Innovating with Soil Biology - Daniel Tyrkiel [Soil Ecology Laboratory]
In this episode we return to one of my favourite topics - that microscopic life that lives in the soil. After recognising the significance of soil life for supporting the climate, Daniel Tyrkiel set about exploring solutions that would support farmers to support and work with the biology in soil. The desire was to create a plug and play solution; something easy and accessible that allows farmers to shift from chemicals to biology without a need for heavy learning or investment. Daniel's company Soil Ecology Laboratory are becoming recognised for their innovative products which are continually being developed and explored further.It was a pleasure to chat with Daniel and learn about the mindset behind the products and his determination which seems to have been inspired by his mentor Dr Elaine Ingham.We talk about:The significance of soil lifeThe barriers to supporting soil life on farmsThe products & evolution of Soil Ecology Laboratory----Resources Shared by Daniel:Recent news about Soil Ecology Laboratory - https://www.farminguk.com/News/-goop-boosts-soil-life-on-welsh-farm-in-no-input-trial_66709.htmlSoil Ecology Lab website: https://soilecologylab.co.uk/Consumer product website: https://soilsmiths.co.uk/Learn more about Soil Ecology:Teaming With Microbes (book by Jeff Lowenfels & Wayne Lewis)Google Scholar - look up Dr Elaine Inghams' Ecological Monograph from 1986----Learn more with We Are Carbon:Soil Life - Decoding Soil Biology with Adrian Ferrero https://www.wearecarbon.earth/podcast-episode/soil-biology-transition-to-regenerative-farming/Soil; Living Support for Plants & Climate with Christo Miliotis https://www.wearecarbon.earth/podcast-episode/soil-microorganisms-plants-climate/Farming Transition - The Weather Proof Farm with Niels Corfield https://www.wearecarbon.earth/weatherproof-farm-niels-corfield/We Can Regenerate! with Finian Makepeace https://www.wearecarbon.earth/podcast-episode/finian-makepeace-we-can-regenerate/Holistic Management with Shiela Cooke https://www.wearecarbon.earth/podcast-episode/holistic-management-transition-mindset-farming/---Episode Timestamps:00:00 - Intro 06:12 - Why learn about soil life? 10:00 - The barriers to support soil life on farms...
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52:20
Diverse Community Ecosystems - Jordy Johnson [&Soul]
I was thrilled to be able to chat with Jordy Johnson during an unexpected visit I took to &Soul Southall earlier this year. Jordy is the head of community for &Soul who describe their West London community hub as an entire village in a building; a place where they are reimagining urban existence.It was wonderful to immerse in this very unique environment and I was thrilled to be able to chat with Jordy whilst there so I could share his insights with you all.Jordy brings a very heart centred, nature connected approach to community which is filled with depth and no doubt brings experience from his prior roles which he also touches upon in this conversation.We talk about:- Community as ecosystems- (Being) Nature's Intelligence- Rethinking relationships in organisations & society at large---------Learn more about &Soul:&Soul Website | &Soul Instagram Events Recommended by Jordy:Medicine Festival https://medicinefestival.com/Soul Revolution Festival https://soulrevolutionfestival.com/events/soul-revolution-festival-2025Wider Horizons https://widerhorizons.events/Primal Gathering https://primalgathering.co/Love Jam https://www.lovejam.community/Guided Meditation from Helen: Find the recording mentioned at the end of this episode - https://www.wearecarbon.earth/guided-meditation-power-at-our-feet/---Episode Timestamps:00:00 - Intro09:13 - Community as an ecosystem19:38 - Rethinking relationships in organisations & society at large26:52 - Nature's intelligence & rediscovering self34:37 - A movement in the UK [event recommendations]
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39:31
Native Gardens in New Housing Developments: Scaling Biodiversity Benefits - with Tim Sallin [Outside Collab]
It's a pleasure to share this chat that I had with Tim Sallin about the work happening across Florida to help shift garden habitats at scale in support of biodiversity. The Outside Collab brings together many minds with an aim to reshape Florida's landscapes in response to growing pressures from huge population growth and the impacts this has on resources, community and climate. It's a unique context but with insights that could be relevant to so many of us worldwide. We Talk About:Garden management in new housing developmentsThe impact of native flora on irrigation needsGardens that heal biodiversity & climateSupporting homeowners in creating native gardens----Episode Links:Tim is the host of the podcast, 'The Ground Up' - you can learn a lot more from him by delving into some episodes! https://linktr.ee/thegrounduppodcastAnd learn more about the Outside Collab here: https://outsidecollab.com/Watch the animation mentioned at the end of this episode: https://www.wearecarbon.earth/our-experiments/-----Episode Timestamps:11:57 - Role of garden management in new developments17:38 - Property management for native gardens21:54 - Ecological impact from gardens24:29 - Homeowner responses & needs29:11 - Research - Native plant garden designs & benefits34:00 - Gardens to heal biodiversity crisis36:54 - One step to regenerate?38:02 - Learn more and connect
