Earthworms

If you can only plant one tree, make that tree an Oak. Doug Tallamy, national advocate for restoring the LIFE in our places with the power of Native Plants, celebrates the mighty Quercus family of trees with this latest book, his third as definitive matchmakers for humans and plants. The Nature of Oaks: the Rich Ecology of our Most Essential Native Trees (Timber Press, 2021) is Tallamy's personal story, scientific observation chronicle and love song to the oak trees around his home. He connects tree lore to healthy soil, songbirds, and more caterpillars than even he (an expert entomologist) can count. Earthworms host Jean Ponzi welcomes Doug Tallamy back to KDHX, in a conversation part Eco-FanGirl idolizes Bug Guy, part Summit of Biodiversity Peers. Prepare to want to grow with an Oak! Connect to the real of native trees and plants through Parters for Native Landscaping, with 2025 webinar series and workshops beginning in March. THANKS to Andy Heaslet, Earthworms audio engineer and Sierra Club national communicator, and to Andy Coco and Jon Valley, KDHX Production Guys. Related Earthworms Interviews: Nature's Best Hope? Ecologist Doug Tallamy Says WE ARE! (Feb 2020) In the Company of Trees: Forest Bathing with Andrea Serrubi Fareshteh (January 2019)

Renewable energy Return On Investment is booming, across the U.S. and worldwide. With uber-real concerns about this trajectory on environmental minds, Earthworms reviews how a powerful coalition of advocates - in a timely turn of events - moved Illinois state lawmakers to achieve results for people, planet and economics. Consider what we can learn and apply from this story, as the Fossil forces go for every last greenhouse gasp. Andy Heaslet, Earthworms' esteemed audio engineer, dug into the details of CEJA, the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act enacted into Illinois law in September 2021. He shares the story from his research for Masters' level coursework at Southern Illinois University, which was one nexus of collaborative activism that make this landmark policy a law both powerful and replicable. Give a listen - be inspired! Thanks, Andy, for how Earthworms sounds - with BIG THNX as well to Jon Valley of KDHX Production. Related Earthworms Conversations: Diversifying Power: Energy Democracy with Jennie C. Stephens (Sept 2020) Rule of Five: the Supreme Court and CO2 (July 2020) Leah Clyburn: Organizing to Act on Environmental Racism in St. Louis (Oct 2019) Drawdown: Solutions to Reverse Global Warming (March 2018)

"What's going on in that bucket," wrote the great enviro-spiritual guy Wendell Berry in The Work of Local Culture, "is the most momentous thing I know, the greatest miracle that I have ever heard of: it is making earth." Here in St. Louis, New Earth Farm brings that moment right to you - as an affordable, convenient, sustainability service. John and Stacey Cline are growing New Earth Farm as a neighborhood-based enterprise serving the greater STL area. If you can't compost in your yard, your subscription to New Earth Farm will regularly collect your kitchen and garden waste and bring you, in spring and fall, a bucket of super-plant-food compost. Waste gets reduced and soil is nourished, in a system helping all parts flourish. For an even more modest fee, you can drop off your organic waste for New Earth Farm to compost. Options serve both homes and businesses - even special events! This kind of "valet service" composting is a vital niche in the spectrum of St. Louis Green practice. Let the New Earth Farm story inspire you to dig in and support sustainable decay! Thanks to Earthworms audio engineers, Andy Heaslet and Jon Valley. Related Earthworms Conversations: Fair Shares: Abundance, Innovation, Relationships, FOOD (July 2022) Urban Buds Blooms in St. Louis City (Nov 2021)

Sustainable farming is both lifestyle and full-time job for Holly Evans, Randy Buck and their three children. Holly and Earthworms host Jean Ponzi "tour" this young family's 15+ acre Rosy Buck Farm on a hillside property in Leasburg, MO, where Randy digs circular vegetable beds! Third in Earthworms' series featuring local farmers certified by Known & Grown STL, our regional sustainable food brand, this conversation explores Rosy Buck's search for land, learning process, and joyful commitment to farming, overall. Rosy Buck Farm brings their bounty to Sol Market (Maplewood), Wednesdays 3:30-6:30, to Point Labadie Thursdays 4:30-7:30 (through Sept 26) and Wildwood Saturdays 8-noon (through Oct 6). Check the farm's websiite for 2025 CSA subscription info. They proudly hold Golden Beet Certification from Known & Grown STL. Thanks to Jon Valley, KDHX Production Stalward, and to Andy Heaslet, audio engineer for Earthworms On The Farm series. Related Earthworms Conversations: Nancy Lawson, the Humane Gardener (Feb 2019) Kate Estwing Grows, Arranges Loves . . . Slow Flowers (Jan 2018)

Earthworms' late, dear, zany friend Jay Schober was one hemisphere - with he dearest friend Jim Findlay - of the St. Louis Brain Sandwich, in the early glory DAZE of KDHX. Honoring Jay, we serve up again this interview, recorded in January 2021, promoting Jay and Jim's memoir, We Never Got To Be Zombies (yet) - 55 Years of Friendship and Fiddling with Fate. Jay was a kind, gentle, big-hearted bear-hug BIG guy. Missed and beloved by many who knew him, and MANY more who heard him and Jim carry on, on-air, while snacking on braunschweiger and cheeseballs. Rest in Love and Laughter, Jay.