My guest for this episode is Zach Elfers ofNomad Seed Project. We sat down to talk about his work and how it relates to seed saving; landscape management; landscape restoration; geophytes - the plants that made us human; and our own epoch: The Anthropocene, or as E.O. Wilson calls it "The Age of Loneliness."
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I've known Zach for many years through mutual colleagues, such as Ben Weiss and Wilson Alvarez, and events we've attended. Over the years I've both enjoyed and supported his work (Patreon). Every time we get a chance to talk, as we did in-person for this conversation, I learn something new, relayed in a way that reminds me of a woodland mystic with his feet firmly on the earth, sharing his own journey with plants through space, time, and ever increasing understanding that draws on those who came before him.
Those experiences are grounded in the wisdom of people such as M. Kat Anderson, Finisia Medrano, Reed Noss, and E.O. Wilson. During our time he mentions the way that invasive species are creating habitat that did not exist previously, including the expansion of multiflora rose in Pennsylvania. That is creating space in Eastern Pennsylvania for the veery thrush and its unique song. If you'd like to take a few minutes, and I do recommend it, you can see and listen to this bird here: Veery Thrush (YouTube) Also, because of this conversation and many other folks referring to her book and my conversations with her I'm going to be re-releasing my interview with Tao Orion as the next piece from the archives.
What do you think about what Zach shares in this conversation? Are you ready to go off into the woods and start collecting and planting seeds? Do you already engage in these practices? Leave a comment below.