A Critical Look at Permaculture

FromGrowing Greener

Start listening View podcast show

A Critical Look at Permaculture

FromGrowing Greener

ratings:

Length:

29 minutes

Released:

May 31, 2023

Format:

Podcast episode

Description

Robert Kourik, a pioneer of sustainable gardening, draws on his 45 years of experience with Permaculture to explore the strengths and weaknesses of this controversial gardening movement

Released:

May 31, 2023

Format:

Podcast episode

Titles in the series (100)

Your weekly half-hour program about environmentally informed gardening. Each week we bring you a different expert, a leading voice on gardening in partnership with Nature. Our goal is to make your landscape healthier, more beautiful, more sustainable, and more fun.

Skip carousel

Author Benjamin Vogt - "A New Garden Ethic": Author Benjamin Vogt discusses his provocative book, "", and calls for a radical, less human-centric approach to the landscape by Growing Greener
29 min listen
Dr. Bethany Bradley -- Assisted Migration of Native Plants: An interview with Dr. Bethany Bradley, ecologist at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, about the pros and cons of implementing assisted migration of native plants as a response to climate change by Growing Greener
29 min listen
Ruth Rogers Clausen -- Deer Resistant Gardens: Horticulturist Ruth Rogers Clausen, author of "," discusses the best ways to protect your garden from hungry deer by Growing Greener
29 min listen
David Wolfe -- Gardening in a Changing Climate: David Wolfe, professor of plant and soil ecology at Cornell University, details how to keep your landscape flourishing in a time of changing climate by Growing Greener
29 min listen
Robert Kourik -- The Hidden Half of Your Plants: Robert Kourik, author of , discusses the nature and needs of plant roots and how to foster them for a lusher, healthier garden by Growing Greener
29 min listen
Jeff Lowenfels - The Soil Food Web: Jeff Lowenfels, the author of , details how to work with the soil food web to achieve a healthier, greener, and more productive garden by Growing Greener
29 min listen
Lee Reich -- No-Till Gardening: Horticulturist Lee Reich, the author of "" explains his no-dig, all organic, and hassle-free gardening system that nurtures the soil to yield bigger harvests by Growing Greener
29 min listen
Jared Westbrook -- Saving Trees With Genetic Engineering: An interview with Dr. Jared Westbrook of the American Chestnut Foundation, in which he describes how his organization is using genetic engineering to return the American Chestnut to our forests, and discusses the implications of this work for other... by Growing Greener
29 min listen
Larry Weaner -- Ecological Garden Design: Celebrated landscape designer Larry Weaner, co-author of , discusses his style of design which harnesses the natural ecology of the site to produce a garden that largely plants and maintains itself. by Growing Greener
29 min listen
Edwina von Gal - Perfect Earth Project: Edwina von Gal, the internationally renowned landscape designer, discusses her personal journey to environmental activism and her current work with the by Growing Greener
29 min listen
Heather Holm -- Beyond Bumblebees: An interview with award-winning author and landscape restorationist Heather Holm about the thousands of native pollinators that can serve your garden. Learn how to attract and foster these invaluable and essential insects. by Growing Greener
29 min listen
Douglas Tallamy - Insects and Plants: An interview with Douglas Tallamy, University of Delaware Professor of Entomology and award-winning author of , talking about the need to include insects in your garden. by Growing Greener
29 min listen
Alyssa Rosemartin -- Phenology, Nature's Calendar: Alyssa Rosemartin of the USA National Phenology Network explains how natural phenomena such as the blooming of common plants can help gardeners schedule tasks more accurately. by Growing Greener
29 min listen
Neil Diboll -- Meadow Gardening: Neil Diboll, president of and pioneer of the prairie gardening movement, discusses the ecological strengths of our native meadow flowers and grasses by Growing Greener
29 min listen
