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At ninety-two, William Wiley is one of the last people who can tell it first-hand. Born in 1933, he grew up on the mountain farms of J. Russell Smith — the geographer whose 1929 classic Tree Crops: A Permanent Agriculture helped seed the entire agroforestry movement — and spent his boyhood grafting, budding, and shipping trainloads of chestnut, persimmon, hickory, and honey locust out of Smith's Sunny Ridge Nursery near Round Hill, Virginia. In this conversation, recorded at the Taylor farm alongside Zach Elfers of Future Forest Plants and William's son Rob, we go after the things the history books can't hold: how the old balled-and-burlapped nurseries actually ran, the lost honey locust cultivars and the contests that named them, the Chinese chestnuts that replaced a blighted forest, prescribed fire and the Appalachian frost line, the Quaker communities that tied it all together, and the quiet lessons in generosity and honesty that a boy absorbed from a professor who once turned down a seat in FDR's cabinet. It's a firsthand look at a man, a place, and a way of working that's nearly slipped out of living memory — and a reminder of how much we lose the moment we stop asking. For sources, transcripts, and to read more about this subject, visit: www.agroecologies.org To support this podcast, join our patreon for early, commercial-free episode access at https://www.patreon.com/poorprolesalmanac For PPA Restoration Content, visit: www.restorationagroecology.com For PPA Merch, visit: https://breadandrosespress.com/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

At ninety-two, William Wiley is one of the last people who can tell it first-hand. Born in 1933, he grew up on the mountain farms of J. Russell Smith — the geographer whose 1929 classic Tree Crops: A Permanent Agriculture helped seed the entire agroforestry movement — and spent his boyhood grafting, budding, and shipping trainloads of chestnut, persimmon, hickory, and honey locust out of Smith's Sunny Ridge Nursery near Round Hill, Virginia. In this conversation, recorded at the Taylor farm alongside Zach Elfers of Future Forest Plants and William's son Rob, we go after the things the history books can't hold: how the old balled-and-burlapped nurseries actually ran, the lost honey locust cultivars and the contests that named them, the Chinese chestnuts that replaced a blighted forest, prescribed fire and the Appalachian frost line, the Quaker communities that tied it all together, and the quiet lessons in generosity and honesty that a boy absorbed from a professor who once turned down a seat in FDR's cabinet. It's a firsthand look at a man, a place, and a way of working that's nearly slipped out of living memory — and a reminder of how much we lose the moment we stop asking. For sources, transcripts, and to read more about this subject, visit: www.agroecologies.org To support this podcast, join our patreon for early, commercial-free episode access at https://www.patreon.com/poorprolesalmanac For PPA Restoration Content, visit: www.restorationagroecology.com For PPA Merch, visit: https://breadandrosespress.com/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What if Mid-Century Modern design is more than just a collection of "clean lines" and "warm wood"? This talk peels back the aesthetic surface to reveal a deep ecological and political argument about how we inhabit the world. It begins with the "disorienting pause" of bringing home a vintage piece of furniture—an object that carries the fingerprints of time and refuses the modern rhythm of disposable consumption. From there, the discussion explores Lewis Mumford’s vision of an "organic society"—one that remains rooted in locality and ecological limits rather than abstract efficiency. You will discover: Architecture as a Partner: Learn why Richard Neutra’s Kaufman Desert House isn't just a glass icon, but a masterpiece of "ecological legibility" that listens to the desert rather than trying to subdue it. The Power of Emptiness: Explore how Mid-Century minimalism functions as a spatial refusal of saturation, keeping the home open enough for light, proportion, and landscape to remain active participants in daily life. Sustainability vs. Optimization: A provocative comparison between "active transformation" and a model of sustainability that focuses on ongoing responsiveness to place. This talk is a journey into the "quiet political charge" of design. It offers a powerful reminder that human life is always shaped by climate, terrain, and material constraint. If you’ve ever wondered how modern life might be rearranged at a scale where "place remains perceptible," this is a must-listen. It's a reminder embedded in wood and glass that "life is still happening somewhere specific".   