This episode delves into the evolving art of ecological gardening and landscaping with Edwina von Gal, founder of the Perfect Earth Project. Edwina shares her journey from traditional landscape design to championing nature-based solutions, recounting her 'aha' moment with chemical-free gardening. The conversation broadens to discuss the cultural shifts in gardening aesthetics and the move towards living lands. Key topics include challenges and strategies for managing meadows and various invasive plants without chemicals, and the importance of community and professional education in ecological landscaping. Edwina also highlights upcoming events and resources offered by the Perfect Earth Project to support ecological land care.

00:00 Introduction to Gardening Philosophy

01:36 Exciting Symposium on Invasive Plants at Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture

02:36 Understanding Restorative Landscaping

06:14 Meet Edwina von Gal: Landscape Designer

09:07 The Evolution of Gardening Practices

13:05 Challenges and Realizations in Eco-Friendly Gardening

16:39 Rewilding and Partnering with Nature

29:25 Closing the Loop: Sustainable Gardening Practices

34:48 Sustainable Seaweed Harvesting

35:15 The Importance of Natural Leaf Decomposition

36:23 Understanding Land Succession

37:11 Maintaining Open Spaces

39:10 Managing Invasive Species

39:42 Effective Mugwort Control Techniques

42:39 Event Announcement: Managing Meadows Symposium

46:17 Perfect Earth Project Initiatives

50:58 The Therapeutic Value of Gardening

53:07 Embracing Slow Gardening

55:28 Cultural Expectations and Natural Gardens

59:01 The Future of Sustainable Landscaping

The Perfect Earth Project

Doug Tallamy

Nature’s Best Hope by Doug Tallamy

Discovering the Spiritual Wisdom of Trees by Beth Norcross and Leah Rampy

Wilding: Returning Nature to our Farm by Isabella Tree

We Are the Ark by Mary Reynolds

Bad Naturalist by Paula Whyman

Carbon: The Book of LIfe by Paul Hawken

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Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Lady Farmer.

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🌿 The Good Dirt Producers:

• Wendy Gray