Recombination Nation – Details, episodes & analysis

Shane Simonsen, host of the Zero Input Agriculture podcast, introduces the structure of the show, his background, places you can read more of his work and his sincere hopes to inspire listeners to pursue crop and livestock breeding for low input agriculture to build a functional alternative to industrial civilisation.

Read more and support Shane's work at his substack blog, Zero Input Agriculture, or buy a copy of his ebook Taming the Apocalypse.

Intro song- Rameau "Les Sauvages" (1735)

Outro song- Rameau "La Poule" (1741)

This is an audio version of a blog post from Zero Input Agriculture on January 3 2024.

This episode explores the book by James C. Scott and applies its key findings to navigating the decline of industrial civilisation.

You can find more of Shane’s work at:

Zero Input Agriculture blog - https://zeroinputagriculture.substack.com

Taming the Apocalypse ebook - https://www.amazon.com/Taming-Apocalypse-Shane-Simonsen-ebook/dp/B0D2XCLJ85/

Taming the Apocalypse audiobook - https://www.kobo.com/au/en/audiobook/taming-the-apocalypse-2

Our Vitreous Womb - https://www.amazon.com/Our-Vitreous-Womb-Book-1-4-ebook/dp/B0C7H9N1K3/

Shane interviews Brian Reeder, life-long breeder of the beautiful and delicious daylilies (Hemerocallis) among many other obsessions.

Check out Brian’s links mentioned in the show:

Sun Dragon Daylilies- http://www.sundragondaylilies.com/

Sun Dragon Daylilies Facebook group - https://www.facebook.com/SunDragonDaylilies

Detailed Article on Daylily Breeding Program - https://daylilybreeder.blogspot.com/p/the-daylily-as-permaculture-subject.html

A recent interview article in two parts- http://47daylilies.blogspot.com/2019/12/a-visit-with-our-friend-brian-reeder.html

https://47daylilies.blogspot.com/2020/01/a-visit-with-our-friend-brian-reeder.html

You can find more of Shane’s work at:

Zero Input Agriculture blog - https://zeroinputagriculture.substack.com

Taming the Apocalypse ebook - https://www.amazon.com/Taming-Apocalypse-Shane-Simonsen-ebook/dp/B0D2XCLJ85/

Taming the Apocalypse audiobook - https://www.kobo.com/au/en/audiobook/taming-the-apocalypse-2

Our Vitreous Womb - https://www.amazon.com/Our-Vitreous-Womb-Book-1-4-ebook/dp/B0C7H9N1K3/

Episode 1 – A Solitary Season

This is an audio version of a blog post from Zero Input Agriculture on October 3 2024.

This episode explores the thorny issue of managing events that happen only once in the life span of our planet.

You can find more of Shane’s work at:

Zero Input Agriculture blog: https://zeroinputagriculture.substack.com

Taming the Apocalypse ebook - https://www.amazon.com/Taming-Apocalypse-Shane-Simonsen-ebook/dp/B0D2XCLJ85/

Taming the Apocalypse audiobook - https://www.kobo.com/au/en/audiobook/taming-the-apocalypse-2

Our Vitreous Womb - https://www.amazon.com/Our-Vitreous-Womb-Book-1-4-ebook/dp/B0C7H9N1K3/

Shane interviews David Holmgren, cofounder of permaculture and all-round inspiration, about the potential synergies between modern permaculture practice and the breeding of plants and livestock.

Check out David’s recent articles mentioned in the show:

A Table of Many Stories – an exploration of the true age of the largest Australian trees : https://holmgren.com.au/writing/a-table-of-many-stories/

Saving Warners Track- a riveting account of firefighting efforts in remote Tasmania: https://holmgren.com.au/writing/saving-warners-track-jackeys-marsh-forest-festival-aftermath-1983/

You can find more of Shane’s work at:

Zero Input Agriculture blog - https://zeroinputagriculture.substack.com

Taming the Apocalypse ebook - https://www.amazon.com/Taming-Apocalypse-Shane-Simonsen-ebook/dp/B0D2XCLJ85/

Taming the Apocalypse audiobook - https://www.kobo.com/au/en/audiobook/taming-the-apocalypse-2

Our Vitreous Womb - https://www.amazon.com/Our-Vitreous-Womb-Book-1-4-ebook/dp/B0C7H9N1K3/

In this audio version of a blog post from the Zero Input Agriculture substack Shane explores the recurring pattern of robust staple crops being transformed into weak and inbred vegetable varieties.

You can find more of Shane’s work at:

Zero Input Agriculture blog: https://zeroinputagriculture.substack.com

Taming the Apocalypse ebook - https://www.amazon.com/Taming-Apocalypse-Shane-Simonsen-ebook/dp/B0D2XCLJ85/

Taming the Apocalypse audiobook - https://www.kobo.com/au/en/audiobook/taming-the-apocalypse-2

Our Vitreous Womb - https://www.amazon.com/Our-Vitreous-Womb-Book-1-4-ebook/dp/B0C7H9N1K3/

Shane interviews Sam Bonney about his journey into low input agroforestry and the challenges of breeding slower growing crop species.

You can find more of Shane’s work at:

Zero Input Agriculture blog: https://zeroinputagriculture.substack.com

Taming the Apocalypse ebook - https://www.amazon.com/Taming-Apocalypse-Shane-Simonsen-ebook/dp/B0D2XCLJ85/

Taming the Apocalypse audiobook - https://www.kobo.com/au/en/audiobook/taming-the-apocalypse-2

Our Vitreous Womb - https://www.amazon.com/Our-Vitreous-Womb-Book-1-4-ebook/dp/B0C7H9N1K3/

This is an audio version of a blog post from the Zero Input Agriculture substack.

In it, Shane explores the deep history of life on Earth and the recurring imbalances in the biosphere that led to disasters that dwarf the current human impacts we worry so much about.

You can find more of Shane’s work at:

Zero Input Agriculture blog: https://zeroinputagriculture.substack.com

Taming the Apocalypse ebook - https://www.amazon.com/Taming-Apocalypse-Shane-Simonsen-ebook/dp/B0D2XCLJ85/

Taming the Apocalypse audiobook - https://www.kobo.com/au/en/audiobook/taming-the-apocalypse-2

Our Vitreous Womb - https://www.amazon.com/Our-Vitreous-Womb-Book-1-4-ebook/dp/B0C7H9N1K3/

Shane chats with Evalisa McIllfaterick about her collaborative watermelon breeding project in chilly Canada.

Evalisa's Market Farm- Root Cellar Gardens: rootcellargardens.com

Superior Seed Producers (the local seed collective mentioned): https://superiorseedproducers.wordpress.com/

Lakehead University Sustainable Food Lab/ Breeding Diversity, Community, and Health: Mobilizing Landrace Seeding Breeding in Northwestern Ontario (2024 – 2027) project: https://foodsystems.lakeheadu.ca/agroecology-in-canada/

Robin Wall Kimmerer's essay about corn/maize: https://emergencemagazine.org/feature/corn-tastes-better/

Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario Farmer-Led Research: https://efao.ca/farmer-led-research/

Seedlinked- a database of crop variety performance for home and market gardeners: https://app.seedlinked.com/en-US/seeds/search

This episode reviews the book "Agriculture of the Hidatsa" which can be read for free online. Rare first hand accounts of pre-industrial agriculture are a valuable resource for anyone contemplating the nitty gritty details that lie ahead for those forced to develop post-agricultural systems.