowned Mexican botanist whose views clashed with the dominant…
- The Poor Prole’s Almanac
Lost in the Milpa: Efraím Hernández Xolokotzi's Search for Agricultural Wisdom
A Formative Trip and the Rise of Extension Schools: Setting the Stage for Zolo's Story This episode of "The Poor Proles Almanac" focuses on the early life and…
- The Poor Prole’s Almanac
The Sunchoke Empire Crumbles: AEFS Faces Reckoning and Bankruptcy
This episode details the financial and legal collapse of American Energy Farming Systems (AEFS) as its grand plans for the Jerusalem artichoke fall apart. The…
- The Poor Prole’s Almanac
Doubling Down on Deception: AEFS's House of Cards Begins to Crumble
This episode continues the saga of American Energy Farming Systems (AEFS) and its audacious attempt to build an agricultural empire on the back of the…
- The Poor Prole’s Almanac
Doubling Down on Delusion: The Rise of American Energy Farming Systems (AEFS)
This episode of "The Poor Proles Almanac" continues the exploration of American Energy Farming Systems (AEFS) and its attempt to turn the Jerusalem artichoke…
- The Poor Prole’s Almanac
An American Energy Dream Fueled by Sunchokes: The Rise of the Jerusalem Artichoke Messiah
This episode of "The Poor Proles Almanac," titled "Episode 151 #2: The Great Jerusalem Artichoke Scandal part 1," begins a four-part series exploring the…
- The Poor Prole’s Almanac
From Riches to Rags: The Merino Sheep Craze of 19th Century New England
This episode of "The Poor Proles Almanac" explores the historical economic bubble surrounding Merino sheep in New England between 1810 and 1845. Hosts Andy…
- The Poor Prole’s Almanac
A Look at Treatment-Free, Scientific Beekeeping
This episode of "The Poor Proles Almanac" focuses on the controversial concept of treatment-free beekeeping. Hosts Andy and Elliot argue that while modern…
- The Poor Prole’s Almanac
Log Hives & Restoration Beekeeping with Boomtree Bees
In this episode, we're joined by Michiel Verspuij from Boomtree Bees in Donegal, Ireland, to discuss log hives and restoring native honeybees in Ireland. How…
- The Poor Prole’s Almanac
Rewilding Beekeeping with Susan Chernak McElroy
In this episode, we're joined by Susan Chernak McElroy, a prolific naturalist author with a number of New York Times best sellers, to discuss her experiences…
- The Poor Prole’s Almanac
Top Bar Hives: A Bee-Centric Approach
This episode of "The Poor Proles Almanac" explores the advantages of top bar hives as a more natural and bee-friendly alternative to the widely used Langstroth…
- The Poor Prole’s Almanac
A Deep Dive into Langstroth Hives: Innovation, Limitations, and Alternatives
This episode of "The Poor Proles Almanac," titled "Episode 145 #10: Sending Bees to the Cube Farm; the Reverand's Langstroth Hive," explores the history…
- The Poor Prole’s Almanac
Exploring Sustainable Beekeeping: Varroa Mite Resistance and Native Bee Diversity
Dr. John Kiefus, a beekeeping virtuoso with his hands in hives across continents, joins us to unravel his journey from the fields of Michigan to the…
- The Poor Prole’s Almanac
Drone Bees: More Than Just Deadbeat Dads
This episode of "The Poor Proles Almanac," challenges the conventional understanding of drone bees, moving beyond the stereotype of them as lazy, unproductive…
- The Poor Prole’s Almanac
Varroa Destructor; The Past, Present, & Future of Honeybee Colony Health
This episode of The Poor Proles Almanac centers on the varroa destructor, a parasitic mite that poses a significant threat to honeybee populations worldwide…
- The Poor Prole’s Almanac
Declining Honeybee Queen Health: Unraveling the Mystery
This episode of "The Poor Proles Almanac," titled "Episode 141 #6: Honeybee Queens & the future of Breeding," centers on a concerning trend: the declining…
- The Poor Prole’s Almanac
Exploring Honeybee Genetics and the Importance of Diversity
This episode of "The Poor Proles Almanac" explores the fascinating world of honeybee genetics, emphasizing the crucial role of genetic diversity in colony…
- The Poor Prole’s Almanac
Navigating the Beehive: Understanding Roles, Life Cycles, and Hive Types
This episode of "The Poor Proles Almanac" expands upon the previous episode's exploration of honeybee biology, focusing on the intricate division of labor…
- The Poor Prole’s Almanac
Holistic Beekeeping 101: Deeper Dives into the World of Bees
Through the previous two episodes, we outlined the realities of honeybees and the limitations of the ecosystems around us to support honeybees. With that in…
- The Poor Prole’s Almanac
Revisiting the Wild Honeybee with Torben Schiffer
In this episode, we chat with researcher Torben Schiffer to discuss his findings working with wild honeybees in Europe. What can we learn from wild honeybees…
- The Poor Prole’s Almanac
Native Pollinators vs. Honeybees: Debunking Myths
