))
Meet knowledge holders, foresters, naturalists, activists, scientists, visionaries, and outdoorsy people of all stripes to share delight in the wonders of forest ecosystems. We talk about issues of forestry, conservation and interconnected topics, and discover sustainable, ecological, respectful ways of relating to the forest. Maintaining and regenerating forest ecosystems is one of the most important necessities of our time, and contributes to everything from carbon sequestration to healthy ...
…
continue reading
Join host Amanda Bostlund around kitchen tables and in community spaces for Elder Voices, a limited-series podcast of stories and ideas from elders, and about elderhood, from within Mi’kmaw, African Nova Scotian, Acadian and Gaelic communities. For those of us in Anglo settler communities who have lost the tradition of elderhood, this is an invitation to listen, learn and remember. For all of us, these voices will offer a window into ways of life that are different from our own. Elder Voices ...
…
continue reading
This episode is a compilation of segments of hopeful, local stories from some previous Shared Ground conversations, as well as an update about the newly formed Lichen Camp, which protects an area of old growth forest at Goldsmith Lake in Annapolis County, within the Kespukwitk District of Mi’kma’ki. You’ll hear wisdom and inspiration from Katherine…
…
continue reading
1
It's Better with Bees! A story of hope and collaboration
40:42
40:42
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
40:42
Better with Bees is a student-run club focused on urban environmental sustainability at Charles P. Allen High School in Bedford, within the Sipekne'katik district of Mi'kma'ki. In the words of Topsy Olatunji, a student member of Better with Bees: “Our project centers on involving the Mi'kmaw community in establishing a healing garden and a Wabanaki…
…
continue reading
1
South Spore Mushrooms: Amanda’s FUNgal conversation with Josh Clark
37:55
37:55
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
37:55
In this conversation with Josh of South Spore Mushrooms, we hear more about his mushroom-growing adventures, both indoors and outdoors, as well as a bit about mushroom hunting, and his favourite ways to cook mushrooms. Josh Clark began building the business of South Spore Mushrooms two years ago. He also works off-shore as a chef, and plays in the …
…
continue reading
1
South Spore Mushrooms: A rebroadcast of CVCR interview with Josh Clark
28:26
28:26
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
28:26
Hear how South Spore Mushrooms (based on the South Shore) began, including the entertaining story of how Josh Clark found the equipment he got started with, and why he and his family wanted to get into this exciting adventure of growing mushrooms. Currently they are producing various species of mushroom indoors. Josh shares some of his challenges, …
…
continue reading
1
Restoring Relationship with the Lands (a compilation)
42:15
42:15
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
42:15
This episode is a compilation of short segments of some previous Shared Ground conversations! It includes wisdom and inspiration from Shawn Feener, Nina Newington, Diane Obed, Rosmarie Lohnes, Rob Bright, Kim Thomson, Dr. Jenn MacLatchy, and Bob Bancroft Following are the full episodes from which these segments originated (in order of appearance) M…
…
continue reading
A carbon-sequestering art and research installation, the Sky Pillar at the Deanery Project was designed with architecture students from Dalhousie University. As Executive Director Kim Thompson puts it, the Sky Pillar is "a bridge to the night", and was created as an anchor to the Deanery’s annual SeaLight SkyLight festival. Kim says, “We’re trying …
…
continue reading
1
SOOFstock: A festival for the forests
1:18:57
1:18:57
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:18:57
So many people have come together through the Save Our Old Forests campaign, started in Annapolis County, within Mi'kma'ki. The folks behind it have recently hosted a successful music festival to raise awareness and funds, and to provide connection, support and inspiration for all those who care about the trees and animals in our Wabanaki Acadian f…
…
continue reading
Join us for a conversation about Ne’ata’q, The Food Forest at Bluenose Academy in Lunenburg/E'se'katik (in Nova Scotia, within Mi'kma'ki). Outisde this P-9 public school is an area where the grass has been replaced with a forest-to-be; with plants that will help one another, provide learning and delight for the children, and bring so many people fr…
…
continue reading
1
Ecosystem-driven forestry on private land, with Pat Wiggin
1:04:33
1:04:33
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:04:33
On a mild summer's evening, Pat Wiggin met for Shared Ground to give us a window into the world of forestry on private lands in Nova Scotia (within Mi'kma'ki). Discussed in this episode are some of the programs that exist to support people and forest ecosystems, and the exciting emerging option of working forest easements (through the Nova Scotia W…
