Join me at these upcoming events.
(Click here to view past events.)
January 21, 2021: The Remarkable Success of the Natural Farming Movement in India
This morning meeting features Vijay Kumar calling in from the state of Andhra Pradesh to talk about a regenerative agriculture movement that grew from 40,000 farmers in 2016 to almost 800,000 farmers in 2020. Kumar will present the history of the project, and examples of success in one of the driest states in India, in particular, the impact of Australian soil microbiologist Walter Jehne's ideas for increasing drought resilience. This work has been successful in large part because of a community supported approach led by Women's Self Help Economic Groups, a powerful force in the economic and social life of India, who have become leaders of the regenerative agriculture movement. The movement is being adopted now by other states in India as well as other countries.
Vijay Kumar is a top advisor to the government of Andhra Pradesh; Vice Chair, Production, of the United Nations Food System Summit; and he helped to bring the Women's Self Help Economic Groups project to life decades ago--which now includes 70 million women across India. Didi Pershouse--who is helping to train the researchers, master trainers, and champion farmers for the project, and is the founder of the Land and Leadership Initiative that originally connected Jehne and Kumar--will moderate the conversation.
This conversation is part of the Life Saves the Planet lecture series produced by GBH Forum Network.
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February 2 & 3, 2021: 6th Biennial Russian River-Friendly Landscaping Event
DAY ONE: Tuesday, February 2 from 1:00 PM to 3:30 PM
Come learn how landscape professionals can help to restore community and climate resilience through applying nature’s own strategies during this two-day event discussing the emerging science and practice of long-term rehydration of landscapes and regions.
On Day One, join keynote speaker Didi Pershouse, founder of the Land and Leadership Initiative, and author of Understanding Soil Health and Watershed Function; and The Ecology of Care: Medicine, Agriculture, Money, and the Quiet Power of Human and Microbial Communities for a deep dive participatory workshop on whole-systems thinking about landscape function.
Didi will show how California’s water cycle has been broken, and key intervention points for restoring it--in particular how a healthy landscape should act like a sponge: soaking up rain and storing water to provide a longer green growth season, while providing resilience for land owners and their communities in the face of wildfire, drought, and flood events.
She will demonstrate why a landscape with a healthy ‘soil sponge’ provides widespread social, environmental, and economic benefits including:
Didi will offer frameworks for decision making, and engage participants in lively discussions during breakout sessions.
DAY TWO: Wednesday, February 3 from 1:00 PM -3:00 PM
On Day Two, Didi Pershouse and renowned Australian microbiologist and climate scientist Walter Jehne will offer examples of successes from around the world in rehydration of landscapes, restoring regional rainfall, and flood, drought, and wildfire prevention.
They will offer practical strategies for managing urban lands, forests, and farmland with limited water resources to provide a water continuum, including how to:
Harvest atmospheric water through vegetation, dew ponds, and built structures
Wake up microbes in the soil to turn on metabolic water cycling
Provide plants with symbionts that can access hidden water in soils.
Reconnect coastal and inland rain cycles
Reduce wildfire damage through kickstarting fungal processes
For additional information on Russian River-Friendly Landscaping, please visit: www.rrwatershed.org/project/rrflg
This morning meeting features Vijay Kumar calling in from the state of Andhra Pradesh to talk about a regenerative agriculture movement that grew from 40,000 farmers in 2016 to almost 800,000 farmers in 2020. Kumar will present the history of the project, and examples of success in one of the driest states in India, in particular, the impact of Australian soil microbiologist Walter Jehne's ideas for increasing drought resilience. This work has been successful in large part because of a community supported approach led by Women's Self Help Economic Groups, a powerful force in the economic and social life of India, who have become leaders of the regenerative agriculture movement. The movement is being adopted now by other states in India as well as other countries.
Vijay Kumar is a top advisor to the government of Andhra Pradesh; Vice Chair, Production, of the United Nations Food System Summit; and he helped to bring the Women's Self Help Economic Groups project to life decades ago--which now includes 70 million women across India. Didi Pershouse--who is helping to train the researchers, master trainers, and champion farmers for the project, and is the founder of the Land and Leadership Initiative that originally connected Jehne and Kumar--will moderate the conversation.
This conversation is part of the Life Saves the Planet lecture series produced by GBH Forum Network.
***
February 2 & 3, 2021: 6th Biennial Russian River-Friendly Landscaping Event
DAY ONE: Tuesday, February 2 from 1:00 PM to 3:30 PM
Come learn how landscape professionals can help to restore community and climate resilience through applying nature’s own strategies during this two-day event discussing the emerging science and practice of long-term rehydration of landscapes and regions.
On Day One, join keynote speaker Didi Pershouse, founder of the Land and Leadership Initiative, and author of Understanding Soil Health and Watershed Function; and The Ecology of Care: Medicine, Agriculture, Money, and the Quiet Power of Human and Microbial Communities for a deep dive participatory workshop on whole-systems thinking about landscape function.
Didi will show how California’s water cycle has been broken, and key intervention points for restoring it--in particular how a healthy landscape should act like a sponge: soaking up rain and storing water to provide a longer green growth season, while providing resilience for land owners and their communities in the face of wildfire, drought, and flood events.
She will demonstrate why a landscape with a healthy ‘soil sponge’ provides widespread social, environmental, and economic benefits including:
- Water conservation
- Reduction of wildfire risk
- Resilience to flood and drought
- Reduced erosion, dredging, and road repairs
- Cleaner air
- Cooler temperatures
- Prevention of algae blooms and dead zones in streams
- Improved health and immunity for plants, trees, humans, and other species
- Increased biodiversity
- Putting atmospheric carbon to work creating life and living systems
Didi will offer frameworks for decision making, and engage participants in lively discussions during breakout sessions.
DAY TWO: Wednesday, February 3 from 1:00 PM -3:00 PM
On Day Two, Didi Pershouse and renowned Australian microbiologist and climate scientist Walter Jehne will offer examples of successes from around the world in rehydration of landscapes, restoring regional rainfall, and flood, drought, and wildfire prevention.
They will offer practical strategies for managing urban lands, forests, and farmland with limited water resources to provide a water continuum, including how to:
Harvest atmospheric water through vegetation, dew ponds, and built structures
Wake up microbes in the soil to turn on metabolic water cycling
Provide plants with symbionts that can access hidden water in soils.
Reconnect coastal and inland rain cycles
Reduce wildfire damage through kickstarting fungal processes
For additional information on Russian River-Friendly Landscaping, please visit: www.rrwatershed.org/project/rrflg
