EcoIQ

Juanfran Lopez is an agricultural consultant and educator who works with subsistence farmers to empower them in their own knowledge by educating the science behind their traditional farming and behind his own regenerative farming tools of biofertilisers, Native microorganism formulations and circular chromatography testing. Juanfran represents and continues a deep tradition from spanish speaking agro ecological revolution starting from Francis Chabousou, and pushed further by Sebastiano Pinhero, Jairo Restrepo and Enugnio Gras. This deep contribution to the collective development of regenerative agriculture is often overlooked or remains unknown due to the publications and research remaining in Spanish.  The foundational tools of this tradition include biofertilisers using cow dung, native microorganism formulas and circular chromatography testing.  The approach is deeply scientific, highly intuitive and eminently applicable. Being originally developed from ex monsanto scientists for subsistence farmers throu

This episode was with Curtis Stone. Curtis is the founder of the Urban Farmer (https://theurbanfarmer.co), a platform teaching how to farm in an urban or semi urban environment and turn a real profit. Curtis is the author of The Urban Farmer book (https://theurbanfarmer.co/book/). He manages the innovative Paperpot co (https://paperpot.co) farming tools shop with Diego Footer from Permaculture Voice. Hosts a high quality podcast, Liberty on the Land (https://libertyontheland.com), and a new and a amazing high value membership learning platform, From The Field (Fromthefield.farm) .  Curtis farms his own homestead and is collaboratively developing a collective family based property as an abundant stronghold in turbulent times. With over 30 million views on Youtube and 360k subscribers. Curtis has helped thousands, jump from courses into profitable farming businesses.  Curtis has become pretty famous in that interesting space of market gardening, and although the space of market gardening differs somew

"The outcome of an intervention has nothing to do with the skills of the intervener and it has everything to do with the place within from which the intervener comes." (Otto Scharmer)  "There are few areas that lend themselves to transformation as readily as farming.... ...all living processes are fundamentally transformative.." (John Kempf) For this episode I had the great pleasure to interview a recent hero of mine John Kempf.   This interview was very special for me personally and one of the real highlights of the show so far.  I really resonated with Johns’ approach to farming and ecology.  John's approach is a balance of excitement and seriousness about the work.  I found John to have a deep and high resolution image of the science behind regenerative farming and a firm stance on the important and sacred role of human beings within their nested farming ecologies.   I really felt a renewal of potential from my talk with John and a genuine joy at his stories and expe

What a pleasure to host Dr Charles Massy.  Another master storyteller.   Dr Charles Massy is a farmer of more than 35 years and by his own account has learned from many deep mistakes on the land.  In talking with with Charles I had the wonderful feeling I have with so many guests of intense excitement and hope that seems to accompany so many producers and followers in the Regenerative Agriculture Movement. Having authored several books, the latest being the highly acclaimed "The Cry Of The Reed Warbler", Charles deeply believes in the relevance and power of storytelling. His latest book is actually just that! the personal stories that came out of interviewing over 80 farmers that made a transformation into regenerative agriculture.  The actual  story containing the 'cry of the reed warbler was the highlight of the interview... walking across the regenerated land of a farmer and being show a flowing creek restored to a thriving eco system and hearing the song of a bird that hadn't been

Last week we had the good fortune to sit down again with a massive entrepreneurial leader, friend, and hero of mine, Richard Perkins. Richard is the founder of Ridgedale Permaculture farm in Varmland, Sweden and the author of Regenerative Agriculture, the most comprehensive book to come out on the subject to date. He hosts a very well followed youtube channel sharing insights and innovations from the farm and recently launched an online monthly membership site showcasing long form interviews of many of the successful young farmers who started out at Ridgedale Farm.   Its always an event to host Richard, as the man has a depth and intensity that, as a host, I feel duty bound to prepare for.  This is a must listen episode for anyone wanting to, or already in the midst of, farming as a business. We go deep into the importance and nuances of an entrepreneurial spirit and mindset. The need to be independent of 'middle men' and to share successes openly with others, in particular regarding that highest of

