Future Ecologies

We have a soft spot for food systems that challenge the modern convention: food systems like forest gardens or sea gardens that don’t at all look like vast rows of monocultures, but instead blend into the landscape — to the point of being invisible… at least until you’ve learned how to see them.
It just so happens that, not far from us (in the Cowichan Estuary), there’s another kind of ancient food system being revived, and we were looking forward to visiting it as part of our upcoming season 7. But when one of the all time greatest shows on Canadian radio beat us to the scoop, we thought we may as well save ourselves the effort and bring you the story that much sooner.
From Ideas and producer Pauline Holdsworth, this is “What the River Wants to Be”
This is just Part 1 of a 2-part series. Listen to Part 2 (or find CBC Ideas wherever you get podcasts)

Spring is here, and (not to brag, but) around these parts, the smell of flowers is in the air, and everything seems to be buzzing with life. Times like these, it’s hard not to have plants on the brain, and we fully endorse you getting out to meet your green neighbours. While you do that, we thought you’d like to hear from two of our favourite plant enthusiasts: Chelsey Armstrong and Leigh Joseph.
You might remember Chelsey from our season 4 classic: FOREST / GARDEN, where we explored the roots of permaculture through the lens of Indigenous food systems which have been overlooked all too often. Today, Chelsey is sitting down with Leigh Joseph: Skwxwú7mesh ethnobotanist, author, and botanical entrepreneur.
Both Leigh and Chelsey do incredible work, in academia and in community. Their conversation today will take us into some of the thornier parts of the field (and deliver us to fruitful gifts).
Enjoy!
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So you want to put good fire on the ground, but how?? We're taking you to Yurok territory (at the mouth of the Klamath River) to join the Cultural Fire Management Council for 3 days of burning — not just for fuel management, but for all sorts of cultural and ecological values: food, wildlife, materials, and more. We're finally moving from theory to practice, as we learn what it really means to be on the fire line.
This is our 6th return to the subject of fire. Call us obsessed, but we can't think of a better symbol for what this podcast is all about: demonstrating how people can (and need to) be active stewards of their ecologies, rather than passive victims of collapse. In fire-evolved ecosystems all over the world, prescribed fire has been an ecological management tool since time immemorial.
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🔥 Learn more about the CFMC at culturalfire.org
📸 Find photos, citations, and a transcript of this episode at futureecologies.net
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Your name listed at futureecologies.net/join — forever

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This episode features the voices of (just some of) the CFMC crew. In order of appearance: Elizabeth Azzuz, Dylan Stevens, Rick O’Rourke, Margo Robbins, Robert McConnell, Annelia Norris, Isabel Guerra, Amanaka Yancey, Jordan Spannaus, Claire Brown, Max Brotman, and Will Bruce.
Plus music by C. Diab, Thumbug, Adrian Avandaño, G̱a̱mksimoon, and Sunfish Moon Light
With special thanks to the Confluence Lab's inaugural Artists-in-Fire Residency (Sasha White especially). Thanks as well to Fern Purdy, and Anita & Micah Williams. If you're interested in another version of this story, Adam wrote a blog post for the Confluence Lab about his experiences at the CFMC.

Cover art by Ale Silva
Catch up on all our other episodes On Fire:
FE1.5 - Camas, Cores, and Spores
FE1.6 - Combustible Communities
FE2.2 - In the Wobble
FE5.4 - Under Water
FE5.5 - Walking on Two Legs

Plus three related episodes:
FE4.7 - Phase Change
Earthkin's Trial by Fire
Disintegration Loops (by The Wind)

😅 We accidentally released an unfinished draft of our upcoming episode!
If you auto-downloaded it, please don't listen to it (or don't be surprised that it's undercooked).
It's going be a great one, and we want you to hear it when it's done — which will be very soon.

Summary Pending