Robert Kourik -- Companion Planting Exposé: We expose the crackpot "research" that underlies most popular lists of companion plants, and then interview Robert Kourik about a science-based version of this method for enhancing plant growth by Growing Greener
29 min listen
Shannon Currey -- Warm Season Grasses: Shannon Currey of discusses the special qualities of warm season grasses that make the superior performers in heat and drought, and ideal for an era of climate change by Growing Greener
29 min listen
Claudia West -- Planting in a Post-Wild World: Landscape architect Claudia West, co-author of "" describes her techniques for returning nature to our neighborhoods and cities, and for creating living landscapes that are robust, diverse, and visually harmonious by Growing Greener
29 min listen
Russ Cohen – Edible Wild Plants: Russ Cohen discusses his foraging career and his current role as Johnny Appleseed of raising and restoring to the wild edible native plants by Growing Greener
29 min listen
Louis Bauer -- Identifying and Using Microclimates: Louis Bauer, Senior Director of Horticulture at , New York City's premier public garden, describes how he and his gardeners identify and make use of "microclimates" to grow a greater diversity of plants more sustainably. by Growing Greener
29 min listen
Dr. Bethany Bradley -- Invasive Plant Update: Dr. Bethany Bradley, an ecologist at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, talks about the effects of climate change in enhancing invasive plants, and what gardeners can do to fight back by Growing Greener
29 min listen
Brad Roeller -- Sustainable Gardening: Pioneering horticulturist Brad Roeller discusses the research into sustainable gardening he carried out at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies in Millbrook, NY, and shares insights into the future of the field by Growing Greener
29 min listen
Janice Hand - "Wild Ones": Janice Hand, past president of "Wild Ones" discusses this organization's successful programs to boost native plants, promote the restoration of natural landscapes, and educate young people. by Growing Greener
29 min listen
Black Bears – The New Garden Wildlife: Andrew Madden of the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife and Dr. Tracy Rittenhouse of the University of Connecticut discuss the migration of black bears into our exurbs and suburbs, with tips for co-existence by Growing Greener
29 min listen
Lisa Tewksbury -- University of Rhode Island Biocontrol Laboratory: Dr. Lisa Tewksbury discusses the work of the URI Biocontrol Laboratory and the role it plays in controlling invasive plants and insects by Growing Greener
29 min listen
Dr. Elaine Ingham - Soil Food Web: Internationally renowned soil microbiologist Dr. Elaine Ingham discusses her research with the soil food web that is revolutionizing gardening, and her by Growing Greener
29 min listen
William Welch - Heirloom Plants: Dr. William Welch of Texas A&M University and co-author of discusses the ways in which heirloom plants, survivors from old gardens, can enhance the sustainability of your garden by Growing Greener
29 min listen
Dr. Josef Gorres - Invasive Earthworms: Dr. Josef Gorres, Professor of Plant and Soil Science at the University of Vermont, discusses the invasive earthworms which are changing the ecology of the soil in Northeastern forests, and prospects for their control by Growing Greener
29 min listen
Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott - The Garden Professors: Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott of The Garden Professors and , as she discusses the work of these groups and the importance of applying peer-reviewed science to the issues and problems of gardeners. by Growing Greener
29 min listen
Dan Jaffe – How to Make Your Life Easier With Native Plants: Dan Jaffe, a rising star of the new generation of native plants experts and co-author of discusses the many practical advantages of gardening with natives. by Growing Greener
29 min listen
Adrian Ayres Fisher - Carbon Gardening: Adrian Ayres Fisher, Sustainability Coordinator for Triton College in River Grove, Illinois explains how an easy change in gardening practice can remove carbon dioxide gas from the atmosphere and help mitigate global warming by Growing Greener
29 min listen