For sources, transcripts, and to read more about this subject, visit: www.agroecologies.org To support this podcast, join our patreon for early, commercial-free episode access at https://www.patreon.com/poorprolesalmanac For PPA Restoration Content, visit: www.restorationagroecology.com For PPA Merch, visit: https://breadandrosespress.com/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this podcast episode, hosts Nash Flynn and Andy from Tomorrow, Today interview Dr. Christopher Fuchs, a prominent physicist often recognized as the father of QBism, or Quantum Bayesianism. This scientific framework suggests that quantum mechanics is not an objective description of external reality, but rather a tool for individuals to manage their own probabilities and expectations. By re-centering the human agent within the laws of physics, Fuchs argues that our personal choices and actions fundamentally participate in shaping the universe. The discussion highlights how this perspective challenges traditional notions of a rigid, pre-determined world and explicitly rejects the multiverse theory in favor of a meaningful, malleable reality. Ultimately, the sources illustrate a bridge between rigorous science and philosophy, suggesting that the universe is an ongoing project where individual participation matters. For sources, transcripts, and to read more about this subject, visit: www.agroecologies.org To support this podcast, join our patreon for early, commercial-free episode access at https://www.patreon.com/poorprolesalmanac For PPA Restoration Content, visit: www.restorationagroecology.com For PPA Merch, visit: https://breadandrosespress.com/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode, we go back to an older episode of Tomorrow, Today, where the duo dives into a subject most people go to great lengths to avoid: death. From the Victorian-era "funeral culture" that commodified grief to the modern sanitization of the "great beyond," Nash Flynn and Andy discuss how humanity has lost its intimacy with mortality. The episode features an in-depth interview with Dr. Susana Monsó, a doctor at the Spanish National University specializing in animal ethics. Together, they dismantle the myth of "human exceptionalism"—the idea that humans are the only creatures capable of understanding death. Dr. Monsó introduces the "minimal concept of death," arguing that an understanding of non-functionality and irreversibility is likely widespread across the animal kingdom. Highlights include: The Whale’s Vigil: Why an orca carrying her dead calf for 1,000 miles challenges our definitions of grief and understanding. The "Face-Eating" Truth: A fascinating (and slightly disturbing) look at why pets sometimes feed on their deceased owners and what it tells us about their perception of us. A "Minimal" Understanding: How children and animals alike develop a concept of death as a spectrum rather than a binary switch. Reconciling with Nature: Why accepting our "animal nature" might be the key to helping us—and our grandmothers—talk about death in peace. Whether you’re interested in the evolution of cognition, animal ethics, or just looking for a way to be less uncomfortable with your own mortality, join us for a conversation that is as hilarious as it is profound. Tune in to Tomorrow Today—because death is common, and so is understanding it. For sources, transcripts, and to read more about this subject, visit: www.agroecologies.org To support this podcast, join our patreon for early, commercial-free episode access at https://www.patreon.com/poorprolesalmanac For PPA Restoration Content, visit: www.restorationagroecology.com For PPA Merch, visit: https://breadandrosespress.com/ Key words: Minimal concept of death, non-functionality, irreversibility, human exceptionalism, animal ethics, emotional anthropocentrism, Victorian funeral culture, commodification of grief, WEIRD societies, Taliqua the orca, pet scavenging, universality, causality, personal mortality, inevitability, unpredictability, Schrödinger’s Opossum, animal nature, human superiority, sanitization of death Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

