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    <title>Designers of Paradise with Erik Van Lennep</title>
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    <description>Innovators and entrepreneurs around the world are pushing past the boundaries of traditional agriculture into a space where growing food and materials to supply the planet also restores watersheds, repairs soils; increases biodiversity, and sequesters carbon all while improving community health and the well-being of producers. Join Erik and meet the &quot;Designers of Paradise&quot;, the people who are making this vision into reality.  Sponsored by RASA, the Regenerative Agriculture Sector Accelerator.&lt;br /&gt;</description>
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      <description><![CDATA[It started with the wisdom of a four-year-old and has led to a quest to support and spawn regenerative communities.  In this conversation with Designers of Paradise host Erik Van Lennep real estate investor and community designer, Chad Thiessen explains how his relationship with his son directed him on his current path, where he came from, and what he's learning along the way.

Chad describes his experiences - good and bad - in real estate development and how he's realized he wants to build regenerative communities, places for healing. He distinguishes his ideas from eco-villages and how to work in other countries yet avoid colonialization. He emphasizes the importance of scaffolding to support learning and money as a tool. ]]></description>
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      <description><![CDATA[Crann Mór, from Gaelic, means "Big Tree" and Kevin Maher, founder of CrannMor Advisors is thinking big about trees. Partnering with permaculture designer and author Mark Shepard to create CrannMor Advisors, Kevin helps farmers be more successful financially while also improving the ecosystem with an emphasis on agroforestry. In this conversation with Designers of Paradise host Erik van Lennep, Kevin explains how they are looking for early adopters willing to a longer term perspective on "return" that will enable investment in tree crops.]]></description>
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      <description><![CDATA[Inspiration, social capital, natural capital, and financial capital are the “4 Returns” that motivate ecosystem restoration in the Commonland framework. Commonland works with local landscape partners for large scale holistic landscape restoration in countries including Spain, South Africa...]]></description>
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      <pubDate>Tue, 28 Apr 2020 10:15:12 -0400</pubDate>
      <description><![CDATA[Sara Wolcott is a healer, minister, artist, and storyteller. She (and a turkey) joined Designers of Paradise host Erik van Lennep for a conversation that touched on giving and receiving, Reiki, the process of regeneration, healing, and the search for the divine. 



They discussed the tension between urgency for action and the need for listening; the relationship between re-membering and dis-membering; and the importance of relationship, trust, and continuity. 



Sara even reads a passage from one of her mentors, Clarissa Pinkola Estés.



Sara&#8217;s Links:



* LinkedIn* Sequoia Samanvaya* ReMembering for Life* Sacred Bodywork



Links and References



* Reiki* Women Who Run With the Wolves: Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype* Clarissa Pinkola Estés, Ph.D.



Support Designers of Paradise



We&#8217;d like to build a financial base for the podcast to help cover Erik&#8217;s time and maintain quality.&nbsp;



Please become a monthly supporter









Or, make a one-time contribution









Support our Sponsor







Designers of Paradise is made possible, in part, by Mind &amp; Media. Over the last quarter century, the writers, producers, storytellers and media specialists at Mind &amp; Media have spearheaded a multitude of engaging and complex communication campaigns.]]></description>
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      <title>Bruce Kania – Nature’s Wetland Effect</title>
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      <dc:creator>Designers of Paradise with Erik Van Lennep</dc:creator>
      <pubDate>Fri, 20 Mar 2020 08:46:39 -0400</pubDate>
      <description><![CDATA[&#8220;It is sticky and attracts particulates&#8221; is how Bruce Kania of  Floating Island International explains the biofilm that serves as the glue for the floating islands his company produces. Bruce, during his conversation with Designers of Paradise host Erik van Lennep, describes why these recycled-plastic based islands are beneficial and how they work.  



Kania talks about how the plastic matrix supports a natural biofilm that attracts particulates and supports a food web.  Comparing them to natural, peat-based, islands these islands, designed with the help of biomimicry, help increase biodiversity and clean the water. They support &#8220;water resource recovery.&#8221; Over 9000 islands have been deployed around the world. As Bruce clarifies, we think that we need to clean the water to bring back a healthy food web, when actually, repairing the food web is what cleans the water.