More Episodes from Growing Greener

Skip carousel

Garden for Wildlife Makes Selecting the Right Plants Easy: Shubber Ali, CEO of Garden for Wildlife, a new venture of the National Wildlife Federation, describes how his company makes it almost effortless to order site-adapted, locally native plants that provide the maximum benefits for wildlife. by Growing Greener
29 min listen
An Extraordinary Online Resource for Native Plants Enthusiasts in Every State: Lady Bird Johnson put native plants on the map with her program to plant wildflowers alongside our nation’s highways in the 1960’s. Her legacy, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, continues to play a key role by providing gardeners with... by Growing Greener
29 min listen
Boosting the Ecosystem While Boosting Your Spirits: As the first Executive Director of Homegrown National Park, Brandon Hough talks about his unconventional journey to conservation, and how this non-profit makes it easy for homeowners to find plants that give the maximum boost to the local ecosystem... by Growing Greener
29 min listen
Daryl Beyers Shares a Fresh Approach to Gardening Fundamentals: Coordinator of the New York Botanical Garden’s Gardening Education Program, Daryl Beyers has developed a fresh approach to teaching the fundamentals of the craft, one that not only provides a strong foundation for novices to go on and build their... by Growing Greener
30 min listen
Native Annuals of the Eastern United States: Annuals offer unique advantages for the ecological gardener, growing fast to stabilize disturbed soils, and providing quick color for new plantings. In this conversation, master plantsman Ethan Dropkin of Larry Weaner Landscape Associates shares... by Growing Greener
29 min listen
Thomas Rainer: A Case for Thoughtful Optimism: In 2015 landscape architect Thomas Rainer and his professional partner Claudia West stirred the gardening world with their best-selling book, “Planting in a Post-Wild World.” Now Rainer shares his arguments for thoughtful optimism regarding... by Growing Greener
29 min listen
Celebrating Regional Beauty: In the 1990’s Lauren Springer helped pioneer a new, regionally focused gardening style in Colorado, an “undaunted garden” that celebrated the Rocky Mountain landscape and the plants, native and introduced, that were at home there. In this... by Growing Greener
29 min listen
Can Genetic Engineering Help Save North American Trees From Imported Threats?: The American chestnut was a foundational species of eastern forests until an imported blight killed virtually all mature specimens back to stumps in the early 20th century. Jared Westbrook, Science Director of the American Chestnut Foundation... by Growing Greener
29 min listen
A New CEO for the Native Plant Trust: When it was founded in 1900, the Native Plant Trust was the first plant conservation organization in the United States. Its new CEO, Tim Johnson describes how, more than a century later, the Trust continues to break new ground, defining how an... by Growing Greener
29 min listen
“Poor Man’s Fertilizer”: Too often we regard snow as merely an annoyance, but Kim Eierman, ecological garden designer and educator, makes the case for snow as a natural source of great and sometimes surprising benefits for the garden. by Growing Greener
29 min listen
Create Your Own Locally Adapted Garden Seeds: Hybrid fruit and vegetable seeds are like thoroughbred horses – extraordinary performers but not resilient or good at coping with adverse conditions. When they didn’t succeed in Joseph Lofthouse’s Utah garden, he created his own... by Growing Greener
29 min listen
Invasive Plants Waging Chemical Warfare: Why are invasive plants so effective in muscling out native species? Research by Dr. Susan Kalisz of the University of Tennessee Knoxville details how the invaders commonly release chemicals into the soil that disrupt the functioning of native... by Growing Greener
29 min listen
Easy Hacks for Starting Native Plants from Seed: Jim Sirch of Yale University’s Peabody Museum shares gardener-friendly resources and an easy, nearly foolproof method for starting natives from seeds, together with tips for finding locally collected seeds wherever you garden in the United States. by Growing Greener
29 min listen
Restoring the Canopy of an Olmsted Masterpiece: Brooklyn’s Prospect Park, one of Frederick Law Olmsted’s greatest masterpieces, was failing by 1989 when Joseph Doccola signed on to restore its tree canopy. Over the next decade he replanted lost trees, matching adapted native species to each... by Growing Greener
29 min listen