Our guest this week was the activist, educator, artist and innovative mycologist Peter McCoy. Peter is the self published author of Radical Mycology (2016), a massively comprehensive and in depth look at fungi and its many contexts at multiple levels including agro ecology, bio remediation, medicine, food, cultivation and the various cultures surrounding fungi. Seeing another unfulfilled global need, and within one year after his book release, Peter founded Mycologos, the worlds first dedicated school for all things mycology, and the next iteration of his mission to bring to light and share the amazing keystone ecological element of fungi. For the last 17 years Peter has been an advocate and an educator for understand the significance of fungi and its connection to basically everything ecologically speaking, including us. His work has featured in numerous news and media outlets and documentaries. Peter is also the lead mycologist at Mycocycle a Chicago based bio remediation firm, and an advisor to various oth

In this period of time, at EcoIQ we have decided to run some interviews concerning the current global situation and all its elements.  As we move forward with our goal of fostering a deeper connection for us all with ecological cycles and processes. we will also begin releasing additional episodes with a focus on more controversial and human health issues.  While I would not at all consider myself a conspiracy theorist and nor do I have time to dive down those rabbit holes. Never the less I do feel it VERY important to be aware in a deeper way of certain agendas and vested interests and their effects on us at this time. This requires an open mind and critical thinking, to recognise truth and put aside what doesn't resonate with us individually without throwing out any attached wisdom, information or knowledge.  For me personally to becoming more aware is a painful but ultimately deeply liberating and powerfully motivating experience. Our guest this week is Shai Danon, the founder of Raise The F

Amazing long form, round table conversation with Joel Salatin and Darren Doherty, recorded right before the CoVid lockdown. We get a real deep insight into what drives and concerns two amazing pioneers and innovators in agriculture and regenerative farming. Joel Salatin is an outspoken advocate for free speech and choice in food and farmer relationships and transparency of production. An author of 12 eclectic books on farming, entrepreneurship, legal battles and spiritual ecological connection.  Joel's latest communications outreach is his ever relevant blog Musings From a Lunatic Farmer.  Joel is also the head of the highly acclaimed Polyface Farms and widely accepted as the most famous farmer of our time and a huge mentor to thousands of young and passionate new farmers. Also self described as a Christian libertarian environmentalist capitalist lunatic farmer. I have huge respect and affection for Joel as an elder, a friend and a God fearing farmer.  Known as the master of process Darren Dohe

Before the current global CoVid situation I had the pleasure of interviewing Dr Uri Meyer-Chissick.     Uri is well educated in multiple areas of food cultures, food and nutrition history, including extensive research into medieval medical scholars including the famous Jewish scholar and doctor Maimondes.  In Israel Uri is outspoken in the need to reconnect with our local biome and more specifically our local food history, cultures and traditions surrounding food.  Appearing on multiple Israeli news stations and independent media.   Uri has a fantastic Ted Talk where he chronicles his family decision to go totally local for a year.  Uri runs a centre in the north of Israel that reconnects people to; food and local food preparation traditions, place, through regular group wild foraging tours, and body and soul, through lectures and private consultations in natural health. He is the author of several books on wildcrafting, food as medicine, as established in the medieval Arabic world, and local food vs the issu

The EcoIQ Podcast hosts soil regeneration and farming optimising coach, Nicole Masters. It was a real pleasure to get back to my own personal passion of all things soil science and biology. Nicole has an amazingly youthful energy that belies her deep passion for pushing the envelope of understanding and better practice in soils and production systems. Nicole’s approach remains refreshing undogmatic. Nicole is academically trained agro ecologist, author and soil regeneration coach. Nicole has travelled intensely for years educating hundreds of farmers, and facilitating a deeper relationship and understanding of soil health in relation to food production systems. A keen entrepreneur Nicole heads the team at the aptly named Integrity Soils, and recently finished her first publication, For The Love Of Soils. With demand for Nicole’s work and unique approach, far outstripping supply. Integrity Soils in set to embark on a mission to train more coaches and reach more producers who need help to make a shift in life,