…
continue reading
Nestled in a forested, sheltered cove of the Atlantic Ocean, is the Deanery Project, an environmental arts and education centre that hosts many intriguing buildings, workshops, projects, and art installations. It is located in Lower Ship Harbour, on Nova Scotia's Eastern Shore of Mi'kma'ki. Visitors and students come here to experience creative nat…
…
continue reading
1
Engaging with Waste, Weeds and Wastelands with Jenn MacLatchy
49:18
49:18
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
49:18
At the Deanery Project this spring, I met with Dr. Jenn MacLatchy (she/they), who is an artist, a kayak instructor, and researcher of settler descent living in Mi’kma’ki. Her doctoral research was focused on using arts-based methods to engage with waste, weeds, and wastelands to form a settler method for decolonizing relationship with land and tend…
…
continue reading
1
Managing for Healthy Forests with Bob Bancroft
57:49
57:49
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
57:49
During this episode, we meet with wildlife biologist, writer, and media communicator, Bob Bancroft. He is a wealth of information about ecology, forest health, and what has been going wrong in forestry systems, as well as methods that help in the face of climate change, benefit nature and forestry, too. We learn what is possible when one “tickles t…
…
continue reading
How can learning about the struggles and successes of our ancestors affect us? How might the knowledge of elders help us understand some of the big issues of our times? During this episode, we are introduced into the Acadian community in West Pubnico, where most people can easily trace their ancestry back many generations. Meet Laurent D’Entremont …
…
continue reading
1
A Two-Eyed Seeing Approach with Clifford Paul
54:28
54:28
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
54:28
Join Clifford Paul at East Bay Sand Bar in Unama'ki (also known as Cape Breton in Nova Scotia). Clifford refers to this beautiful place on the Bras D'or Lakes as the shorelines of his ancestors. Throughout this episode, Clifford illuminates ways in which Mi'kmaw traditional knowledge and Western scientific knowledge can be woven together through wh…
…
continue reading
1
Bob Bancroft at the Save Our Old Forests launch
23:01
23:01
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
23:01
During the Save Our Old Forests campaign launch, Bob Bancroft was one of the excellent speakers. This episode features a slightly shortened version of his passionate talk, along with a brief overview of this inspiring campaign, which launched in the spring of 2023 in Bridgetown in Nova Scotia (within Mi'kma'ki). Bob Bancroft is a wildlife biologist…
…
continue reading
1
Donna Crossland at the Save Our Old Forests launch
35:56
35:56
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
35:56
During the Save Our Old Forests campaign launch, forest ecologist Donna Crossland was one of the excellent speakers. This episode features a slightly shortened version of her heart-felt and informative talk, along with a brief overview of this inspiring campaign, which launched in the spring of 2023 in Bridgetown in Nova Scotia (within Mi'kma'ki). …
…
continue reading
What roles do elders fill in their communities? In what less-obvious ways do elders gift youngers with important lessons? In this episode, two African Nova Scotian women offer a glimpse into the nourishing web of connection and support that foster a sense of belonging in their community. Hear about how people can learn from, and care for, one anoth…
…
continue reading
1
Save Our Old Forests: A Conversation with Rob Bright
51:10
51:10
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
51:10
On March 25th, a campaign launched in Bridgetown in Nova Scotia (within Mi'kma'ki) called Save Our Old Forests (SOOF). As is written in their excellent pamphlet: "Saving old forests in Annapolis County is something we can do locally that will have a global effect." and "We need to protect the best of what is left, for the health of nature, yes, but…
…
continue reading
How does someone become an elder in Mi'kmaw communities? What responsibilities does an elder carry, and how are they expressed? During this episode, we meet with Elder Albert Marshall in his home in Eskasoni, Unama'ki (Cape Breton). Elder Marshall and his late wife, Murdena, developed Two-Eyed Seeing or Etuaptmumk, an approach that brings together …
…
continue reading
What can we learn about the power of welcoming, care, and connection? How does the past become alive and why does this matter for the future? During this episode, we meet with two Gaelic women in Inverness County, Cape Breton. Emily MacDonald talks about how her beloved elder Anna MacKinnon takes her back in time, and what that means for her unders…
…
continue reading
Join us for Elder Voices, where we meet and learn from different elders, and from others in their communities, about elderhood in Mi'kma'ki (Nova Scotia, Canada)By How We Thrive