The interview closes with a discussion of ways to get involved in Floating Island International&#8217;s work ranging from citizen science on the islands to internships and partnering for sales or manufacturing. 



As Bruce says, &#8221; We have the tools. We have the science. We’re ready.&#8221;


Notes about Bruce:

* Floating Island International
* Bruce&#8217;s email address
* Bruce Kania TEDx Billings MT talk &#8220;Transition Water&#8220;



References &amp; Links



* Biomimicry*  The Water Resource Recovery Prize* Biofilm reactor*  Fish Fry Lake case study * hypereutrophic&nbsp;* (National Geographic) Massive 8,000-mile &#8216;dead zone&#8217; could be one of the gulf&#8217;s largest* Toxic Golden Algae* The Cuyahoga River Fire





Support Designers of Paradise



We&#8217;d like to build a financial base for the podcast to help cover Erik&#8217;s time and maintain quality.&nbsp;



Please become a monthly supporter




 1 : $10.00 USD - monthly 2 : $5.00 USD - monthly 3 : $3.00 USD - monthly 







Or, make a one-time contribution










Support our Sponsor







Designers of Paradise is made possible, in part, by Mind &amp; Media. Over the last quarter century, the writers, producers, storytellers and media specialists at Mind &amp; Media have spearheaded a multitude of engaging and complex communication campaigns.]]></description>
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      <title>Nicole Masters – Soil is More Exciting than Great White Sharks</title>
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      <dc:creator>Designers of Paradise with Erik Van Lennep</dc:creator>
      <pubDate>Tue, 03 Mar 2020 08:01:04 -0500</pubDate>
      <description><![CDATA[&#8220;Imagine how different our planet would look if we were teaching children whole systems&#8221;. This is how  Kiwi, soil siren, author, and Regenerative Agriculture Coach, Nicole Masters explains transformative thinking in a far-ranging interview with Designers of Paradise host Erik van Lennep. Nicole is founder of Integrity Soils and author of the book For the Love of Soil: Strategies to Regenerate Our Food Production Systems. 



Nicole describes how her interest in Great White Sharks led her through a zoology degree to a discovery and love of plants and an emergent  fascination with soil. She talks about city council driven &#8216;community gardens&#8217; and what their being vandalized taught her about social change (&#8220;you can&#8217;t push change on people&#8221;), her early career as &#8220;the worm lady&#8221;, and the need and challenge of working with &#8220;integrity&#8221;.



She talks about the rationale for her focus on large scale land management and the importance of farmers restoring ecosystem functions, improving nutrition, and remaining profitable.  With Erik, she discusses how regenerative agriculture represents a transformation in thinking &#8212; one that can enable self-correcting, resilient, systems. One example is how medical discoveries about the human gut microbiome are now being applied to control diseases in agriculture.



Nicole talks about the importance of wellness for farmers and how changes in how they farm can reduce stress; how coaching can help people become better regenerative operators. 



While she encourages everyone to listen to the audio version of her book, this podcast will also allow you to hear her lovely New Zealand accent!



About Nicole



* Integrity Soils* For the Love of Soil: Strategies to Regenerate Our Food Production Systems



References &amp; Links



* Ranching for Profit* Quorum signaling  * Syntrophy  * Judy Schwartz* Didi Pershouse* Tipping Point Malcolm Gladwell






Support Designers of Paradise



We&#8217;d like to build a financial base for the podcast to help cover Erik&#8217;s time and maintain quality.&nbsp;



Please become a monthly supporter




 1 : $10.00 USD - monthly 2 : $5.00 USD - monthly 3 : $3.00 USD - monthly 







Or, make a one-time contribution










Support our Sponsor







Designers of Paradise is made possible, in part, by Mind &amp; Media. Over the last quarter century, the writers, producers, storytellers and media specialists at Mind &amp; Media have spearheaded a multitude of engaging and complex communication campaigns.]]></description>
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      <dc:creator>Designers of Paradise with Erik Van Lennep</dc:creator>
      <pubDate>Tue, 18 Feb 2020 09:31:35 -0500</pubDate>
      <description><![CDATA[It has been about a year since  Designers of Paradise host Erik van Lennep  spoke with  communication specialist and self-described herbal plant provocateur, Melissa Ruckmick. In this episode they discuss the connection between healing ourselves, healing civilization, and healing the planet.  They talk about the potential for herbs and non-hallucinogenic plants to address chronic issues like depression and drug abuse; how putting our hands in the soil is &#8220;the best cure&#8221;.