Amazing interview with the Urban Farmer and massive content creator, Curtis stone. Curtis is the founder of the Urban Farmer education entity, a platform teaching young hopefuls how to farm in an urban or semi urban environment and turn a real profit. He also manages an innovative online farming tools shop with Diego Footer from Permaculture Voice, Paperpot Co, hosts a high quality podcast, Liberty on the Land, and run a new and a amazing high value membership resource platform exploring beyond market gardens, From The Field. All this while still farming his own decent homestead plots and collaboratively developing a collective family based farming property to serve as an abundant stronghold in turbulent times. With a Youtube channel of over 30 million views and almost 360k subscribers. Curtis has helped thousands of young people who have springboarded from courses into profitable farming businesses. To say the least EcoIQ was well pleased to catch a little long form with Curtis Stone. It was also really enjo

"Perfectionism is the death of creativity" An amazing, up close and personal discussion with Richard Perkins of Ridgedale Permaculture. Richard Perkins is the author of the highly acclaimed and comprehensive Regenerative Agriculture manual, and, along with his wife Yohanna, is the founder and leader at the hugely diverse and productive Ridgedale Permaculture in Sweden. Ridgedale teaches upcoming farmers the understanding needed to develop profitable and knowledgeable farms. With almost 70k subscribers and youtube views of over 5.5M, Ridgedale is fast becoming a highly influential platform and force in the space of farming and a deeper approach to agriculture. Richard has a very unique and special style of education, and emphasises the importance of learning to learn. Both viscerally and intellectually, Richard is a very sharp and wise thinker, and his learning is very extremely eclectic. Something I think is an important element in farming today and for farmers themselves is the necessary development of chara

A long awaited interview with today's most respected Natural Farming expert, family man, global family farming educator, Chris Trump. Chris Trump is really an example of the farmers farmer.  Having passed through many years of conventional family farming, when Chris Trump (with encouragement from his father), decided to trial organic methods on their 880 acre macadamia farm in Hawaii, it was not a decision taken lightly, the learning curve was appreciated only equal to the importance of maintaining and improving the bottom line for his family and for those families supported by the farm.    The subsequent journey has become almost a roadmap for a deep and thorough investigation regarding the viability of a farming approach based on a deeper and deeper harmonisation with natural processes, as opposed to conventional prescriptive farming.  The hallmark of Chris's work is both deeply appreciative and humble of infinite and wondrous complexity of life and nature, and at the same time highly scientific and analyti

A very rare and highly insightful conversation with the worlds foremost fire historian, Stephen J Pyne. We dive deeper into our relationship with fire and touch on our modern day, largely dysfunctional and reductionist, approach.  Steve Pyne is an emeritus professor at Arizona State University. He has been at ASU since 1985.  In 1986 he joined the charter faculty at ASU West, where he remained for 10 years. He transferred to the School of Life Sciences in 1999.   Stephen J Pyne is a HUGELY prodigious writer, he has published 35 books, most of them dealing with fire, including extensive historical fire surveys of America, Australia, Canada, Europe (including Russia), and the Earth.   What could be called his magnum opus a 5 book series collectively called Cycles Of Fire, constructs a highly detailed and deeply nuanced history of fire and most uniquely and importantly our relationship to it.  His latest book on Fire: A Brief History.  Condenses and distills thousands of publi

Are you concerned about our global or your local ecology?  Are you convinced our future is bleak? sometimes the 'solutions' are embarrassingly simple.  An amazing interview with children's author, underground parent educator and Holistic framework facilitator, Sarah Savory. The daughter of world famous ecologist Allan Savory, who created and developed the Holistic Management framework. Sarah has taken her own understanding and passion for Holistic Management and brought right down back to the foundations, teaching, storytelling and facilitating individuals, communities and local governing bodies. Sarah's mission is to develop our decision making out of knee jerk reactions and into the elegantly simple and powerfully evolved Holistic context framework.   I really enjoyed this interview. Sarah Savory is a real gem of heart and knowledge, and I know EcoIQ will be collaborating much with continuing work in the future.  We talk about the art of storytelling, growing up among among elephants and