(Originally release 3/07/22) This episode of Tomorrow Today features hosts Andy and Nash discussing the intersection of rapidly evolving technology and the looming threat of biological disasters. They are joined by Dr. Dean McDonald from the Carlow Institute of Technology to explore how 6G and Artificial Intelligence (AI) might be the keys to surviving future pandemics. Key Topics Covered: The Evolution of "Gs": The hosts trace the history of mobile technology from 1G analog waves to the digital revolution of 2G, which introduced texting. They discuss the current shift toward 6G, which promises nearly instantaneous data transfer—potentially a terabyte every few seconds—enabling real-time city-wide analysis for tracking trends like disease outbreaks. The History of Biological Warfare: Andy and Nash provide a grim look at historical "bio-disasters," ranging from ancient Carthaginian tactics involving snakes in clay pots to the use of plague-infected bodies as weapons during the Black Death. They also reflect on more modern scares, such as the 2001 anthrax attacks. Disease X vs. Biodisaster X: Dr. McDonald clarifies the difference between these terms: Disease X typically refers to unknown, naturalistic threats (like COVID-19), while Biodisaster X often implies a threat developed by a human agent or intended for bioterrorism. Technology as a Support Tool: Dr. McDonald emphasizes that while AI and technology are powerful, they cannot replace human interaction, especially in mental health. He discusses "forced empathy" through Virtual Reality (VR), which allows practitioners to experience hallucinations associated with schizophrenia to better understand their patients. Predicting Pandemics via Sewers: A significant focus of the interview is the potential for 6G-enabled sensors in sewage and wastewater systems to detect stool samples for new variants of diseases, allowing authorities to identify and limit spreads in real time before they become global disasters In this episode, we discuss Dr. McDonnell's work “Addressing Biodisaster X Threats With Artificial Intelligence and 6G Technologies”Check out Dr. McDonnell’s work: https://www.itcarlow.ie/research/researchers/meet-researchers-e-n/dr-dean-mcdonnell.htm For sources, transcripts, and to read more about this subject, visit: www.agroecologies.org To support this podcast, join our patreon for early, commercial-free episode access at https://www.patreon.com/poorprolesalmanac For PPA Restoration Content, visit: www.restorationagroecology.com For PPA Merch, visit: https://breadandrosespress.com/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Can a "problem child" tree help us rethink our entire food system? In this episode of the Poor Proles Almanac, we sit down with Dr. Samantha Bosco, a horticulture expert and researcher whose work spans the gap between quantitative science and the social practice of agroforestry. We explore the "rebellious" nature of the black walnut and how this often-overlooked native species offers a unique opportunity to slow down, connect with land, and build community. Dr. Bosco shares her "two-eyed approach" to research, which pairs academic rigor with the wisdom of indigenous food systems to challenge the status quo of industrial agriculture. Beyond just planting trees, the conversation dives into the radical potential of food sovereignty, the importance of place-based culture, and Dr. Bosco’s new nonprofit, the Mycena Agroforestry Initiative, which seeks to organize social systems that support a tree-crop future. Join us as we discuss how "putting roots" into our food system can help us reclaim a more resilient and democratic way of living. For sources, transcripts, and to read more about this subject, visit: www.agroecologies.org To support this podcast, join our patreon for early, commercial-free episode access at https://www.patreon.com/poorprolesalmanac For PPA Restoration Content, visit: www.restorationagroecology.com For PPA Merch, visit: https://breadandrosespress.com/ Key words: Agroforestry, tree crops, Dr. Samantha Bosco, black walnut, food sovereignty, indigenous food systems, silvopasture, Mycena Agroforestry Initiative, two-eyed approach, sustainable agriculture, food systems transition, nut trees, horticulture, decolonization, land access, community organizing, solidarity economy, worker cooperatives, bioregionalism, climate resilience, regenerative agriculture, place-based food, soil science, nuciferous research, social agroforestry, perennial crops, land trusts, democratizing food systems, native nut species, hickory, food culture, agricultural reform Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The history of radical land defense and the "Green Scare" reveals a hidden world where the global capitalist system feels increasingly unstable, driving a shared "anti-systemic rage" toward the potential "unmaking of civilization". This