Throughout the Perennial Ag world comes many challenges as well as joy! We are joined with my dear friend Mercedes Santiago on this episode as well as Charlotte from the Kansas Rural Center! This is episode two out of four within our collaborative series.

We start this series with the sounds of the American Crow, a common friend we see often in group or murder as they call it. The oldest crow lived to be over 17 years old! Not sponsored but major fan of the Merlin Birding app which is a great entry point into learning about birds.

Mercedes has an all encompassing viewpoint on farming within perennial, vegetable and floral farming. She has studied these plants and the soil systems that they live in over the years as well. She is passionate about her families history within Puerto Rico and how farming has impacted them on the Island as well. Mercedes is currently working with The Land Institute in Salina Kansas and focuses on the perennial crops they grow there.

+++ Thanks for listening to this episode of the Prairie Ramblings Podcast! Your support is greatly appreciated, any like/download/review/share helps this lil show out a lot. If you have the means, you can now financially support the show! (Link attached in linktree) Thank you for any or all of the above. Located on unceded Kaw, Osage, and Kickapoo lands, also known as Lawrence, Kansas. Keep up with the show @prairieramblingspodcast on Instagram. Other ways to connect me: www.linktr.ee/prairieramblings +++

This is a collaborative episode with the Kansas Rural Center. With our special guest Donna Pearson McClish whom leads the Common Ground Mobile Market in Wichita and beyond!

Within this collaboration with KRC and I, we are talking with farmers and producers on their soil health practices. Donna is doing some amazing projects for farmers in the state of Kansas, with work on the farm bill and in her own community. She has brought folks access to farm fresh food, that her family grows and extended farmers to the community through the Mobile Market.

Links to topics mentioned:

Common Ground Mobile Market

Kansas Black Farmer Association

Kansas Farmers Union

https://kansasruralcenter.org/rp-articles/civic-engagement-for-healthy-communities

The Land Institute

K State Horticulture

NSAC Farm Bill

Kansas Rural Center Conference

Welcome Back to Season 3 of the Prairie Ramblings Podcast!

Along awaited, we are back at it, re-emerging from the haze of a Kansas summer. Excited to introduce yall to a mini series i'll be working on with the Kansas Rural Center! We will deep dive into Soils and Local Farming Scene. Something you don't want to miss! They will be posted on KRC's website and online, as well as on my feed as well.

As for Prairie Ramblings Podcast: I'll be jumping back into recording with some folks, looking to go deeper into the prairie and get some more scientists in the mix. Get your notes ready, you will wanna keep an eye out for these.

NOTES:

Sheep Book: Raw Material, by Stephany Wilkes,

kansasruralcenter.org

Kaw Point Fiber Shed: https://fibershed.org/affiliate/kaw-point-fibershed/

If you would like to support the show with a tip or monetary value, my venmo is below! Striving to fund myself and the guests through this work, Patron is in the works... Thank you!

@amy-glattly  

As we gathered near the pond on Shannon's property just north of town. We were greeted with birds, bees, and the soundscape of the space! Within this place in time we are all coming into, it seems as though many are seeking something within their life, internally and externally. Throughout the practices that Shannon shares and teaches in the spaces she guides, you can learn to tune into a surrounding, feeling, or obstacle. She has years of experience facilitating these spaces and is simply a joy to be around! 

If you are interested in partaking in her services, you can find additional contact information on their website linked HERE. As well as on Facebook and Instagram @DivineNatureTherapy

+++ Thanks for listening to this month's episode of the Prairie Ramblings Podcast! Your support is greatly appreciated, any like/download/review/share helps this lil show out a lot. If you have the means, you can now financially support the show! (Link attached in linktree) Thank you for any or all of the above. Located on unceded Kaw, Osage, and Kickapoo lands, also known as Lawrence, Kansas. Keep up with the show @prairieramblingspodcast on Instagram & now on YOUTUBE @ Prairie Ramblings Podcast. Other ways to connect me: www.linktr.ee/prairieramblings (episodes will be released on the last week of each month) Thank you Austin @nesaralfk for producing this episode! +++

