This episode is a compilation of segments of hopeful, local stories from some previous Shared Ground conversations, as well as an update about the newly formed Lichen Camp, which protects an area of old growth forest at Goldsmith Lake in Annapolis County, within the Kespukwitk District of Mi’kma’ki.

You’ll hear wisdom and inspiration from Katherine Barrett, Shawn Feener, Teresa Quilty, Nina Newington, Rob Bright as well as several forest protectors at the Last Hope Camp.

Following are the full episodes from which these segments originated (in order of appearance)

Inspiration from a Community Food Forest

Save Our Old Forests: A Conversation with Rob Bright

Forest Protection and Community Care with Nina Newington

Celebration and Reflection; onward to Last Hope Campaign!

EPISODE RESOURCES:

Ne'ata'q Food Forest website , facebook page

Save Our Old Forests (SOOF) website , Facebook and Instagram

hashtag #saveouroldforests

Friends of Goldsmith Lake Wilderness Area on Facebook

Interview on CBC Info Morning with Nina Newington about Lichen Camp

Some upcoming Earth Day events (2024):

April 20:

Build compost and soil from yard waste at Ne'ata'q, The Food Forest in Lunenburg

April 21:

SOOF Soup Sunday & Earth Day Celebration in Centrelea

Citizen Science Workshop (Part 1) @ The Wooden Monkey in Halifax

Find all upcoming SOOF events here

Note from Nina regarding support for Lichen Camp and Goldsmith Lake:

We welcome campers, visitors and donations. Please email lichencamp AT...

Better with Bees is a student-run club focused on urban environmental sustainability at Charles P. Allen High School in Bedford, within the Sipekne'katik district of Mi'kma'ki.

In the words of Topsy Olatunji, a student member of Better with Bees: “Our project centers on involving the Mi'kmaw community in establishing a healing garden and a Wabanaki pollinator garden, topics I will delve into deeper in the episode. We aim to educate and cultivate environmental awareness on local bee populations and pollinators in our ecosystem.”

And from teacher Christopher Hall: “In the spring of 2022, Charles P. Allen High School (CPA) was approached by Alvéole, an urban beekeeping company, to house a beehive at the school. This beehive inspired the work that CPA’s Better With Bees does as a community change maker. Working with students we have developed a plan to not only make tangible impacts on climate change, but also to showcase a native species garden. By building a Wabanaki pollinator garden surrounding a Mi’kmaq Medicine Garden, we hope to demonstrate that gardening with native species is a beautiful urban possibility.”

Shared Ground host Amanda Bostlund was excited to speak with three of the many people involved in Better with Bees during Helping Nature Heal's 18th Seedy Saturday event in Bridgewater this February. Here's a bit about them, in order of appearance.

Topsy Olatunji is a proud member of The Better with Bees club at Charles P. Allen High School. As a member of both the media team and website subcommittee, she is consistently engrossed in their mission to promote sustainability within the urban environment.

Christopher Hall has been on staff at Charles P. Allen High School for 19 of his 26 years of teaching. Using both the academic setting and extracurricular activities, he is able to encourage students to draw on their strengths in the pursuit of meaningful goals.

Khaled Al-Sakkaf is a Grade 12 IB student who is deeply invested in the intersection of environmental sustainability. Currently, on Fridays, he devotes his time and skills to the Better with Bees Meadow Project, serving on the technology and data team. Through his involvement, he aims to harness his skills to drive positive change and sustainability initiatives. His commitment to volunteering reflects his belief in the power of innovation to address environmental challenges and create a better future for our planet.

EPISODE RESOURCES:

• Better with Bees website Instagram Youtube
• The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
• From Sackville Rivers: “The Legend of the Petroglyph at Bedford Basin”
• RE3 conference
• Alvéole https://www.alveole.buzz/
• Ne’ata’q Food Forest at the Bluenose Academy in Lunenburg https://foodforestatbluenose.ca/
• Cortado Tasting Room on Facebook
• The She Shed

Other Shared Ground episodes mentioned:...

In this conversation with Josh of South Spore Mushrooms, we hear more about his mushroom-growing adventures, both indoors and outdoors, as well as a bit about mushroom hunting, and his favourite ways to cook mushrooms.

Josh Clark began building the business of South Spore Mushrooms two years ago. He also works off-shore as a chef, and plays in the Celtic punk band, Black Matilda. He and his wife and their three kids (who sometimes help with South Spore Mushrooms!) live in Blockhouse, Nova Scotia.

To hear more about South Spore Mushrooms, check out the previous episode (#23), of an interview from CVCR.

Find the South Spore Facebook page here

EPISODE RESOURES:

Fantastic Fungi documentary

Paul Stamets

What The Fungus Mushrooms

Local mushroom producers mentioned:

Feeney’s Fungi

Fancy’s Fungi (vends at the Bridgewater market)

Josh’s favourite ways to cooks mushrooms:

Sautee with shallots and butter (or olive oil or butter+tallow) and

a) with caraway, raw honey and salt OR b) with garlic and sherry

Supplies and equipment mentioned:

Autoclave, Unicorn grow bags, laminar flow hood, Martha tent

~ To support Shared Ground -- Thank you!! ~