exploration goes beyond traditional environmentalism, investigating how the desire to protect the earth can spiral into dark, fringe ideologies. By examining the "radicalization pipeline," listeners can see how seemingly innocuous interests—like organic food, cottagecore aesthetics, and the "Make America Healthy Again" (MAHA) movement—often serve as entry points for far-right radicalization. This journey uncovers the rise of "eco-fascism," a synthesis of racism and environmentalism that weaponizes ecological collapse to reinforce racial hierarchies. From the historical roots of the German Volk movement to contemporary "green nationalist" narratives, the show investigates how concepts of purity are leveraged to justify "eco-paramilitarism" and social exclusion. The narrative also confronts the "Green Scare," a period of intense state surveillance following 9/11 when the FBI elevated environmental activists to the "number one domestic terrorist threat". It traces the strategic coining of the term "ecoterrorism" by figures like Ron Arnold, who sought to reframe land defense as a criminal act to protect industrial capital. By analyzing the clandestine tactics of both left-wing eco-defense and far-right militants—including the influence of foundational white supremacist texts like The Turner Diaries—the discussion provides a sober look at what is described as the "culture of extinction". Listeners will navigate a world of "information asymmetry," where the apparent senselessness of global capitalism begins to make a terrifying kind of sense through conspiracy and radicalization. Ultimately, this inquiry operates on the belief that "every person is a rational person" who simply acts on the information they have, and it seeks to shift the Overton window by exposing the underlying structures of industrial society. It is a deep dive into the "messy truths" of how the left and right engage with the environment, exploring why radical environmentalism fundamentally challenges the current world order. For those trying to make sense of a world teetering on the edge of collapse, this series provides the context necessary to understand the forces vying for power in the shadows of ecological destruction. For sources, transcripts, and to read more about this subject, visit: www.agroecologies.org To support this podcast, join our patreon for early, commercial-free episode access at https://www.patreon.com/poorprolesalmanac For PPA Restoration Content, visit: www.restorationagroecology.com For PPA Merch, visit: https://breadandrosespress.com/ Key Words: Green Scare, eco-defense, environmental activism history, ecoterrorism, Earth First!, The Monkey Wrench Gang, Edward Abbey, ecotage, Deep Ecology, eco-fascism, Gang of 10, Sierra Club history, radical environmentalism, Dave Foreman, Paul Watson, Sea Shepherd, biocentric rights, land relations, Murray Bookchin, social ecology, Glen Canyon Dam cracking, environmental reform vs radicalism, green movement evolution, Ron Arnold, FBI environmental investigations, land defense, industrial society collapse, rage moderation, anthropocentrism, 1980s environmental movement, Earth Liberation Front, Rachel Carson, Silent Spring, environmental sabotage, land management history, capitalist alienation, radicalization, biocentrism, eco-defense history, Poor Proles Almanac. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

How did a movement to protect the Earth become a target for federal "ecoterrorism" investigations? Join Andy and Matt as they trace the 400-year evolution of land relations and the emergence of the "Green Scare." This episode exposes how the "moral timidity" of mainstream groups like the Sierra Club—summed up by the 1984 "Gang of 10" meeting—chose professional respectability over urgent action, leaving a vacuum that radical militants were ready to fill. Explore the origins of "ecotage," from the literary influence of Edward Abbey’s The Monkey Wrench Gang to the bold, performative actions of Earth First! and the high-seas tactics of the Sea Shepherds. The hosts reveal how industry lobbyists like Ron Arnold and the FBI collaborated to rebrand ecological defense as terrorism, effectively criminalizing dissent to protect industrial interests. Beyond the protests, the Matts delve into the philosophical battlefield of Deep Ecology, examining the rift between social ecologists like Murray Bookchin and the biocentric views of figures like Dave Foreman. From the "cracking" of the Glen Canyon Dam to the disturbing rise of modern eco-fascism, this episode asks: what happens when industrial society is forced to "mercifully choke on