Green Iowa Pod: Recent Episodes
Green Iowa Pod
This podcast features conversational episodes on all things environment. Our topics include environmental science, law, justice, conservation, and our Iowa communities. The Green Iowa Pod is produced by members of Green Iowa AmeriCorps (GIA). GIA is a state-wide service organization which empowers Iowa's communities and school districts to make more environmental and conservation-minded decisions.
Visit our website: https://www.greeniowaamericorps.org/
Listen as 100 Grannies members, Becky and Miriam, give us a sense of what it means to be a 100 Granny and the actions they take for a more livable future.
Listen as Emily and Laura teach us about what actions we can take in our own backyard to better our community and foster biodiversity.
This is the second part of a two part episode. Get an inside look at the Conservation Reserve Program, a few of the CRP's participants, and the joy of conservation.
This is the first part of a two part episode. Get an inside look at the Conservation Reserve Program, a few of the CRP's participants, and the joy of conservation.
Sara Stratee, the Seed Savers Exchange Seed Historian, talks to Green Iowa AmeriCorps about the mission, impact, and lineage of Seed Savers Exchange. Listen for Sara's tips about how to get in your garden, embrace heirloom varieties, and carry the longstanding story of seeds.
In this episode, we introduce connections between gender equality and sustainable development. We focus on a couple interesting ideas for economic empowerment in different parts of the world.
Sources and Further reading:
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2015/03/why-gender-equality-is-integral-to-sustainable-development/
https://www.unwomen.org/en/news/in-focus/women-and-the-sdgs/sdg-5-gender-equality
https://www.unwomen.org/en/news/stories/2017/2/from-where-i-stand-oralia-ruano-lima
https://undp.medium.com/goats-bring-stability-and-income-to-female-farmers-in-zambia-981c80a6a025
Check out this interview with full-time Land and Water Steward Austin Newland from the Cedar Falls, CEEE site. During the interview we uncover where Austin is from and how they came to be serving with GreenIowa in the first place. Then, we dive into some of the best aspects of a GreenIowa service term from Austin's incredible professional development opportunities to their most fulfilling service experiences. Catch it all on the GreenIowa POD.
We continue our conversation on Sustainable Development and focus on the impacts Covid-19 has had on the UN goals.
Further Reading:
https://sdgs.un.org/goals
https://www.iisd.org/about-iisd/sustainable-development
https://en.unesco.org/themes/education-sustainable-development/what-is-esd/sd
https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-development-goals/
We continue our conversation on sustainable development and the UN's sustainable development goals, focusing on Goal 8 through 15. For more information, visit:
https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/
We speak with Jackie Armstrong of the Citizen's Climate Lobby about the organization and its initiatives - focusing on a carbon fee and dividend public policy structure. For more information, visit:
https://citizensclimatelobby.org/basics-carbon-fee-dividend/
https://citizensclimatelobby.org/price-on-carbon/
https://www.climateinteractive.org/
We introduce the United Nation's framework on sustainable development by looking at each of the sustainable development goals and discussing them. For more information, visit their website:
https://sdgs.un.org/goals
The Izaak Walton League is one of America's oldest and most successful conservation organizations. Their focus is to conserve, restore, and promote the sustainable use and enjoyment of our natural resources, including soil, air, woods, waters, and wildlife. We hope you enjoy this introduction to the organization and please check out their website to learn more:
https://www.iwla.org/
We talk about Environmental Law on the international scene including Chile, the United States, and Norway as case examples.
Connie Mutel talks about the Iowa Native Plant Society, what they do, how you can learn more, and get involved.
Website:
http://www.iowanativeplants.org/index.php
Cassie and Daniel outline the development of U.S. Environmental Law over the 20th Century, with a discussion on perspectives and circumstances of the era.
Further Reading:
https://www.americanbar.org/groups/public_education/publications/insights-on-law-and-society/volume-19/insights-vol--19---issue-1/environmental-law---politics/
https://www.fs.fed.us/emc/nfma/includes/musya60.pdf
https://www.fs.usda.gov/about-agency/regulations-policies/laws-regulations
https://www.usace.army.mil/About/History/Brief-History-of-the-Corps/Environmental-Activities/
Check us out:
https://www.greeniowaamericorps.org/
https://www.facebook.com/GreenIowaAmericorps
What is it? Where did it come from? Why does it exist? If you've seen this buzz word around town, but don't know much about it, this conversation may be a good place to start.