…
continue reading
1
Meeting Mi'kmaw Knowledge Holder Shawn Feener
1:05:12
1:05:12
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:05:12
During the waning of the Berry Ripening Moon, as it is called in the Mi’kmaw culture, I had the pleasure and honour of meeting Shawn Feener. In this episode, Shawn introduces the moons of this time of year and how they relate to understanding animals and plants throughout the seasons, and about some of the relationships in the forest. He also talks…
…
continue reading
1
A Conversation with Retired Forest Ranger Peter Romkey
1:02:13
1:02:13
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:02:13
Curious to hear from someone who worked for Lands and Forestry (DNRR) for 22 years? This conversation with Peter Romkey touches on the Christmas tree industry, the early days of glyphosate use in the Cape Breton Highlands, some natural history, and Peter’s idea for a specific incentive for private landowners. We hear about what he thinks should cha…
…
continue reading
1
The Public's Power, and Canoeing for Conservation- with Mike Lancaster
1:11:42
1:11:42
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:11:42
Join us for the story of a canoe “marathon”, completed in less than a day, in which four Nova Scotians traveled from one side of the province to the other, and why they did it. During this episode, consider the many reasons why folks including Mike Lancaster are dedicated to an Ingram River Wilderness Area, and how wilderness areas support a wide r…
…
continue reading
1
Decolonization and Healing with Diane Obed
56:37
56:37
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
56:37
Most of us are wanting to better support Indigenous people on the lands we now also call home. We want to learn and understand more about the connections between current ecological catastrophes and colonization, and about coming into right relationship with the land and the first peoples of the land. Join us for this conversation about the lifelong…
…
continue reading
1
Celebration and Reflection; Onward to Last Hope Campaign!
54:28
54:28
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
54:28
I spent this Summer Solstice at the Last Hope Camp, located by Beal’s Brook in the Kespukwitk district of Mi’kma’ki (Nova Scotia) on the unceded and ancestral territory of the Mi’kmaq people. A special celebration was happening to mark the solstice, Indigenous People’s Day in Canada, and a victory for the protection of this forest. Extinction Rebel…
…
continue reading
1
Exploring the Roots of our Current Challenges with Soren Bondrup-Nielsen
59:06
59:06
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
59:06
Join me for a talk with Soren Bondrup-Nielsen about the effects of a mechanistic worldview. This wide-ranging conversation includes topics of teaching conservation in a holistic way, his involvement in the court case to protect species-at-risk in Nova Scotia, the effect current forestry has on the the composition of our forests, and how ultimately,…
…
continue reading
1
A 3-pronged approach to sustainability with Rosmarie Lohnes
1:07:31
1:07:31
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:07:31
In this conversation, you will hear from Rosmarie Lohnes, who runs an ecological landscaping business based in Bridgewater, in Mi'kma'ki' (Nova Scotia). Rosmarie began her company, Helping Nature Heal, twenty years ago. She has a B.A. in Conservation and Environmental Studies from York University and has also studied Architectural Design, Horticult…
…
continue reading
Join Frances Anderson and I in the woods in Southwestern Nova Scotia with a couple of hand lenses. We spend a fascinating morning of lichen discovery in an area of forest on the South Shore of Minamkeak Lake near Bridgewater. Former librarian Frances Anderson began studying lichens in 2000. Since then she has explored thousands of kilometers of bac…
…
continue reading
1
Forest Protection and Community Care with Nina Newington
1:09:45
1:09:45
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:09:45
Some time after my first trip to Last Hope Camp (Episode 1), I made the journey there again to this small forest slated for logging in Annapolis County, in the Kespukwitk district of Mi’kma’ki (Nova Scotia). Hear about why so many people are dedicating energy and resources to saving this forest, which is the home of several at-risk species, includi…
…
continue reading
Get a glimpse into life at Last Hope Camp; meet some of the dedicated people camped out in the middle of a maritime winter and be inspired by their passion and good spirits. Join me for my first visit up to the Last Hope Wildlife Corridor, which is a forest slated for logging in Annapolis County, in the Kespukwitk district of Mi’kma’ki (in Nova Sco…
…
continue reading
Find out about Shared Ground, where we meet different folks from Mi'kma'ki (Nova Scotia, Canada) for inspiring, informative, and interesting conversations related to our forests.By Amanda Bostlund
…
continue reading
