This week, we talk about climate anxiety and how to deal with it.

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Show notes:How is concern about climate change taking a toll on young people?

Climate anxiety in children and young people...It’s Time to Talk about Climate Anxiety

6 tips for coping with climate anxiety

If climate change keeps you up at night, here's how to cope

Majority of US Adults Believe Climate Change...

In the inaugural live episode of the Distracted Gardener, we talk about how you can communicate with those closest to you about climate issues.Socials:Instagram Twitter

YouTubeShow notes:WWF's Living Planet Report 2024

How to talk about climate actionNASA Data Shows July 22 Was Earth’s Hottest Day on RecordLet's Talk Climate

There are so many different plants that there is no reason to stick to those that don't work for you. Today, we talk about those I'm giving up on and those I'm looking forward to trying out in the seasons to come.

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And we're back in business.

The rainy season is finally coming to a close, which means the oppressively hot Fukui summer is in full swing. Today, I talk about what that means for the Hopeful Garden -- the good, the bad, and the potential.

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We're back next week with new episodes! Before we are, though, I'd love for you to listen to this replay of episode 10: How Do We Inspire Kids to Love Gardening and Nature? It was the culmination of my realizing day after day how vital it is to get the young interested and involved in the care of the world around us, to say nothing of their interest in where their food comes from. It marks a milestone for me, and I hope, if you aren't already doing so, it will push you to get the young people in your life more involved with the living, breathing world around them.

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I would like to say I've settled down a bit since I first talked about Merlin Sheldrake's "Entangled Life," way back when, but that'd be a big ol' lie. If anything, I am more a fan of the book and the creatures it talks about than ever. If you didn't get yourself a copy the first time this episode went up, I hope this replay will inspire you to.

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In our second week of hiatus episodes, we take a look back at what remains to be one of the more upsetting topics presented thus far. We talk about a University of Michigan study pointing to the ways urban gardeners might be doing more damage than their Big Ag farmer counterparts. It is, of course, not something set in stone, but it is a reminder to always be thinking over and improving upon what we're doing outdoors.

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When I first recorded the set of episodes titled, "Growing for the Memory of Others," it was with a mindset of longing for my friends and family stateside. Now, I'm on the other side of a trip home and my want to keep my family in heart and mind is stronger. So I'm thinking of more things I can grow to keep me closer to home.

This episode originally aired on January 15, 2024.

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In today's episode, the finale of the first season of The Distracted Gardener, I talk about the ways "Bringing Nature Home" has changed the way I look at my garden and the wider world around me. Written by Dr. Doug Tallamy, the book is a touchstone of almost mythical status among regenerative gardeners and those who are ecologically minded. I can understand why now.

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I was really impressed by how San Francisco approaches wildlife, nature education, and overall ecological issues. I share some of the most impressive points in this week's episode.

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I recently taught a lesson to my elementary students about pollinators and .... it was amazing! In this week's episode I talk -- possibly in too much detail -- about the lesson. I hope it gives you some ideas and some inspiration.

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Taylor Swift may be the biggest musician in the world, and that carries a high price in global emissions. The singer is said to have purchased more than double the carbon credits to offset emissions from her latest tour, but what does that actually mean?

Show notes:Taylor Swift claims she offsets her travel carbon footprint - how does that work?Revealed: more than 90% of rainforest carbon offsets by biggest certifier are worthlessRevealed: top carbon offset projects may not cut planet-heating emissionsThe Problem with Carbon Credits and Offsets Explained

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This week we talk about the impacts of keeping a traditional turf grass lawn and about some greener, more wildlife friendly alternatives.

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Show notes:Eight grass alternatives for your lawnMore Sustainable (and Beautiful) Alternatives to a Grass LawnWhy are we so obsessed with lawns?Looking for LawnsLawn Maintenance and Climate ChangeSparrows in Japan may be listed as endangered species at this rate of decline

I'm heading across the Pacific to California for some family stuff, but I am also going to be diving into nature. Aquariums, forests, rivers -- I am pumped.

For those of you who have ever been to California, what were your favorite sights that brought you closer to nature?

Monterey Bay Aquarium YouTube

Let me know by using the socials!

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It can be tough going trying to go it alone. That's certainly isn't limited to the garden or conservation. Today we talk about why, at least every now and then, you should get involved in your local groups looking to make the world a cleaner, more naturally lush place.