Bankrupting Your Garden’s Weed Seed Bank: There are thousands, millions of weed seeds lying dormant in your garden soil – the “weed seed bank” – waiting for a chance to emerge and invade your plantings. Listen as Dr. Bryan Brown of Cornell University shares strategies for... by Growing Greener
29 min listen
Roots Revealed: Robert Kourik, a pioneering gardener in Santa Rosa, California shares a new understanding of roots and how gardeners can better foster these hidden but foundational elements of their plants by Growing Greener
29 min listen
Rebecca McMackin and the Innovative Beauty of the Ecological Landscape: As Director of Horticulture at Brooklyn Bridge Park, Rebecca McMackin played a leading role in transforming 85 acres of abandoned piers and pavement into a series of vibrant ecosystems that are a model of what an urban park can be. We talk with... by Growing Greener
29 min listen
Biocontrol – Beating Back Invasive Plants: Invasive plants flourish in part because in their transition to North America they leave behind the co-evolved pests that help keep them in check in their homelands. Dr. Lisa Tewksbury, Director of the University of Rhode Island Biocontrol Laboratory,... by Growing Greener
29 min listen
Exploring the Soil Food Web with Elaine Ingham: Join us for a replay of our 2020 interview with Dr. Elaine Ingham, internationally renowned expert on the soil food web about how to make your soil far more fertile and productive using only natural, scientifically proven inputs by Growing Greener
29 min listen
Biodiversity and Its Importance in the Garden: Uli Lorimer, Director of Horticulture at the Native Plant Trust, discusses the role gardeners can play in maintaining biodiversity without sacrificing their favorite, non-native plants. by Growing Greener
29 min listen
Innovative Education Programs from a Regenerative Landscape Designer: Trevor Smith has won awards with his expert design that brings damaged landscapes back to a fuller function. He’s applied that experience to his second passion: educating young people, home gardeners and professionals about how they too can heal the... by Growing Greener
29 min listen
Botany Made Fun: Jacob Suissa and Ben Goulet-Scott, two young PhD botanists, have launched an educational non-profit. “Let’s Botanize,” that demonstrates online and for free how accessible and fun plant science can be. by Growing Greener
29 min listen
The International Reach of Rewilding Magazine: Kat Tancock and Domini Clark, founders and editors of Rewilding Magazine (available for free online) explore the restoration of local habitats and ecosystems worldwide, with reports from Asia, Africa, and Australia as well as Europe, Canada, and the... by Growing Greener
29 min listen
A Gardening Calendar For the Era of Climate Change: Drs. Michael Balick and Gregory Plunkett of the New York Botanical Garden share results of their research in the Pacific nation of Vanuatu, where local informants have shared with them a calendar based on clues from indigenous plants – a calendar... by Growing Greener
29 min listen
Leave the Leaves Without Banishing Beauty: Ecological landscape designer and educator Kathleen Connolly takes a deep dive into her new approach to putting the garden to bed in fall. Leave the leaves but keep the beauty. by Growing Greener
29 min listen
The Special Hazards of Systemic Insecticides: They sound great – something you apply to a seed or plant and which spreads throughout the organism to provide protection against any insect attack. The reality, though, as described by Sharon Selvaggio, Pesticide Program Specialist at... by Growing Greener
29 min listen
Garden-Making for Those Who Own No Land: Landscape architect Marissa Angell has worked with premier firms on high profile projects, but today she’s sharing her personal experience with tips for an overlooked demographic: the more than 15 million, largely younger gardeners who rent rather... by Growing Greener
29 min listen
Native vs. Exotic Plants: Support for Insect Populations: A hot topic in gardening circles is the relative value of exotic versus native plants for supporting native insect populations, a foundation of the food chain for birds and other wildlife. Listen to Dr. Douglas Tallamy, best-selling author and... by Growing Greener
29 min listen
Tribute to David Salman: American gardening, which had been for the most part a lesser copy of European landscapes, began an exciting new chapter with the explosion of innovative, regionally adapted gardening styles in the 1980’s. No one played a larger role in this... by Growing Greener
29 min listen
Designing the Dragonfly Garden: Ecological garden designer Christine Cook discusses the beauties and benefits of dragonflies, and how you can make your garden a haven for these exquisite creatures. by Growing Greener
29 min listen

