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Spring in Winter Park

Spring skiing at Winter Park… No crowds!  Grand County, Colorado.

 Category: Blog

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NEW PODCAST! “Jesse Smith – A Regenerative App NEW PODCAST! “Jesse Smith – A Regenerative Approach to Land and Life”

Jesse Smith (@ablacksmith / @figureatefoods) is the Director of Land Stewardship at the White Buffalo Land Trust (@white_buffalo_land_trust), which is a global hub for regenerative land stewardship, ecological monitoring and research, education, and more. Jesse brings a unique perspective and a diverse set of experiences to his work in regenerative agriculture– his early interest in architecture led him to pursue an education in design, which then led to a career in product design and visual communication.

But over time, he became interested in combining his artistic sensibilities with his love of the land, science, and permaculture, and soon thereafter began his journey in the world of family farming, food production, and education. Jesse is now a leader in the world of regenerative ag, and, as you’ll hear, he has a real gift for communicating the art and science of land stewardship. 

This conversation was recorded in November of 2024 on stage at the REGENERATE conference– one of the country’s foremost gatherings of regenerative agriculture practitioners and thought leaders. REGENERATE is a collaboration between the @quiviracoalition, @hmi.holisticmanagement, and @amergrassfed, and the conference attracts fascinating people from all over the world to share knowledge, build community, and create a culture of resilience and regeneration. 

Despite sitting on stage in front of an auditorium full of people, this conversation felt much more like a fun one-on-one discussion between two friends. See the comment below for some of the topics we discussed or follow the link in my profile to find a full list of everything, including links.

A huge thanks to the team at REGENERATE for inviting me to the conference, thank you to Jesse for chatting with me and offering so much wisdom, and thanks to you for listening.

Please share with your regenerative ag-loving friends!! 🙏🙏
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Photos courtesy of the REGENERATE conference.
3 Roberson ladies + ♾️ sand 3 Roberson ladies + ♾️ sand
NEW PODCAST! “Nichole Barger – Science as a Ca NEW PODCAST! “Nichole Barger – Science as a Catalyst for Human Connection”

Nichole Barger is an ecologist, former university professor, and the current deputy chief scientist and lead global scientist for @nature_org. 

She earned her master’s degree from the University of California at Berkeley and her PhD from Colorado State University, and her career has included extensive time researching, teaching, and practicing on-the-ground, frontline conservation on issues including land degradation, restoration, and more.
 
Prior to assuming her current position at TNC, she was the research director of the Canyonlands Research Center located at the Dugout Ranch, which you may remember as the subject of a Mountain & Prairie episode back in August of 2024.

Given her distinguished career as a scientist, you might be surprised to learn that Nichole never considered pursuing science as a vocation until the second half of her time in college. She grew up in small-town Indiana, and, although she was extremely curious, a great student, and a voracious reader, she was not particularly enamored with science and didn’t know anyone who worked as a scientist.

But during college, a supportive-yet-casual comment from one of her professors planted the seed that science could be an option. Fast forward to today, she has published more than 70 peer-reviewed papers, she co-chairs the Science Policy Interface group of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, and she leads many of TNC’s cutting-edge science initiatives.

As you’ll hear, Nichole brings a deep level of empathy, curiosity, and open-mindedness to all of her work as a scientist. Whether she’s teaching, researching, or working with conservation stakeholders, she never loses sight of the importance of human connection. 

Check out the comment below for some of the topics we discussed, and click the link in my profile for all the notes and links.

A huge thanks to Nichole for the great conversation, thanks for @co_nature for its ongoing support, and thank YOU for listening. 🙏🙏
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Photos courtesy of TNC: 1) Garrett Herndon 2) Wasim Muklashy
A windy Sunday in the Dunes! 🌬️ A windy Sunday in the Dunes! 🌬️
📚Need to lighten the mood?📚 In my most rece 📚Need to lighten the mood?📚

In my most recent Patreon-exclusive podcast, I yap about some of my favorite authors who also happen to be HILARIOUS. 

Writers whose work will make you think, learn, reflect…. and cackle with hysterical laughter.

As of this moment, there are 10 total Patreon-exclusive podcasts, with a new one coming out later this week. I publish them monthly and you can listen on your favorite podcast player. 

You can join Patreon for as little as $2 per month, which is approximately 20% of the price of one Chipotle chicken burrito– chicken burritos being my standard unit of account for all purchases under $200.

Follow the link in my profile to preview all the Patreon-exclusive podcasts and learn more.

And most importantly: A HUGE thanks to everyone who supports M&P via Patreon– you are the gas in the financial engine that keeps this whole thing going. 🙏🙏
NEW PODCAST! Mark Easter is a Colorado-based ecolo NEW PODCAST! Mark Easter is a Colorado-based ecologist and author whose new book is titled “The Blue Plate: A Food Lover’s Guide to Climate Chaos.” 

If you care about food and you care about Planet Earth, “The Blue Plate” is a must-read. It explores the production, consumption, and disposal of many of our favorite foods– seafood, salad, bread, chicken, steak, potatoes, ice cream, and more– and offers a thoughtful and nuanced analysis of these foods’ impacts on the environment.

This is not a gloom-and-doom climate change book, nor does it have the condescending tone that sometimes accompanies many climate-related readings. While Mark is crystal clear about the massive threats facing our planet, this is a book built on the ideals of optimism, ingenuity, and taking action. I loved it.

Mark lives and works in Fort Collins and has conducted research in academia and private industry since 1988. He has enjoyed a very successful and impactful career at Colorado State University, and he has authored and co-authored more than 50 scientific papers and reports related to carbon cycling and the carbon footprint of agriculture, forestry, and other land uses.

But Mark also has a real gift for storytelling and for breaking down enormously complex topics into understandable and enjoyable writing. His writing is personal, educational, and fun to read, and I credit Mark and “The Blue Plate” with helping me to finally fully understand issues around greenhouse gas emissions and carbon sequestration.

See the comment below for a summary of some of the topics we discussed or follow the link in my profile for a full list and links to everything.

Mark and I barely scratched the surface of all of the fascinating topics in “The Blue Plate,” so if you enjoy this conversation, I’d encourage you to pick up a copy of the book and dig in. 

You’ll enjoy it and learn a lot! 🙏🙏
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All photos courtesy of @patagonia and @patagoniabooks, with 3 by Amy Kumler and 4 by Regan Choi
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