They draw the connection between intentionality and regeneration and the importance of nurturing ourselves. How being in a constant state of &#8220;fight or flight&#8221; leads to sickness. How consumerism is connected with lack of maturity as is being disconnected.



The bottom line is to be there for somebody.



More about Melissa



* Communication for the Brave* Travels With Misha



References and Links



* Erik&#8217;s first interview with Melissa Ruckmick* Entheogens* Dr. Gabor Mate* Maine herbalist Deb Soule * Extinction Rebellion * Fridays for Future * Sunrise Movement * Greta Thunberg&#8217;s speech to world leaders at UN Climate Action Summit* Temazcal* Biggest Little Farm* Dr. Peter Ward* David Suzuki






Support Designers of Paradise



We&#8217;d like to build a financial base for the podcast to help cover Erik&#8217;s time and maintain quality.&nbsp;



Please become a monthly supporter




 1 : $10.00 USD - monthly 2 : $5.00 USD - monthly 3 : $3.00 USD - monthly 







Or, make a one-time contribution










Support our Sponsor







Designers of Paradise is made possible, in part, by Mind &amp; Media. Over the last quarter century, the writers, producers, storytellers and media specialists at Mind &amp; Media have spearheaded a multitude of engaging and complex communication campaigns.]]></description>
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    <item>
      <title>Duncan Crowley – Design is the Framework, Not the Goal</title>
      <link>https://rasa.ag/duncan-crowley-design-is-the-framework-not-the-end-goal-communities-working-toward-regenerative-change/</link>
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      <guid>https://rasa.ag/?p=26900</guid>
      <dc:creator>Designers of Paradise with Erik Van Lennep</dc:creator>
      <pubDate>Thu, 30 Jan 2020 06:29:34 -0500</pubDate>
      <description><![CDATA[&#8220;What is the change we need to get to?&#8221;  Regenerative community practitioner and eco-architect Duncan Crowley shares a fascinating and inspiring overview of his evolving work as a community facilitator where architecture moves to city planning, then community design, opening the way for community organizing and activism.



For this episode of Designers of Paradise host Erik van Lennep catches up with old friend and long time colleague, Duncan Crowley.  An Irish architect by training, &#8220;slow tourism&#8221; is just one aspect of the &#8216;learn-and-do&#8217; journey which has (so far) taken him from Ireland to Catalunya to Brazil and back to Portugal-  but it is &#8220;raising our game&#8221; that motivates him. 



They discuss how Duncan got into architecture and where he has focused in the field; the nature of beauty, and the value of an experience-based intercultural perspective. Duncan talks about the importance of tracking change, opening spaces for people to come together and learn together, and of using tech to help cities and communities across the world link up on sustainable community initiatives.



From community gardens to climate resilience and &#8220;life in the current bottleneck&#8221; of our species, they close with a discussion of systems change vs. climate change and Duncan&#8217;s work with the Ecolise network. 



About Duncan:



* Twitter
* LinkedIn
* Academic research



References &amp; Notes:



* Buckminster Fuller on designing for beauty* Dolphin&#8217;s Barn in Dublin * Update on Dolphins Barn Community Garden* Barcelona en Comu (English language manifesto)* Curitiba Brazil  * Jaime Lerner* UrbanA *  Ecolise network* Transition Network* Erik&#8217;s interview with Rob Hopkins * Extinction Rebellion* Roger Hallam- COMMON SENSE FOR THE 21st CENTURY.* Ecocity World Summit Vancouver 



Support Designers of Paradise



We&#8217;d like to build a financial base for the podcast to help cover Erik&#8217;s time and maintain quality.&nbsp;