An amazing conversation with Adiel Shneur from Kamin Massa Israel. My biggest takeaway here was the profound insight I got in understanding this elegant and simple technology, and how this same understanding can build deeper connection and empowering knowledge in peoples lives.   favorite timestamp was 27:23.  amazing and deep. Adiel is the foremost pioneer in the highly efficient technology of thermal mass heating, known commonly as rocket stoves. As Adiel closes in on almost a decade long journey of research, building and testing, he has completed over 250 fully functional mass heaters built throughout Israel and abroad. After 7 years of permaculture design, teaching and implementation.  Adiel found his passion for all things ecological in the elements of fire and stone, and with thousands of ravings fans after his journey, Adiel could easily be recognised as the biggest driving force in this space in Israel today.  Once again, among the local hero's of the community here I'm always insp

What a heartfelt conversation with a true pioneer of Israel's heirloom seeds with Harel Weiss from Nativity Seeds. Harel is a true unsung hero of our region. Biggest takeaway : The power of shifting from a place of anger to a place of peace. Putting the hands in the soil. Harel is the founder of Nativity Seeds, Israel. The only dedicated heritage seed company actively regenerating and collecting indigenous and family seeds in Israel.   After a scholarship in Seed Savers Exchange in Iowa, Harel took his education and passion and poured it into developing awareness of the critical importance of heritage seeds in Israel.  Starting from virtually nothing and with no significant support network, Harel has worked over the last 8+ years developing his knowledge and bank of seeds endemic to this region, with the goal of sharing these incredible lines to a global audience.    One of the thigs I really loved about this interview was the down to earth humbleness of Harel, and the quiet courage he dis

What an amazing interview with master gardener and HUGE seed saving hero, Kay Baxter.   Along with her husband Bob corker and family, Kay is the founder of the Koanga Institute and the Kotare eco village project in Wairoa, New Zealand.  An inheritor of gardening knowledge of several generations, Kay Baxter has a deep and visceral understanding of the rhythms and cycles of nature that move so fast when you manage a garden. With over 800+ reserved heritage seeds and over 400 reserved fruit tree and berry stocks from all over New Zealand, Kay is truly a master of her craft and has managed to save not only the seeds of her communities but also the stories of those families. More recently Kay has headed a new project 'Regeneration Production', a highly comprehensive and in-depth resource of online masterclasses and courses on gardening, garden planning, permaculture, improving nutrient density in food, making real compost and the critical first step of taking a seed to a seedling successfully. Kay’s

A very open conversation with the master of process and productive, integrative land planning, Darren Doherty. Darren Doherty and his family are the masterminds behind The online learning resource The Regrarians platform, along with The REX farm planning course, The Rap and the ROC international conventions. Darren is also the originator of carbon farming as a course, and is credited with popularising the international movement RegenAg, he is also the author of the comprehensive and developing Regrarians Handbook. Darren's portfolio includes over 15000 graduates, and active involvement in the design and development of over 3000 broad acre projects over 6 continents (Their platform is especially popular in Latin America).  But more than Darren's numbers and achievements I realized that Darren brings something very unique and all his own into the space of ecological connection, intelligence, regeneration and farming.  A truly openminded yet highly pragmatic approach. Darren's not afraid to be an activ

Today we had the great pleasure and honour to host a true hero in the space of regenerative farming , and a whole lot more besides! Master land steward, farmer rights activist and soil regenerating extraordinaire Joel Salatin. Joel Salatin is the leader of the super entrepreneurial and eclectic, Polyface Farm, which once sporting 4 meter deep erosion gullies, has become a benchmark for what is possible in highly synergistic and nature respecting agriculture. Joel Salatin is arguably one of todays most famous farmers. \ An outspoken activist for farmer’s rights and direct farmer consumer relationships. Prolific author and blogger, I've posted links to a great selection of Joel’s books and his blog. Both a true leader and a team player Joel is an active advocate for a truly engaged and deep connection with the earth and each other, Joel tackles the modern day ecological issues with a very personal and highly effective approach that combines science, eco intelligence, business savvy and spiritual connection. Joe