Tag: muse ecology

#22 Judith Schwartz and Walter Jehne: Climate Change Narrative Shift

In this conversation with author Judith Schwartz and scientist Walter Jehne, we discuss the importance of the shift from seeing the Earth as a resource base to seeing ourselves as enmeshed in a web of life that both manages and depends on natural processes.  In particular, we focus on how this perspective shift affects how we understand and are empowered to address anthropogenic climate change.

In this conversation with author Judith Schwartz and scientist Walter Jehne, we discuss the importance of the shift from seeing the Earth as a resource base to seeing ourselves as enmeshed in a web of life that both manages and depends on natural processes.  In particular, we focus on how this perspective shift affects how we understand and are empowered to address anthropogenic climate change. Continue reading “#22 Judith Schwartz and Walter Jehne: Climate Change Narrative Shift”

#14 Prelude to the Water, Life, Climate, and Civilization Series

In this prelude to the upcoming series dealing with the interrelated processes of Water, Life, Climate, and Civilization, we take a look at the historical and mythological roots of civilization’s discord, and set the tone for the series with a new song and some poignant clips from the next three episodes that remind us of the dynamic complexity we are interconnected with.

From renowned meteorologist, Professor Millan Millan, we’ll learn how our land use has been disrupting weather and climate since long before it was accelerated by the industrial revolution, and how land use change can bring about meteorological healing. From scientist and inspiring activist Li An Phoa we’ll hear about her Drinkable Rivers project, and her mission to awaken folks to the awareness that Drinkable Rivers are a result of all the relationships and processes in a watershed being intact and healthy, including our own singing hearts. Finally, we’ll hear from farmer and journalist Felipe Pasini about an agricultural approach called Syntropic Farming, which increases rather than reduces complexity on a landscape.

Here’s a link to my new song in this episode, called Waves.

And here are it’s chords and lyrics.

 

#12 Grandma Aggie, Voice for the Voiceless

In this episode, we hear the voice of Grandmother Agnes Baker Pilgrim. As we mourn her passing, her light lives on in so many of us water babies.

These recordings of Grandma Aggie are from this past year: a panel at the Global Earth Repair Conference in Washington state, a prescribed fire training exchange in Ashland, Oregon, and finally at her 95th birthday gathering a couple months before she passed. I hope these words bless you like they’ve blessed me, and help remind us to be a voice for the voiceless.

If you can support her family financially, it would be much appreciated, especially for her daughter Nadine, a great grandmother herself, who has taken care of Grandma Aggie for years.  You can donate directly to help Nadine at the following paypal link:

http://paypal.me/agnespilgrim

If you would like to make a tax deductable donation, you can do it through the Grandmother’s Empowerment Project paypal link below, and specify “Support for Nadine” in the comment:

https://www.paypal.me/grandmothers

And again, thank you to Peia for allowing me to use her song The Old Ways Restored for the introduction, and for her important work in the world.

http://peiasong.com/

 

#11 David Bronner and the All-One Legacy

In spring 2018 I visited the headquarters of the Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soap Company in Vista, California, where the Bronner family carries on the legacy of 5 generations of traditional soapmaking and the quirky and passionate All-One vision of Emmanuel Bronner (Dr. Bronner).  You are probably familiar with their colorful liquid soap bottles covered with words exuberantly enumerating what Dr. Bronner called the Moral ABC’s.

The Bronner Family still uses their castillian soap product as a platform for world healing.  I met with David Bronner, Emmanuel’s grandson, intending to discuss the new Continue reading “#11 David Bronner and the All-One Legacy”

#9 Peia; Songs of the Old Ways Restored

In this inspiring episode of Muse Ecology, we hear songs and conversation from my visit early spring of this year with musical artist Peia.  While many restoration ecologists and regenerative agriculturalists are working to restore harmony at the ecosystem level, Peia is one of the bards doing important work at the level of human emotion and narrative; inspiring open, courageous hearts and reminding us of what is sacred.

Starting with this episode, Peia’s song The Old Ways Restored will now be the theme music for the Muse Ecology introduction, setting a magical and adventurous tone for each episode before we hear some of the voices and grooves of people and place as we make our way back to harmony.

You can find out more of Peia’s work, and see a schedule of her upcoming shows and workshops at peiasong.com

 

 

#6 777 Bison Ranch

In this episode, we continue our investigation of the Great Plains Bison with a visit to 777 Bison Ranch near Rapid City, South Dakota.  Owner Mimi Hilenbrandt and fellow operations manager Moritz Espy gave us a tour of the pastures and corrals.  Along the way, we discussed differences and similarities between bison and cattle, the possibility of a buffalo commons, their business model and how it affects the bison, and how their decades of Holistic Management and bison grazing have led to regeneration of the prairie landscape.  We also discussed a few of the complex questions the bison forces us to wrestle with.

Continue reading “#6 777 Bison Ranch”