This episode delves into the evolving art of ecological gardening and landscaping with Edwina von Gal, founder of the Perfect Earth Project. Edwina shares her journey from traditional landscape design to championing nature-based solutions, recounting her 'aha' moment with chemical-free gardening. The conversation broadens to discuss the cultural shifts in gardening aesthetics and the move towards living lands. Key topics include challenges and strategies for managing meadows and various invasive plants without chemicals, and the importance of community and professional education in ecological landscaping. Edwina also highlights upcoming events and resources offered by the Perfect Earth Project to support ecological land care.
00:00 Introduction to Gardening Philosophy
01:36 Exciting Symposium on Invasive Plants at Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture
02:36 Understanding Restorative Landscaping
06:14 Meet Edwina von Gal: Landscape Designer
09:07 The Evolution of Gardening Practices
13:05 Challenges and Realizations in Eco-Friendly Gardening
16:39 Rewilding and Partnering with Nature
29:25 Closing the Loop: Sustainable Gardening Practices
34:48 Sustainable Seaweed Harvesting
35:15 The Importance of Natural Leaf Decomposition
36:23 Understanding Land Succession
37:11 Maintaining Open Spaces
39:10 Managing Invasive Species
39:42 Effective Mugwort Control Techniques
42:39 Event Announcement: Managing Meadows Symposium
46:17 Perfect Earth Project Initiatives
50:58 The Therapeutic Value of Gardening
53:07 Embracing Slow Gardening
55:28 Cultural Expectations and Natural Gardens
59:01 The Future of Sustainable Landscaping
The Perfect Earth Project
Doug Tallamy
Nature’s Best Hope by Doug Tallamy
Discovering the Spiritual Wisdom of Trees by Beth Norcross and Leah Rampy
Wilding: Returning Nature to our Farm by Isabella Tree
We Are the Ark by Mary Reynolds
Bad Naturalist by Paula Whyman
Carbon: The Book of LIfe by Paul Hawken
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🌻 About Lady Farmer:
Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Lady Farmer.
The Good Dirt podcast is proudly part of the Connectd Podcasts network.
🌿 The Good Dirt Producers:
• Wendy Gray
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