its own dung pile," and who gets to decide what grows from the ashes? For sources, transcripts, and to read more about this subject, visit: www.agroecologies.org To support this podcast, join our patreon for early, commercial-free episode access at https://www.patreon.com/poorprolesalmanac For PPA Restoration Content, visit: www.restorationagroecology.com For PPA Merch, visit: https://breadandrosespress.com/ Key Words: Green Scare, eco-defense, environmental activism history, ecoterrorism, Earth First!, The Monkey Wrench Gang, Edward Abbey, ecotage, Deep Ecology, eco-fascism, Gang of 10, Sierra Club history, radical environmentalism, Dave Foreman, Paul Watson, Sea Shepherd, biocentric rights, land relations, Murray Bookchin, social ecology, Glen Canyon Dam cracking, environmental reform vs radicalism, green movement evolution, Ron Arnold, FBI environmental investigations, land defense, industrial society collapse, rage moderation, anthropocentrism, 1980s environmental movement, Earth Liberation Front, Rachel Carson, Silent Spring, environmental sabotage, land management history, capitalist alienation, radicalization, biocentrism, eco-defense history, Poor Proles Almanac. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This episode features an engaging conversation with Michael Wysong and John Lampe, the creators behind the provocative musical The Tuneabomber. The discussion explores how a project that began as a late-night pun evolved over several years into a fully realized "silly" cabaret-style show centered on the life of Ted Kaczynski. Rather than focusing strictly on the technical details of his crimes or the dry facts of his manifesto—which the creators initially felt played too much like a "book report"—the show focuses on the "messy" and "sad" humanity of the man himself. By framing a notorious historical figure as an aspiring cabaret star, the creators aim to strip away his social magnetism and present him as a clownish, deeply troubled individual. The dialogue also highlights the unique cultural moment in which the show exists, particularly the "memeification" of Kaczynski among younger audiences who lack firsthand memory of his actions. The guests reflect on the desensitization of modern viewers and how dark humor serves as a tool for processing historical atrocities. From performing at anarchist communes to prestigious university settings, the creators share insights into the varying reactions their work provokes, ranging from uncomfortable laughter to deep philosophical debates about technology and radicalization. Ultimately, the episode provides a fascinating look at the challenges of using comedy to critique political violence while navigating the fine line between "edgy" satire and historical tragedy. To check out the show, visit https://www.thetuneabomber.com/ or find them on social media! For sources, transcripts, and to read more about this subject, visit: www.agroecologies.org To support this podcast, join our patreon for early, commercial-free episode access at https://www.patreon.com/poorprolesalmanac For PPA Restoration Content, visit: www.restorationagroecology.com For PPA Merch, visit: https://breadandrosespress.com/ Key Words: The Tuna Bomber musical, Michael Weissong, John Lampy, Ted Kaczynski musical, Unabomber cabaret, dark humor, political satire, Uncle Ted memes, industrial society and its future, environmentalism theater, Harvard University experiments, cringe comedy, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, New York cabaret scene, anarchist commune performance, political violence satire, modern radicalization, technological critique, Poor Proles Almanac podcast, two-man show, the memeification of Ted Kaczynski, satire on domestic terrorism, musical theatre New York, comedy about radicalization, Uncle Ted online culture Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

After 250 episodes, we are finally tackling the most controversial figure in the history of anti-industrial resistance: Theodore John Kaczynski. In this episode, we move past the memes to explore how a 16-year-old Harvard math prodigy was transformed into the world’s most infamous domestic terrorist. We dive into the disturbing "multiform assessments" Kaczynski endured under Henry Murray—experiments linked to the CIA’s MK Ultra program—and how they may have fractured his mind long before he reached the cabin. Beyond the bombs, we dissect the 35,000-word manifesto, Industrial Society and its Future. We analyze Kaczynski’s signature concepts of the "power process" and "surrogate activities," asking if his diagnosis of modern "learned