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Since a previous episode when we talked about getting kids involved in the garden, my mind has been working. What can I realistically do? With some feedback from you listeners and a ton of binge listening of the Nature Talks podcast, I've settled on my next steps.

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A recent episode of the Joe Gardener podcast got me thinking about GMO seeds and GMO's in general. Let me know where you stand on the subject!

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Joe Gardener Organic Vegetable Gardening Summit

About Purple Galaxy Tomato

Joe Gardener Podcast

The Non-GMO Project

Botanical Interests

Greenfield Project

My wife recently became a new gardener and my family and friends are more on-board than ever. However, what sort of opposition might you face as a gardener and what can you do about it?

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Ed Yong's "An Immense World: How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us" has so far been an exciting, eye-opening look into the different ways that animals interact with the world. Some of these ways are so different that they can be hard for us to imagine. I talk about some of those in today's episode.

"Pictures Capture the Invisible Glow of Flowers," from National Geographic

Fresh Air interview of Ed Yong

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If we want a future world that's more hopeful and rich in the wonders of nature than the one in which we currently live, I'm sure the answer is to get children interested. How do we do that though?

I share a couple of ideas, but I'm also hoping to get some from you!

Let me know your thoughts on

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and at my homepage.

A recent study from the University of Michigan called "Comparing the carbon footprint of urban and conventional agriculture" showed that urban agriculture has a larger carbon footprint than conventional farming. The findings may leave gardeners feeling bummed, but is it really all bad news?

The study

USDA Climate Hubs

Impactful Ninja: 10 Veg with Highest...

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The 2024 season has begun! So, we're talking about garden prep, seed starting, and plans for this year. Be sure to share your gardening adventures!

Blog post about LFC Compost

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Trail, Table, and Garden, the Natural Fukui blog

This week, I talk about my favorite resources for getting gardening knowledge into my head. Follow the links below for more info about each channel, podcast, etc. I mentioned.

Gardening focused in video or audio:

Epic Gardening

Shea batake rakuen life

Gardening adjacent in video or audio:

Joe Gardener

No-Till Growers Network

Gardening or gardening adjacent in the written form:

Vegetable Time

Hobby Gardening

Entangled Life

Finding the Mother Tree

The Hidden Life of Trees

We really go hard on the "distracted" part of the show's title today and talk about how devices may be more than innocuous distractions in the wilderness, in your garden, and in your life. Whataya think?

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This week, I talk about what brought me into gardening and what I hope to do with it going forward.

I want to hear from you! Share your gardening stories with me @naturalfukui on Instagram or Twitter, or leave a comment on the post titled "Your Gardening Journey" over on NaturalFukui.com .

I recently started using a sustainable vegetable-only vegetable delivery service called On the Slope (the Japanese name of which is 坂ノ途中 saka no tochu). I love it for a number of reasons I talk about, but I started worrying recently about the food mileage I might be building up. So, I decided to dive into the question: Are delivery vegetables sustainable?

Articles/studies mentioned:

Fruits and vegetables are less nutritious than they used to be , National Geographic

Assessing the evolution of wheat grain traits during the last 166 years using archived samples, Scientific Reports

How modern food can regain its nutrients, BBC

You want to reduce the carbon footprint of your... , Our World in Data

Just how old are the 'fresh' fruits and vegetables we eat? , the Guardian

Places you can donate to earthquake relief:

Yahoo Netto Bokin

Japanese Red Cross

In a continuation from last week's episode, we talk about the joy of growing things in the garden to remember or connect to others. In episode 3 we talked about flowers, but in this week's episode we'll talk about things on the more edible side of the spectrum.

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There are so many different reasons to get in the garden. Maybe you want to feed your family. Maybe you want to eat healthier veg. Have you ever grown something to help you feel closer to a friend or family member?

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After starting to garden, YouTube and gardening podcasts led me down a number of rabbit holes. The book"Entangled Life" by Merlin Sheldrake took me down the deepest of them, opening my eyes to the incredible world of fungus. In today's episode, I try to wittle down the things that fascinate me most about fungus into a bite-size listen.

What do you know about the world of fungus?

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What's to love about winter? Especially since starting to garden, I've found there's actually quite a bit.

Are you a winter fan? Has gardening changed your perspective on the season?

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Have you ever weedwacked a dandelion? Sprayed it until it dripped with herbicide? Today, we talk about why you don't need to do that. By the end of the episode, I'm sure you'll feel that you don't want to do that!

