D2_Agraria_Journal_21_OPT

The Grounded Hope podcast, launched in January 2020, pairs radio producer Renee Wilde with the team at Agraria to produce a series of podcasts that introduce people to the past, present, and future of Ohio agriculture. Listeners are learning how historical farming practices —including those of indigenous people and early Black farmers — reflect ways in which our degraded soils can be regenerated. The series takes listeners on a tour of Ohio cities and back roads to meet current farmers and learn how they are rebuilding local food systems that can be resilient in the face of pandemics and climate change. You'll hear about unusual crops and the hope they hold for new products — including fibers, medicines, and foods. You will also be invited to examine how Ohio economics is embedded in agriculture, and how that both supports and challenges the state and its communities. The “Grounded Hope” series is now available on Spotify, Google Podcast, RadioPublic, PRX, and more! Visit the Grounded Hope podcast website www.GroundedHope.org to learn more about the podcast, listen to the episodes, see resources for educators, and find ways to “dig deeper.” EPISODE 1: REGENERATION Regenerative Agriculture was the number one food trend in 2020, with companies from General Mills Foods to the Patagonia clothing company turning to regenerative farming practices in their businesses. 2021 marks the start of the UN Decade of Ecosystem Restoration and in this episode, we take a look at how Agraria is using regenerative practices to transform a conventional farm into a lush ecosystem; discover how a declining dung beetle population is contributing to greenhouse gas; and learn how regenerative practices in Indigenous Cultures are an important part of their relationship with nature. EPISODE 2: BLACK FARMING The number of Black-owned farms has drastically declined since the 1920s, and now make up less than two percent of total U.S. farmland. In this episode, we’ll talk with one of the organizers of the Black Farming Conference Beyond 40 Acres and a Mule, learn how three childhood friends created an urban farm out of an abandoned dumping ground in Cleveland, and hear from a first-time grower about the joys of eating food that you've poured your essence into. EPISODE 3: AGROFORESTRY Hear three different stories about the importance of trees and our interaction with them. We’ll meet a pioneer in the Cincinnati permaculture movement who is creating a food forest on the Grailville Farm; go out with a small-batch maple syrup producer to learn how to tap a tree; and hear one man’s journey to save the trees in his community. EPISODE 4: BEYOND LIVESTOCK: ANIMALS IN REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE Regenerative agriculture is more than a human-centered enterprise: it means working with nature and alongside other creatures, to accomplish larger ecological purposes. Our relationships with animals have always been multifaceted, and this episode explores ways those relationships are creating more sustainable and mutually beneficial partnerships. We travel throughout the state to farms that are pasturing chickens and cattle; meet a farmer who uses Suffolk horses for farm work; and learn how bison are supporting the restoration of Darby Plains. EPISODE 5: PLANTS AS FOOD AND MEDICINE Herbalism is seeing a huge rise in popularity, as more and more people turn to natural remedies to keep their bodies healthy. In this episode of Grounded Hope we explore the American medical botanical movement called Eclecticism through a visit to the Lloyd Library in Cincinnati; visit Dawn Grounded Hope: FROM THE HIGHWAYS TO THE HEDGEROWS 30 AGRARIA JOURNAL 2021 AMY HARPER BY RENEE WILDE