helplessness" was actually right. But the story doesn't end in the 90s. We trace how Kaczynski’s "anti-woke" rejection of leftism has allowed his ideology to mutate, finding a new home among modern eco-fascists, Telegram accelerationists, and nihilist terror groups like ITS. Join us as we attempt to separate the valid critique of technology from the "bad radical violence"—because while we agree industrial society is a trap, we’d really prefer a revolution that lets us keep the penicillin. For sources, transcripts, and to read more about this subject, visit: www.agroecologies.org To support this podcast, join our patreon for early, commercial-free episode access at https://www.patreon.com/poorprolesalmanac For PPA Restoration Content, visit: www.restorationagroecology.com For PPA Merch, visit: https://breadandrosespress.com/ Key Words: Ted Kaczynski, Unabomber, Industrial Society and Its Future, Uncle Ted, anti-technology, anarcho-primitivism, MK Ultra, Henry Murray, Harvard psychological experiments, power process, surrogate activities, learned helplessness, over-socialization, eco-terrorism, domestic terrorism, radical environmentalism, Freedom Club, technological slavery, eco-fascism, Individualists Tending to the Wild, ITS, accelerationism, anti-civ, Jacques Ellul, critique of industrial society, primitive living, Montana cabin, political philosophy, environmental resistance, deep ecology, technological determinism Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of the Poor Proles Almanac, we take an extended deep dive into the life, legacy, and contradictions of Edward Abbey, the man who provided the ideological foundation and a literal script for the radical environmental movement. Often viewed as the gritty counterweight to Lewis Mumford, Abbey’s work shifted the focus from urban sustainability to the raw, uncompromising defense of the American Southwest. We explore Abbey’s fascinating evolution—from his "hammer and sickle" socialist heritage in rural Pennsylvania to his time on the GI Bill, culminating in a philosophy he famously described as "agrarian barefoot wilderness ecofriend." We’ll unpack the explosive impact of his 1975 novel, The Monkey Wrench Gang, which served as both a work of art and a functional instruction manual for "ecotage," detailing everything from disabling bulldozers to raising billboards. The conversation doesn't shy away from the political paradoxes that defined Abbey. We grapple with his "problematic" stances on race and gender while examining his core ethical code: the rejection of violence against humans in favor of sabotaging the "tools of the technocracy." From his presence at the symbolic "cracking" of the Glen Canyon Dam to the way his ideas were later interpreted by everyone from Earth First! to the Unabomber, we ask: what happens when environmental fiction becomes a blueprint for real-world resistance? Join us as we navigate the messy, radical ecosystem Abbey helped create—a world where property destruction, wilderness preservation, and a deep disillusionment with the state collide. Is he a hero for the biospheric crisis, or a relic of a complicated past? We’re pulling back the curtain on the man who told us to "keep it wild." For sources, transcripts, and to read more about this subject, visit: www.agroecologies.org To support this podcast, join our patreon for early, commercial-free episode access at https://www.patreon.com/poorprolesalmanac For PPA Restoration Content, visit: www.restorationagroecology.com For PPA Merch, visit: https://breadandrosespress.com/   Key words: Edward Abbey, The Monkey Wrench Gang, radical environmentalism, ecotage, monkeywrenching, Earth First!, Earth Liberation Front, ELF, wilderness preservation, American Southwest, Desert Solitaire, Hayduke Lives, eco-defense, sabotage, anti-industrialism, anti-technology, biospheric crisis, Lewis Mumford, Theodore Kaczynski, Unabomber, Glen Canyon Dam, eco-terrorism, property destruction, technocracy, deep ecology, eco-anarchism, Dave Foreman, agrarian barefoot wilderness ecofriend, environmental activism, industrial power, environmental ethics, Forest Service, Rare II, ecological vigilanteism, biospheric collapse, anti-establishment, political paradox, socialist heritage, technocrats, greenwashing, homesteading movement, property damage vs violence, Murray Bookchin, eco-fascism, industrial sabotage, Caterpillar D7 bulldozer. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of the Poor Proles Almanac, Andy and Matt explore the intellectual life and enduring legacy of Lewis Mumford, a scholar and activist whose work serves as a vital manual for modern civic, social, and ecological thought. Though he is often pigeonholed as an urban planner, the hosts reveal Mumford as a radical generalist who sought to heal the fractures between science, art, and ecology. Originally trained as an engineer, Mumford’s worldview was transformed by the work of Scottish biologist Patrick Geddes, leading him to abandon sheer technical ability in favor of the "fullness of man’s existence." This shift birthed his vision of a "biotechnic order"—a civilization where technology is no longer an end in itself but is instead oriented toward the culture of life and the self-actualization of the human personality. The discussion dives deep into Mumford’s critique of the "mega machine," his term for the pervasive ideology of power and bureaucracy that prioritizes quantitative production over living needs. Drawing on the anarchist philosophy of Peter Kropotkin, Mumford advocated for decentralization and the "Garden City" ideal—limited-size towns harmoniously integrated with nature. The hosts contrast Mumford’s human-centered ethics with the rigid energy-efficiency models of the Odum brothers, arguing that an ethical society must self-regulate within its ecological limits rather than succumbing to the cold logic of "big survey" or eco-fascism. By tracing Mumford's influence on figures like Murray Bookchin and Wendell Berry, the episode highlights how these mid-century ideas provide a necessary framework for resisting the centralized "pentagon of power" in our modern era of AI and industrial extraction.   For sources, transcripts, and to read more about this subject, visit: www.agroecologies.org To support this podcast, join our patreon for early, commercial-free episode access at https://www.patreon.com/poorprolesalmanac For PPA Restoration Content, visit: www.restorationagroecology.com For PPA Merch, visit: https://breadandrosespress.com/ To hear Tomorrow, Today, our sister podcast, visit: www.tomorrowtodaypodcast.org/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of the Poor Proles Almanac, Andy sits down with Keith Hartwig, the co-owner and founder of Succession Fermentory, a farmhouse-based business located in Cochranville, Pennsylvania. Operating out of the permaculture-based Stella Lou Farm, Succession Fermentory is built on three core pillars: community, local sourcing, and natural fermentation. Keith discusses their "place-driven" approach to brewing, which utilizes mixed culture and spontaneous fermentation to create beers, meads, and ciders that reflect the unique seasonality and terroir of their region. By eschewing chemical stabilizers and filtration, they allow natural microbes from the environment to transform local ingredients into complex fermented products. Key topics in this conversation include: • The American Plum Project: A deep dive into the collaboration with plant expert Zach Elfers to reintroduce and brew with native species like the Chickasaw and Wild American plum, which offer a depth of flavor and acidity far beyond conventional varieties. • Agroecology and Sourcing: Succession’s commitment to a 60-mile sourcing radius and their efforts to encourage farmers to reintroduce native, disease-resistant plants into the landscape. • Storytelling through Label Art: How the brewery uses whimsical narratives—such as a Pleistocene ground sloth dispersing pawpaws—to connect customers to indigenous history, deep time, and local ecology. • Community and Education: Their role in hosting skill-sharing workshops, ranging from tree grafting and beekeeping to controlled meadow burns, all aimed at sinking "deep roots" into the local community. • Meaningful Growth: Keith’s vision for horizontal growth, including a new project to identify and propagate bio-regionally adapted cider apples that can thrive without heavy chemical inputs. Whether you are interested in the technical side of wild fermentation or the philosophical side of land stewardship, this episode explores what it means to create a business that serves as a "succession plan" for the landscape. Where to find Succession Fermentory: You can follow their work on Instagram or join their curated mailing list via their website. If you are in the Philadelphia area, you can visit their tasting room at A Man Full of Trouble Tavern, the city's only remaining pre-revolutionary war tavern. For sources, transcripts, and to read more about this subject, visit: www.agroecologies.org To support this podcast, join our patreon for early, commercial-free episode access at https://www.patreon.com/poorprolesalmanac For PPA Restoration Content, visit: www.restorationagroecology.com