Related podcast episodes

Skip carousel

Robert Kourik -- The Hidden Half of Your Plants: Robert Kourik, author of , discusses the nature and needs of plant roots and how to foster them for a lusher, healthier garden by Growing Greener
29 min listen
Where Did No Dig Gardening Come From: Charles Dowding has been using the no-dig method since the '80s. We discuss what he’s learned during his decades of do dig and what current experiments he’s running on his newly expanded gardening area. EG shop homepage: EG book collection page: ... by The Beet: A Podcast For Plant Lovers
13 min listen
Podcast 185 - Food Forests for Plant Lovers: This week’s guest is permaculture designer and author of 'The Plant Lover's Backyard Forest Garden’, Pippa Chapman. Growing our own food is becoming more and more important, and Pippa has tips on creating a year-round food forest that is... by Roots and All - Gardening Podcast
25 min listen
Where Permaculture Goes Wrong: “Food Forests” are a central concept of Permaculture – in our discussion of his must-have new book, , Robert Kourik details where Permaculture goes wrong, and explains how his book corrects the food forest for the North American landscape. by Growing Greener
29 min listen
Hardy Perennial Vegetables with Dave Scandurra of Food Forest Initiative of Cape Cod & Edible Landscapes of Cape Cod by The Forest Garden
57 min listen
Amazing Grains with Larry Kandarian: Ancient Grains for a Modern World by Sustainable World Radio- Ecology and Permaculture Podcast
69 min listen
092-Vegetable Planting Timeline & More: Joe Lamp’l Responds to Listener Questions: For this week’s podcast, I polled the joe gardener Facebook Group to ask what garden questions they would like answered. This is a great community of engaged and supportive gardeners. There is never a shortage of questions. Here, by The joe gardener Show - Organic Gardening - Vegetable Gardening - Expert Garden Advice From Joe Lamp'l
53 min listen
075-Top Questions for Composting at Home: You Asked, Joe Lamp’l Answers: Composting at home leads to many questions from eager gardeners regarding techniques and best practices. Well this week, I wanted to answer some of those very specific – and common – questions posed by members of the joe gardener community. by The joe gardener Show - Organic Gardening - Vegetable Gardening - Expert Garden Advice From Joe Lamp'l
60 min listen
097-Spring Tips for Vegetable Garden Success: As winter slowly yields to spring, the call to get our hands into the soil becomes irresistible. These spring tips for vegetable garden success are a valuable guide to the essential steps everyone can and should take for a bountiful and productive gard... by The joe gardener Show - Organic Gardening - Vegetable Gardening - Expert Garden Advice From Joe Lamp'l
47 min listen
Re-Imagining Edible Landscaping: Landscaping doesn’t have to be ornamental, it can also have edible value to it! Arianna shares some of her favorite edible ideas. Connect With Arianna lappini: Arianna Iappini is an edible garden designer and consultant, founder of The Birch Arbor... by The Beet: A Podcast For Plant Lovers
9 min listen
Wild By Design: Fostering wildlife and native plants – making our landscapes contributors to the local ecosystem – has become a goal of so many gardeners. In her new book, “Wild By Design: The Rise of Ecological Restoration,” Laura J. Martin traces how... by Growing Greener
29 min listen
How To Create A "Fruit-Full" Food Forest: Michael Judd by Sustainable World Radio- Ecology and Permaculture Podcast
59 min listen
193-Digging Deeper into Seed Starting with Garden Professor John Porter-Encore Presentation: Many factors affect whether seeds started indoors will grow to become seedlings that are strong and healthy enough to transition into the garden, survive and prosper. On this week’s encore episode, John Porter of The Garden Professors shares his... by The joe gardener Show - Organic Gardening - Vegetable Gardening - Expert Garden Advice From Joe Lamp'l
52 min listen
Late Summer Fall Flower Prep: You can still start flowers right now, in mid-summer. Learn how to prepare for a productive late summer and fall flower season. Connect With Briana Bosch: Briana Bosch is the owner of Blossom and Branch Farm, where she field-grows flowers as well as... by The Beet: A Podcast For Plant Lovers
5 min listen
