My guest today joins me for a 2nd time here on “DITD”.  He is filmmaker John Feldman.  I first met John when I discovered his film Symbiotic Earth about the renowned , unknown to the public, scientist Lynn Margulis. A wonderful film. Now he is out with his latest film. “Regenerating Life”. A three part documentary that highlights the importance of biodiversity and natural ecosystems in regulating the climate.  The poem that follows, "Mama Nature,"   is written and performed by Naima Penniman

John Feldman - Filmmaker  "Regenerating Life" Documentary

Melinda Tuhus interviews Denise Savageau, president of the Connecticut Association of Conservation Districts, who explains how the climate crisis is exacerbating the biodiversity crisis.

The twin crises of climate disruption and biodiversity loss

A song of appreciation for all the protesting students, staff, and faculty at Columbia and many other institutions across the US.

Boycott, Sanction, and Divest

-Trump offers to gut climate initiatives for $1 Billion 
-Europe is the fastest warming continent
-U.S. 2024 summer, will see record-breaking days of heat.
-Cost of climate disasters in Texas could exceed $100 Billion
-Jakarta is the world’s fastest sinking metropolis.
- Europe's cities using nature-based solutions to fight Global 
   warming

GaiaGram #206 Environmental Headlines from around a planet in crisis

My next guest is Alice Ely. Alice is a UConn Advanced Master Gardener & Master Composter, and the creator of multiple public and private butterfly gardens in Fairfield County. She speaks frequently on the importance of gardening for habitat, food and not least of all, joy.  In addition to promoting native plants through the Pollinator Pathway, and educating on sustainable gardening at Westport’s Wakeman Town Farm, and Weston’s Town Farm, when she's not out digging in the dirt of her own garden, she coaches homeowners on how to garden sustainably, through her business, Gardenwithalice.com

Alice Ely   Master Gardener and Composter

Up next on Digging in the Dirt is a local, guy Joe Gloria. Joe works for one of the gardening establishments just about everybody in the area has been to one time or another and that's Gilbertie's. They've always been at the forefront of organic from the beginning. Joe Gloria is a garden guru of plants, shrubs, and perennials alike. Joe Gloria has a passion for caring for plants and the people who love them!  We going to learn about vermicompost teas.

Joe Gloria Garden Guru at Gilbertie's Nursery Westport.

My guest on this show of “Digging in the Dirt” has been Chairman of the Westport Community Gardens for 20 years.  He also has been Director of Long Lots Preserve for the last 2 years and a Sixth grade science teacher for 20 years. In the past he has run programs in New York City for recycling and alternative fuels for transit buses The first time Lou was here we discussed the existential threat to the Westport Community Garden and apparently the situation has gone from bad to worse.  The garden has been targeted by the towns politicians for destruction.

Westport Community Garden - Chairman Lou Weinberg

I'd like you to welcome to Digging in the Dirt Brad Kurtz Vineyard Director of Gloria Ferrer vineyards. Brad has led his winery into becoming a leader in sustainable and regenerative practices within the California sparkling market.
 Brad focuses on sustainable agricultural programs and technology to advance wine quality across a broad range of varietals and vineyard sites. Brad is here to talk about all that….. as well the fact that Gloria Ferrer recently was named winner of the California Green medal.

Brad Kurtz - Vineyard Director of Gloria Ferrer vineyards

Diego Osses is an Agricultural engineer with an MBA and a Masters degree in Finance who has extensive experience in farm management, international business development, and diplomacy. He brings over 25 years of experience developed in both his home country of Chile and abroad in countries such as China and Thailand.   During his first year working with GVI, Diego was responsible for coordinating the 3 main GVI programs: Reservoir Community Farm, Community Gardens, and Youth Leadership; contributing to the GVI mission of creating a more just food system in Bridgeport. Currently, Diego is actively planning the extension of GVI programs throughout 2024 and exploring innovative methods of community engagement through urban gardening and farming.

Diego Osses -  Transition Director Green Village Initiative

My guest this episode of Digging in the Dirt is Gloria Frazee. Gloria  is Secretary of the East Hampton Energy & Sustainability Committee.  At ReWild, she is co-chair of the Social Media & Web Committee and co-leader of the ReWild/South Fork chapter and its Summer Program for high school students. She is also the founder of ReWild/East Hampton Compost…. in collaboration with the Town of East Hampton. You can find her talking with folks about turning food scraps into soil food at the ReWild table at Springs Farmers Market in East Hampton most Saturdays.  ReWild Long Island is dedicated to collaborating with local communities across Long Island to protect and improve the biodiversity, resilience and health of regional ecosystems.

Gloria Frazee of Rewild Long Island

Lynn Zinser the founding editor of Climate Liability News, she is responsible for all editorial content, social media and media partnerships for CLN.  Climate Liability News is a not-for-profit news site dedicated to reporting on the issues at the intersection of climate change impacts and law. Those issues include government and corporate responsibility and accountability for global warming and its consequences across society and around the world.

Lynn Zinser -  Climate Liability News- Founder & Editor - Digging in the Dirt

WPKN is a nonprofit, freeform, community radio station (arts organization) that is more than 50 years old.  The vision of WPKN is to build community, a loyal and growing audience, and an engaged and educated citizenry by providing the highest quality of free-form programming that broadcasts entertainment, music, news, thoughts, sounds, ideas and event listings that support free speech, diversity, and the interests of the local and global communities WPKN serves.  Our radio frequency of 89.5-FM (Bridgeport)includes a coverage map of 1.5 million people in Farfield, New Haven and Litchfield counties in Connecticut and Suffolk county (The North Fork and Hamptons) in New York.  WPKN also maintains an on-demand streaming and archive of WPKN programming as well as our WPKN PODCASTS that focus on 22+ 'talk-oriented' community, cultural and news programs. We also feature an expanding list of interviews with music personalities and artists from all over the world.

John Feldman - Filmmaker "Regenerating Life" Documentary

WPKN Community Radio

Related tracks