For PPA Merch, visit: https://breadandrosespress.com/ To hear Tomorrow, Today, our sister podcast, visit: www.tomorrowtodaypodcast.org/ Key words: Succession Fermentory, farmhouse brewing, natural fermentation, spontaneous fermentation, mixed culture, agroecology, permaculture, local sourcing, 60-mile radius, community, circular economy, wild American plum, Chickasaw plum, American Plum Project, native ingredients, pawpaw, megafaunal dispersal, deep time, storytelling, label art, horizontal growth, land stewardship, succession, Stella Lou Farm, Zach Elfers, bio-regionally adapted, cider apples, wild yeast, regenerative agriculture, Cochranville, Pennsylvania, A Man Full of Trouble Tavern, Philadelphia, fermentation workshops, tree grafting, controlled burn, sustainability Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In a world dominated by the "unblemished record of total failure" that is mainstream environmental policy, how do we find a path toward actual survival?. In this episode, we sit down with author and activist Peter Gelderloos to discuss his recent month-long project in Brazil, where he worked alongside grassroots movements building an ecological revolution from the ground up. While international summits like COP 30 continue to push "green growth" and state-led frameworks that preserve capitalist interests, Peter shares a different story from the Atlantic forest and the urban peripheries of São Paulo and Belo Horizonte. We explore the work of the Teia dos Povos (Web of the Peoples) network—an anti-colonial, revolutionary movement reclaiming land and autonomy through agrofloresta (forest gardening). From the restoration of destroyed plantations into thriving forest ecosystems to the vital international effort of seed sharing, this conversation moves beyond the "depressing news" to highlight effective, eco-centric strategies for adaptation. Peter reveals how indigenous and landless communities are not just resisting the state but are actively "advancing" beyond capitalist society by developing technologies that prioritize collective survival and ecological health. To learn more, visit: https://thefinalstrawradio.noblogs.org/post/2025/11/23/voices-in-brazil-for-radical-ecological-struggle-feat-peter-gelderloos-and-gah-te-iracema/ https://truthout.org/articles/the-real-models-for-sustainability-in-brazil-are-to-be-found-outside-cop30/ The Organise article below could be described as "a brief article about the coordination project Peter participated in, Weaving Paths from Colonial Apocalypse to Ecological Revolution" and the ITT article can better be described as a criticism of COP30's attempt to brand itself as a stage that empowers Indigenous peoples Article about Weaving Paths to Ecological Revolution: https://organisemagazine.org.uk/2025/10/27/further-weavings-international/ Article about Peters time so far in Brazil: https://inthesetimes.com/article/cop30-brazil-farce-not-failure-indigenous-territory-struggles Antimidia: https://antimidia.org/ Its Revolution Or Death: https://sub.media/its-revolution-or-death-a-three-part-series-from-submedia-and-peter-gelderloos/ Gah Te Iracema of the Kaingang ANMIGA: https://anmiga.org/en/home-english/ Teia Dos Povos: https://teiadospovos.org/the-web-of-the-peoples/   For sources, transcripts, and to read more about this subject, visit: www.agroecologies.org To support this podcast, join our patreon for early, commercial-free episode access at https://www.patreon.com/poorprolesalmanac For PPA Restoration Content, visit: www.restorationagroecology.com For PPA Merch, visit: https://breadandrosespress.com/ To hear Tomorrow, Today, our sister podcast, visit: www.tomorrowtodaypodcast.org/ Key words: Peter Gelderloos, Brazil, ecological crisis, ecological adaptation, ecocentric, anarchist, The Solutions are Already Here: Strategies for Ecological Revolution from Below, capitalism, Amazon, lungs of the planet, indigenous peoples, direct action, social movements, MST, Landless Workers' Movement, Teia dos Povos, Web of the Peoples, agrofloresta, forest gardening, green growth, United Nations, COP 30, Belém, Lula da Silva, seed sharing, traditional seed varieties, white corn, food autonomy, anti-colonial, Atlantic Forest, Terra Vista, Bahia, Quilombos, monocrop plantations, carbon accounting, habitat restoration, collective survival, São Paulo, Belo Horizonte, Cleveland, Catalonia, revolutionary movements, abolitionism, representational politics, grassroots solutions, autonomous alternatives, forest restoration, traditional knowledge, climate summit Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.