Earth Care: How Connecting with Nature Can Change Your Life: A Conversation with Andrew McMillion by Sustainable World Radio- Ecology and Permaculture Podcast
58 min listen
Why You Should Start a Fall Garden NOW: It might not seem like fall is on the way, but it is - and getting a head start on your fall garden is extremely important if you want a rocking fall harvest. Connect With Meg Cowden: Meg Cowden is the founder of Seed to Fork, a Zone 4a/b gardener... by The Beet: A Podcast For Plant Lovers
7 min listen
S13 E4: Weeds, Pests, & Herbicides: Overcoming Your Worst Organic Gardening Woes by Old Fashioned On Purpose
58 min listen
Raptors and Rodenticides- the Unintended Consequences of Rat Poison: Episode 164: Are you a fan of Raptors or birds of prey? Members of this large group of magnificent birds include hawks, eagles, falcons, and owls. For many of us, seeing raptors in cities and in the wilderness is awe-inspiring. To learn more... by Sustainable World Radio- Ecology and Permaculture Podcast
68 min listen
Paw Paws 101: From Seed to Table with Michael Judd by Sustainable World Radio- Ecology and Permaculture Podcast
61 min listen
Episode 130: Taming Wildflowers with Miriam Goldberger: Carmen Devito is getting wild with Miriam Goldberger, author of Taming Wildflowers, on this weeks edition of We Dig Plants! Tune into this weeks edition of the program to learn how Miriam became interested in wildflowers, and how she learned that they wor by We Dig Plants
46 min listen
Ujamaa Seeds With Bonnetta Adeeb – A Way to Garden With Margaret Roach – February 6, 2023: Like any gardener looking ahead to another growing season, I’m deep into the seed catalogs, dreaming of things to come. But many seeds also offer us a window to look back in time by telling us their stories, which are also the stories of the people who g by MARGARET ROACH A WAY TO GARDEN
28 min listen
Episode 204: Zone Envy – Zone 8: This month on We Dig Plants, hosts Alice Marcus Krieg and Carmen Devito visit Zone 8 of the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, which includes the great state of Texas. First, they're joined by Master Gardener Jenny Peterson of J. Peterson Garden Design, whic by We Dig Plants
56 min listen
Tips for a Successful Fall Garden & When to Plant for Fall Harvest: Have fresh veggies all fall and into winter straight from the garden (and no greenhouse required) with these tips for a fall garden. The first year or two I tried fall gardening it didn't turn out so well, but now we harvest many plants clear through... by Pioneering Today
24 min listen
Gardening with Native Plants: Gardening with Native Plants by Backyard Ecology
68 min listen
580: Jessica Smith on Healthy Soil and Healthy Plants: How healthy soil supports healthy plants and how growing food can solve many of the world’s problems by The Urban Farm Podcast with Greg Peterson
43 min listen
536: Chris McLaughlin on Raising Animals for Fiber.: Farming for yarn and more. by The Urban Farm Podcast with Greg Peterson
46 min listen
Historic Fruit Trees Around the World: With John Valenzuela by Sustainable World Radio- Ecology and Permaculture Podcast
76 min listen
Gardens Illustrated – in conversation with Piet Oudolf and Noël Kingsbury: We talk to Dutch plantsman Piet Oudolf and garden writer Noël Kingsbury about their recent book, Hummelo, in which Noël tracks Piet’s approach to planting design through the development of his own garden. by Gardens Illustrated Magazine
24 min listen
Food Habitats With Jared Rosenbaum- A Way to Garden With Margaret Roach -November 7, 2022: In his new book, Wild Plant Culture, restoration ecologist Jared Rosenbaum says something provocative about gardening with native plants. Its time to expand our vision past supporting birds, butterflies, and bees, and fully integrate the most chall by MARGARET ROACH A WAY TO GARDEN
25 min listen
Does Gardening Actually Save You Money: Garden math is a little difficult to compute because what price can you put on eating a carrot straight out of the ground? Gardening pays you back in more than just a harvest from your garden. Gardening also benefits your physical, mental and... by The Beet: A Podcast For Plant Lovers
15 min listen

Discover this podcast and so much more

A Critical Look at Permaculture

A Critical Look at Permaculture

Description

Titles in the series (100)

More Episodes from Growing Greener

Related podcast episodes