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Show notes:

Mossy Earth YouTube

Mossy Earth Homepage

7 Health Benefits of Dandelion

Are Dandelions That Bad for Your Lawn?

New Perspectives on the Effect of Dandelion

The effect of dandelion or a cover crop...How a dandelion can hold back a flood

This week we talk about my favorite places to find useful gardening info, ranging from YouTube to the written word. Be sure to let me know what podcasts, YouTube channels, etc. you like to take in.

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Links to shared YouTube channels, podcasts, and books

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GrowVeg

Urban Farm Podcast

Native Plants, Healthy Planet

Bringing Nature Home

The Vegetable Gardening Book

Wild Grass Flowers Pictorial Book, 山野草図鑑

The Layered Edible Garden

This week's episode is just a touch late. I wanted to wait until the morning to record this tour around the Hopeful Garden, my teeny-tiny little chunk of urban oasis in central Fukui. Today, we'll talk about the changes I made to the garden over the weekend, what I'm looking forward to adding into the garden, and much more. I hope you'll enjoy!

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This week, I answer some listener questions that have been accruing since January! Please forgive the lengthy delay, and be sure to let me know if you have other questions via the usual routes.

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Have you ever felt like throwing in the trowel? Gardening can be stressful and there will be times when you feel like you don't want to do it anymore. I'm here to tell you some of the ways you can stay motivated, speaking from experience.

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Today we talk about some simple cultural changes you can make in your garden to help improve its biodiversity. What did I forget? Let me know some other things I can do.

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We all want abundance in our gardens...at least until we get too much. Start thinking of how you can preserve now and help yourself avoid the overwhelm you might feel later.

Mossy Earth

Mossy Earth Referral Code:CHA1F3NXIL

Cultured Guru

BlueSky

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Automatic watering systems, complex thermometers, soil analyzers -- there is a ton of cutting edge technology out there with the goal of making your life as a gardener easier. While some of it is great and may help you reach your gardening goals, the old ways are often best when it comes to the "technology" you use in your space.

What sort of technology -- old or new -- can you not live without in your garden?

Show notes:

Mossy Earth

Mossy Earth Profile for 1-time donations

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People often say that, "nature will heal after we're gone," meaning that after humanity forces itself into extinction, nature will just bounce back. In today's episode, we talk about why humanity is an integral part of protecting and healing nature.

Mossy Earth

Mossy Earth Referral Link

iNaturalist

BBC Article on Trophic Relationships

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The wild world needs help. To that end, I’ve made an effort to increase the number of native plants in my garden over the last 6 months. Let’s talk about how going from 0% natives to 40% seems to have changed the Hopeful Garden.

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Find out more about The Insect Crisis here

Issues of food security and climate resilience are only going to get more urgent as time goes on. One big thing you can do to help? Save your own seeds. Let's talk about it.

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Show notes:

“The scientists making cocoa in a laboratory…” The Independent“...Japan veggie prices…” The Mainichi“How is the climate crisis affecting our food supplies?” UK Health Alliance on Climate Change

This week, I respond to a listener who reached out about the garden club I ran at my school last summer. I talk about the good, the bad, and the things I want to do better this year. I hope it provides something helpful for teachers and parents out there!

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We’re getting some nice days here in Fukui, which means garden prep. Now that I can actually get into the garden, I’m able to think about what I want to do with it this year. What have you got planned?

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www.instagram.com/@naturalfukui

I want to do more to help, whether that’s as a job or as a volunteer. However, how can I get the knowledge and skills necessary without going back to university?

Give me your suggestions!

Check out Mossy Earth if you want to support an awesome rewilding group.

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The times they are a changin’. Join me as I talk about the huge change coming to the Hopeful Garden while sowing some seeds.

Show notes:

Mossy Earth

Mossy Earth Referral Code: CHA1F3NXIL

Mossy Earth YouTube

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You're not alone. Most people want more done to address climate issues. The key? Talk about it!

"Most of the world’s population wants stronger climate action," The Guardian

"‘Spiral of silence’: climate action is very popular, so why don’t people realise it?" The GuardianSocials:

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Mossy Earth

I’m more convinced than ever that so-called “nature gardening,” is the way to go. Even so, it often leaves me feeling like I’m gardening wrong. If you’re involved in nature gardening, can you relate?

Check out Mossy Earth

Mossy Earth referral code: CHA1F3NXIL

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