This episode of "The Poor Proles Almanac" challenges the common narrative that honeybees are primarily responsible for pollinator decline. While acknowledging…
- The Poor Prole’s Almanac
Pastoralism & the Living Past with Ilse Kohler-Rollefson
In this episode, we're chatting with Ilse Kohler-Rollefson to discuss the past and present state of pastoralism across Europe, Asia, and Africa. After decades…
- The Poor Prole’s Almanac
Reviving Urban Ecosystems: Dr. Gray Copeland on Miyawaki Forests, Soil Health, and Community Empowerment
What if transforming a small strip of urban land could boost local ecology and foster a sense of community? Join us as we converse with Dr. Gray Copeland from…
- The Poor Prole’s Almanac
Akira Miyawaki and Instant Old Growth Pocket Forests
In this episode, we're diving into the history of Tiny Forests and the man behind them, Akira Miyawaki. There's a complex framework to this seemingly simple…
- The Poor Prole’s Almanac
Unlocking the Secrets of Soil: Jeff Lowenfels on Organic Gardening and the Soil Food Web
How deep is your understanding of the soil beneath your feet? Jeff Lowenfels, a lawyer-turned-gardening expert, takes us on an insightful journey from using…
- The Poor Prole’s Almanac
Examining the Relationship Between Microbes and Nitrogen in Soil
This episode of "The Poor Proles Almanac" explores the crucial role microbes play in the nitrogen cycle within the soil. The hosts, Andy and Elliot, along with…
- The Poor Prole’s Almanac
The Women Collectives behind India’s Farming Revolution
Last week we spoke with Vijay Kumar Thallam to discuss the development of Andhra Pradesh's natural farming movement to feed 50 million people in a few short…
- The Poor Prole’s Almanac
Feeding 50 Million; Building New Food models with Vijay Kumar Thallam
In this episode, we're joined by Vijay Kumar Thallam, a farm leader in the Andhra Pradesh region of India. What does it look like to rely on biology…
- The Poor Prole’s Almanac
Ancient Indian Wisdom & Modern Insights - Filthy Liquid, the Smell of Death: Vrikshayurveda
Ever wondered how ancient Indian farmers managed to cultivate bountiful crops without synthetic chemicals? In this episode, we journey back to around 700 BCE…
- The Poor Prole’s Almanac
Between Natural Farming & Agronomy with Brandon Rust of Bokashi Earthworks
In this episode, we're joined by Brandon Rust, founder of Bokashi Earthworks and known for his extensive expertise in cannabis growing. Brandon's work walks…
- The Poor Prole’s Almanac
Bokashi: A Deep Dive into Anaerobic Fermentation for Soil Amendment
This episode of "The Poor Proles Almanac" explores bokashi, an alternative method of composting that utilizes anaerobic fermentation to break down organic…
- The Poor Prole’s Almanac
Urban Community Composting with the Denver Compost Collective
We're joined by the Denver Compost Collective to discuss the concept of urban composting and utilizing compost as a tool for building community. How can we…
- The Poor Prole’s Almanac
The Science of Compost: Unlocking the Secrets of Decomposition
This episode of the Poor Proles Almanac podcast explores the fascinating world of composting, breaking down the process into its fundamental components and…
- The Poor Prole’s Almanac
A Biochar Future with the International Biochar Initiative
In this episode, we're joined by Kathleen Draper, the Board Chair of the International Biochar Initiative. We chat about the past 3 decades of biochar…
- The Poor Prole’s Almanac
Exploring the Potential and Pitfalls of Biochar for Soil Amendment
This episode of "The Poor Proles Almanac" centers on biochar, a soil amendment with purported benefits but also potential risks. Hosts Elliot and Andy, along…
- The Poor Prole’s Almanac
From Soil to Sip: The Art of Natural Winemaking with Éric Texier of Brézème Vineyards
Note: We discuss a fermented tea from poison ivy-- the french word 'ortie', is actually stinging nettle tea. Ferns are also common for a fermented soil…
- The Poor Prole’s Almanac
The 'Do-Nothing' Farmer: Masanobu Fukuoka and the Wisdom of Nature
We're back for season 3! This episode of the Poor Proles Almanac podcast focuses on Masanobu Fukuoka and his "do-nothing" farming method. Matt, a guest host…
- The Poor Prole’s Almanac
Defending the Atlanta Forest
We're joined by two activists working to defend the Atlanta Forest during an attempt to tear down the forest in order to build both a mock city for police to…
- The Poor Prole’s Almanac
The Fight for Red Hill with the O’ahu Water Protectors
We're joined by Mikey & Keoni from the O'ahu Water Protectors to discuss the recent history of Red Hill & the destruction of Hawaii's largest aquifer and…
- The Poor Prole’s Almanac
Holistically Grazing for Insects with the Ecdysis Foundation
In this episode, we're joined by Dr. Ryan Shmid & Katya Busenitz from the Ecdysis Foundation to discuss the impacts of grazing on both native and non-native…