Please become a monthly supporter




 1 : $10.00 USD - monthly 2 : $5.00 USD - monthly 3 : $3.00 USD - monthly 







Or, make a one-time contribution










Support our Sponsor]]></description>
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    <item>
      <title>Maddie Akkermans – Bringing Back the Rain</title>
      <link>https://rasa.ag/maddie-akkermans-bringing-back-the-rain/</link>
      <rawvoice:pid>54323436</rawvoice:pid>
      <guid>https://rasa.ag/?p=26909</guid>
      <dc:creator>Designers of Paradise with Erik Van Lennep</dc:creator>
      <pubDate>Mon, 13 Jan 2020 10:46:21 -0500</pubDate>
      <description><![CDATA[Regenerative soil practices are starting to attract more mainstream attention, and hold real promise for restoring the natural capacity for land to moderate water content and quality, store excess carbon and improve local human economies. Progress is being made farm-by-farm, and this is great news. But to match the rate and scale of ecological disruption now ramping-up from a historic base which was already unsustainable over preceding human generations, we also need ambitious projects which look to heal entire regions. How about a historic, man made, world desert?



The Sinai peninsula is a desert region between Israel and Egypt. Seen from space, it&#8217;s shaped a bit like a guitar pick. But a more accurate analogy might be the key stone that sits at the apex of a stone arch, holding the two sides together, as the Sinai and its mountains connect two weather systems and two massive marine regions: the Mediterranean Sea and the Indian Ocean. It&#8217;s a rocky desert now, hosting significant mountains, ancient human cultures and a deep history which touches the birth of three world religions. This is a very special place.



Seen from that same satellite that reveals the guitar-pick geometry of the Sinai, we can also see an extensive set of braided riverbeds descending from the mountain ranges, now dry for much of human memory. But it wasn&#8217;t always like this. Trees once held soil on the slopes, and that soil held the rainfall which fed the rivers and made the land fertile. The trees were cut, the soil eroded and now lies beneath two seas. Deserts rule the land. But perhaps not much longer.



In the best tradition of the Dutch as water managers and soil engineers, sparked by climate urgency and a good dose of &#8220;what if?&#8221; thinking, The Weathermakers, a startup company based in Den Bos, Netherlands has started to design an impressive project to to re-green, the entire Sinai. They plan to return the topsoil, dredge key fishing lagoons to rebuild their productivity for local communities, and re-vegetate the  mountains themselves in a move to restore the rains which moderate climates across the region. Coming back to the keystone metaphor once again, it appears the SInai is situated to &#8220;punch above its weight&#8221; in terms of impacting the weather across both the Levant and the Western Mediterranean.



In this episode of Designers of Paradise host Erik van Lennep speaks with Maddie Akkermans, one of the founders of the Dutch ecodesign and engineering company now rising to the challenge of regenerating the entire Sinai peninsula. The company is inspired by and named for Tim Flannery&#8216;s 2005 book, The Weathermakers which predicts what global warming will mean and discusses possible solutions.  



Maddie Akkermans describes how an engineering approach can help to restore broken ecosystems.  She distinguishes holistic engineering from &#8220;geoengineering&#8221;.  Erik and Maddie discuss broadening the objective beyond &#8220;reforestation&#8221; to include wetlands, shrubs, and more; the role of economics and awareness of nature&#8217;s abundance, and the value of ecosystem functions. They talk about hydrology, working across two watersheds, the implications of too little and too much water movement, and the need to &#8220;rebalance&#8221; the distribution of moisture.



Along the way, Maddie discusses the rationale for building a company, and hopefully, an industry in order to accelerate response to clim...]]></description>
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      <itunes:duration>0:54:09</itunes:duration>
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    <item>
      <title>Didi Pershouse – Healthy Soil is Like Bread</title>
      <link>https://rasa.ag/didi-pershouse-healthy-soil-is-like-bread/</link>
      <rawvoice:pid>52988617</rawvoice:pid>
      <guid>https://rasa.ag/?p=26886</guid>
      <dc:creator>Designers of Paradise with Erik Van Lennep</dc:creator>
      <pubDate>Mon, 09 Dec 2019 10:46:33 -0500</pubDate>
      <description><![CDATA[Compare a pile of flour to a loaf of bread and you will begin to see the difference between dirt and healthy soil. How do you move from flour to bread or dirt to soil?  Add microbes. 



There is plenty of life (including that metaphor) in the conversation between Designers of Paradise host Erik van Lennep and educator, writer, entrepreneur, and advocate Didi Pershouse.  Pershouse recounts her journey from providing Chinese herbal medicine for individuals to a focus on climate change, soil, and hydrology for the planet. 