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40:14
Food Waste, Community, Dignity - In Conversation with Adam Smith [Surplus to Purpose]
Adam Smith brings a fabulous perspective on the food system which comes from years of witnessing the enormous problem of waste and exploring varied angles trying to address it.Issues in the food system are complex to say the least, but Adam brings a clarity through his determination to find the root cause of all of this waste. He says we're over producing food; all fueled by demand for continued economic growth.So, how do you start to address that over production? Well it seems it's another conversation where the themes of community and localisation emerge through.Adam is the founder and non-executive director of Surplus To Purpose, a revolutionary catering enterprise that utilises food destined for waste, by safely redistributing it through cooked meals, products and provisions to families. We talk about:Food waste & overproductionWhy 'sustainability' doesn't workDignity & communityChallenging the supermarkets with a new model of supplyLearn more about Adam:Surplus to Purpose website - https://www.surplus2purpose.com/about-usSurplus to Purpose Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/surplus2purpose/Adam's Journey (includes media links) - https://www.surplus2purpose.com/meet-adam---You can support We Are Carbon by exploring our new range of art prints created by Helen: https://www.wearecarbon.earth/art-prints-for-regeneration/---Episode Timestamps:00:00 - Intro04:14 - A system that creates waste12:30 - I don't like sustainability!24:55 - Overproduction 31:37 - An alternate future - for community not shareholders
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42:24
Plants, Poetry, Community - In Conversation with Jamie Nix [Plants & Poetry]
If you're a poet, artist, photographer, writer or budding creative of any kind then you might like to listen extra closely to this one! Jamie Nix is the co-founder of Plants & Poetry whose work shares and nurtures connection to the natural world through a collaborative approach to curating published works. Alongside her poetry Jamie's career is focused on agroforesty and soil health and she has a keen interest in supporting regeneration through place based learning.We talk about: Weaving plants, science and poetryConnecting to place & communityThe role of sharing story (for regeneration)Learn more about Plants & Poetry here: https://www.plantsandpoetry.org/aboutI'm excited by an emerging co-creation between Plants & Poetry and We Are Carbon. We'll be creating an inspiring anthology together and I'd love to invite you to help us to fill the pages! It's very early on but if you head over to the website you can subscribe to email updates from We Are Carbon and I'll keep you updated! https://www.wearecarbon.earthTimestamps for this conversation: 00:00 - Intro04:55 - Weaving plants, science and poetry11:54 - Connecting to place & community19:20 - The role of sharing story (for regeneration)24:07 - Next steps for Plants & Poetry30:30 - Collab with We Are Carbon?34:12 - More from Plants & Poetry
We Are Carbon is the interview show that helps us to recognise that the future of both our planet and our societies can be incredibly beautiful - and that we all play a role in getting there!
Hosted by Helen Fisher with guests joining from across the globe.
There's a new episode every other Tuesday, and they'll average 1 hr long.
We see endless headlines warning us of the horrific impact that we're having on the climate and how dire the outlook is, but we're going to re-frame this crisis and start putting the solutions into our own hands.
I'm inviting in voices from science, agriculture, business and more, to help us gain an understanding of how we might live in greater harmony with the world around us. How we can build a society where our everyday choices have a positive impact on regenerating and stabilising the planet that we depend upon. Because when the planet and nature are thriving; that's when we can thrive! That's when we can live in a world less focused on fear and restrictions.
I don't think that real solutions are ever found until we zoom out, see the full picture and recognise how it all connects together.
We can't view climate change as an isolated issue. Our health, our food security, stability of economies and the way we interact with one another, they're are all tied in.
The topics can seem expansive, so we're using carbon as a focus.
We're exploring some important, and at times complex subjects here. But the whole point is to make this info accessible and transparent to us all.
So let me know if there's ever anything that you'd like breaking down or exploring further. Or if there's related topics that you feel should be discussed. Reach out and let's keep this project expanding!
And if you're a visual learner, look out for the animations! I'm creating short digestible videos to illustrate some of the key concepts that we're exploring. Find them at https://www.wearecarbon.earth/animations
Follow on Instagram @wearecarbon.earth
Let's keep figuring this all out together!
Netherlands