(39.0067106,-95.2663494)

Curious about getting more involved within community projects based on gardening and food justice? The Kansas City Community Gardens created a non-profit Giving Grove to close the gaps with access to food access when it comes to fresh fruits, nuts, and berries. And we had the opportunity to speak with their main Horticulturist Matt Bunch! We go into detail about pest control, what the average grove looks like, and how folks can get involved with projects like this. As giving grove has expanded its model throughout the country more cities are gaining public access to fresh fruits, super rad. 

Keep in touch with folks from the episode:

Giving Grove Website Linked HERE, Instagram: @GivingGrove

Kansas City Community Gardens Website linked HERE, Instagram: @KCCommunitygardens

Lawrence Fruit Tree Project: Instagram @lawrencefruittreeproject

Falling Fruit Website linked HERE

+++ Thanks for listening to this month's episode of the Prairie Ramblings Podcast! Your support is greatly appreciated, any like/download/review/share helps this lil show out a lot. If you have the means, you can now financially support the show! (Link attached in linktree) Thank you for any or all of the above. Located on unceded Kaw, Osage, and Kickapoo lands, also known as Lawrence, Kansas. Keep up with the show @prairieramblingspodcast on Instagram & now on YOUTUBE @ Prairie Ramblings Podcast. Other ways to connect me: www.linktr.ee/prairieramblings (episodes will be released on the last week of each month) Thank you Austin @nesaralfk for producing this episode! +++

(38.999350, -94.535214)

We gathered with the folks of the Lawrence Indigenous Community Center this month! Within the work they do together, it is in their mission to 'Identify and Support the needs and goals of the Lawrence Indigenous Community through empowerment and education.' They are starting to work on an acre of land out at the Incubator Farm, North of Lawrence. In addition to this work, they are also creating other spaces for indigenous folks and kids to commune together; within youth skate teams with River Rat and online gaming as well. If you are interested in helping volunteer on the farm the sign up is on their social media: @Indigenouscommunitycenter on Instagram, Facebook and @indigenouscomm4 on Twitter OR Indigenouscommunitycenter.com

Pantaleon's Farming Website: www.Masefarm.org @Maseualkuallifarms on Instagram 

Common Ground Sites: https://lawrenceks.org/common-ground 

9th St Community Garden: @lfk_mississippi_garden on Instagram

+++ Thanks for listening to this month's episode of the Prairie Ramblings Podcast! Your support is greatly appreciated, any like/download/review/share helps this lil show out a lot. Thank you for any or all of the above. Located on unceded Kaw & Osage lands, also known as Lawrence, Kansas. Keep up with the show @prairieramblingspodcast on Instagram & now on YOUTUBE @ Prairie Ramblings Podcast. Other ways to connect me: www.linktr.ee/prairieramblings (episodes will be released on the last week of each month) Thank you Austin @nesaralfk for producing this episode! +++

(38.9207822,-95.2343735)

We are joined with Lauren Cain from Elm Dirt here in Kansas City! What started as an at-home hobby, turned into a business supporting like-minded plant people who care about their soil. They sell many awesome products, all featured on their website www.elmdirt.com .. but what is really cool about their operation? WORMS! So many worms. Used for breeding as well as capturing their fruitful and nutrient castings within their soil mixes. We deep dive into all things worms this episode! 

+++ Thanks for listening to this month's episode of the Prairie Ramblings Podcast! Your support is greatly appreciated, any like/download/review/share helps this lil show out a lot. Thank you for any or all of the above. Located on unceded Kaw & Osage lands, also known as Lawrence, Kansas. Keep up with the show @prairieramblingspodcast on Instagram & now on YOUTUBE @ Prairie Ramblings Podcast. Other ways to connect me: www.linktr.ee/prairieramblings (episodes will be released on the last week of each month) Thank you Austin @nesaralfk for producing this episode! +++