She describes how a focus on high quality foods connected her to microbes in the food system and eventually to the notion of peak oil. A visit to Cuba provided insights into public health and &#8220;un-industrializing&#8221; agriculture leading her to ask what a resilient health care system would look like.



Now she has worked with Walter Jenhe to illustrate the concept of the &#8220;soil carbon sponge&#8221; and written a teacher&#8217;s manual, &#8220;Understanding Soil Health and Watershed Function&#8221; as well as a book, &#8220;The Ecology of Care: Medicine, Agriculture, Money, and the Quiet Power of Human and Microbial Communities.&#8221;



During the interview she explains how soil can support a cross-partisan conversation and commitment, describes some of her work with the UN and their support for nature based solutions, and an upcoming trip to India.



Finally, she explains the role of water in climate change and offers hope for how improving land transpiration might reverse the global warming we&#8217;ve experienced.



References &amp; resources from the conversation include:



* Weston Price* “Peak oil” and Richard Heinberg* Walter Jehne * Transition Towns (also see Erik&#8217;s interview with Rob Hopkins) * Thetford, VT* Hurricane Irene * Cows Save the Planet (also see Erik&#8217;s interview with author Judith Schwartz)* Peter Donovan (25’ video) * Farmer Field School, FAO * India&#8217;s Zero Budget natural farming initiative  * Rehydrate California * USDA&#8217;s Southern Plains Climate Hub






Support Designers of Paradise



We&#8217;d like to build a financial base for the podcast to help cover Erik&#8217;s time and maintain quality.&nbsp;



Please become a monthly subscriber]]></description>
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      <title>Judith Schwartz – Getting Personal About Land Change</title>
      <link>https://rasa.ag/judith-schwartz-getting-personal-about-land-change/</link>
      <rawvoice:pid>52257900</rawvoice:pid>
      <guid>https://rasa.ag/?p=26851</guid>
      <dc:creator>Designers of Paradise with Erik Van Lennep</dc:creator>
      <pubDate>Wed, 20 Nov 2019 15:06:32 -0500</pubDate>
      <description><![CDATA[How does loss of coastal vegetation drive disappearance of summer rains? Can restoring the forest on as small a parcel as 10 x 10 km bring back the rain to an area it has fled? Climate change is as much about soil moisture and land use as it is about CO2. 



How do we deal with political sensitivities around land ownership? What is the &#8220;true value&#8221; of land? What do we do wrong with metrics?  Are the ecological and economic crises actually design flaws?



Can we (should we) separate regeneration of land from regeneration of community?  These are some of the topics author Judith Schwartz touches on in this interview with with Designers of Paradise host Erik van Lennep.



They share stories about Vermont, Spain, and China. They discuss Commonland&#8217;s work in Spain and how inspiration is an important return on their investment. 



They talk about Judith&#8217;s books including the upcoming volume with a working title of &#8220;Restoration Flash Mob: The Curious Persons’ Guide to Earth Repair&#8221;.



Give a listen and leave give us your reactions below.



Judith&#8217;s Books and Articles:



* Water in Plain Sight: Hope for a Thirsty World* Cows Save the Planet: And Other Improbable Ways of Restoring Soil to Heal the Earth* Takeaway from the UN Biodiversity Report: Time to Give Nature Some Love (and other columns by Judith on Common Dreams)* There’s another story to tell about climate change. And it starts with water (The Guardian)



Links to Judith online:



* Faceback* Twitter* Judithdschwartz.com



References from the discussion:



* Professor Millán M. Millán* More on Professor Millán* Debt: The First 5000 Years ,  David Graeber  * Commonland* Alvelal project in Spain* Ecosia &#8211; search engine that plants trees * Jane Jacobs &#8211; Cities &amp; the Wealth of Nations* Rights of Nature,  Stop Ecocide, Polly Higgins* Jeff Goebel



Bonus note from Judith: 



Professor Millán M. Millán took part on a panel organized and hosted by Timothy Sexauer, creator of the Muse Ecology Podcast at the Global Earth Repair Conference in May 2019. The eight scientists and writers on the panel explain the crucial yet underdiscussed &#822...]]></description>
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