Resources:
https://sustainability.uiowa.edu/resources/environmental-justice-guide - A Resource Hub
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gU-D3YkOe-w - Robert Bullard Interview
Dumping in Dixie: Race, Class, and Environmental Quality: Robert Bullard
The Green Iowa Pod interviews Volunteer Coordinator Melanie Schmidt of the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation. Learn more:
https://www.inhf.org/
https://www.visitloesshills.org/
Cassie and Daniel discuss the challenges, possibilities, and important concepts contained in efforts of Rewilding.
Sources and Further Reading:
https://rewilding.org/what-is-rewilding/
https://www.rewildingbritain.org.uk/explore-rewilding/what-is-rewilding/why-we-need-rewilding
https://truenaturefoundation.org/what-is-rewilding/#:~:text=Rewilding%20is%20a%20form%20of,animal%20species%20to%20natural%20environments - Good breakdown of different types of rewilding
https://truenaturefoundation.org/research/how-wolves-change-rivers/ Note: this probably isn’t true, but it’s a really common example given so you need to know it to debunk it
https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/nature/wolf-restoration.htm
https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/scientists-debunk-myth-that-yellowstone-wolves-changed-entire-ecosystem-flow-of-rivers/349988
https://www.kqed.org/science/654064/opinion-its-time-to-bring-the-grizzly-bear-back-to-california
https://psmag.com/magazine/how-to-bring-back-a-bear-reintroducing-grizzlies-to-california
Cassie and Daniel take some time to talk about the benefits and unexpected qualities which Urban Green Spaces have to offer.
Sources and Further Reading:
https://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/342289/Urban-Green-Spaces_EN_WHO_web3.pdf%3Fua=1
https://academic.oup.com/jpubhealth/article/33/2/212/1585136
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.02320/full
https://journalistsresource.org/environment/health-benefits-urban-green-space-research-roundup/
https://www.nrpa.org/parks-recreation-magazine/2017/april/the-health-benefits-of-small-parks-and-green-spaces/
In this episode, Collin and Daniel discuss the national service program of the United States that is AmeriCorps - with a focus on our experience and work.
Check it out:
https://americorps.gov/
https://www.greeniowaamericorps.org/
In this episode, Cassie and Daniel dive into some more discussion on Biodiversity, focusing on Endangered Species. Enjoy!
Sources and Further Reading:
https://www.cbd.int/history/
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/09/fighting-illegal-wildlife-and-forest-trade/#:~:text=With%20a%20value%20of%20between,the%20hunts%20reach%20local%20communities.
https://www.epa.gov/laws-regulations/summary-endangered-species-act
https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/nature/bearesa.htm
https://abcbirds.org/bald-eagle-the-ultimate-endangered-species-act-success-story/
I mentioned some information about Monsanto v. Farmers here is some further reading on that:
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/agricultural-giant-battles-small-farmers/
https://geneticliteracyproject.org/2018/06/01/dissecting-claims-about-monsanto-suing-farmers-for-accidentally-planting-patented-seeds/
In this episode, Cassie and Daniel discuss Biodiversity and Species Conservation and their importance for life on earth.
Sources and Further Reading:
https://www.nrdc.org/stories/keystone-species-101
https://wildlandsnetwork.org/keystone-species-trophic-cascades/
https://www.pnas.org/content/114/30/E6089
Collin, Rachel, and Daniel discuss Rachel Carson and her seminal work - Silent Spring; in addition to her personal history, other published works, and legacy.
When it comes to our food systems, the future may be much more local than we expect.
Join us this week as we talk with UNI's CEEE's Jodie Huegerich and Green Iowa's Austin Newland about why local food matters, what the Local Food Program is up to these days in Black Hawk County and beyond, more info on the Rooted Carrot food co-op coming soon, and more.
Rachel, Collin, and Daniel are back to talk about the life and legacy of Teddy Roosevelt including his personal struggles, his lofty privilege, and his contributions to preserving American Landscapes.
In the past decade -- but especially once COVID and its economic fallout hit -- buzz has been gathering more and more actively around urban and community gardening. All across the world and the US, efforts both serious and playful are at work to widen the possibilities for futures where communities learn once more how to feed themselves with fresh and healthy food, become stronger and more resilient together, and enjoy feeling connected to the outdoors and our shared ecological life in the process.
In this episode, GIA's Felix speaks with Kamyar Enshayan from UNI's CEEE on the eve of the launch of Garden in Every Lot, the latest and most ambitious gardening project looking to help grow this culture of gardening in Black Hawk County and beyond with the help of partners like the Cedar Falls Seed Library, ISU's Extension Office, Habitat for Humanity and many others.
Join us and let us know what you think -- especially if you want our help putting in a new garden for you! More info and sign-up at https://agardenineverylot.org/
In this episode, we discuss the beginning stages of conservation and preservation in the United States with a focus John Muir.