I like to sing and play the banjo although I’m not particularly talented. But you know what? Who the fuck cares! I believe that music should be a participatory and shared celebration of life. I love Pete Seeger’s idea that everyone should raise their voices and sing. These old union songs are music for the people and they should be sung BY the people! There are living testaments of the struggles and joys of the life. So here is my version (no banjo) of Rebel Girl, with mistakes (cause the language is a bit dated and I started to laugh!!). Joe Hill wrote it for his dear activist friend Eliz ..read more

In the third instalment of the Permaculture Pandemic Podcast series I discuss the concept and practice of mutual aid, including it’s history (my version), how it relates to permaculture and why people are finding it so helpful and, dare I say, hopeful in this crisis. Let’s use mutual aid, solidarity, and cooperativism to build collective futures in spite of capitalism and crisis! Also, I got the name of woman activist who Joe Hill wrote Rebel Girl for wrong! It was Elizabeth Gurley Flynn! Here are two versions of that amazing song. This lovely version by Alyeah Hansen and Hazel Dickens ..read more

Welcome to the 2nd of the Permaculture Pandemic Podcast episodes! In this episode I give you some important reasons why you should grow food this year in the midst of the crisis caused by the pandemic (and the recession and the mess of colonial-capitalism). I share some action tips about how to get your garden started. Cultivate abundance in the face of uncertainty! Please note: The pandemic podcast episodes will be more raw and less edited than my usual podcast episodes. In order to make an episode daily (or close to daily) I will basically record, add my intro and exit and publish. I a ..read more

Hi Friends and Comrades, I hope this finds you well. I plan to do regular, short pandemic podcast episodes to discuss how permaculture principles and practices may help us through this crisis and to put forward social justice-based actions we can take during and after this pandemic. This crisis will make visible some of the worst aspects of capitalism and will require us to organize and act when it is over! Here is the first pandemic episode ..read more

In this special episode my partner and I share our New Years Resolutions for 2020 with a focus on the ones that can help make the world a better place. Resources A few resources from this episode: Check out the excellent podcast The War on Cars. Some excellent reasons for free public transit. And another article in favour of free public transit. Leanne Simpson writes about Precolonial Nishnaabeg Diplomatic and Treaty Relationships. In terms of self-care, here’s an article about how to care for oneself in a climate emergency. Check out Sean aka Lunch Thief’s instagram! Happy New Ye ..read more

In this special Halloween episode I talk about my own experiences as a witch and explore why witches are so threatening to capitalism. I said this episode would be shorter. It wasn’t. I talk a lot. This is the last episode as Permaculture for the People. Look out for its re-emergence as The Re-enchantment: in-against-and-beyond-capitalism. Edited to clarify: I speak about not liking ritual: what I mean is not loving following certain prescribed or rigid rituals in my personal life. I do love collective ritual like the ones I’ve experience at Witch Camps. Resources from this episode ..read more

In this episode, I announce the new podcast name, which I will be rolling out over the next month, and I discuss the climate strike and Canadian elections! Resources from this episode Check out Silvia Federici’s book Re-enchanting the World: Feminism and the Politics of the Commons Check out Crack Capitalism by John Holloway Confused when I talk about class? I wanted to find an article with a simple definition that does not use jargon, but could not (let me know if you have one). Basically, Marx’ definition of the working class is the group of people that must sell their labour for ..read more

In this episode I explore the implications the global insect decline. Why are insects in decline and, more importantly why should you care? What actions can we take in cities and in rural areas to support insect flourishing? Resources Study 1: More than 75 percent decline over 27 years in total flying insect biomass in protected areas Study 2: Climate-driven declines in arthropod abundance restructure a rainforest food webSome information about the court case against Monsanto. An Irish bumblebee spotted while hiking up the Cliffs of Moher ..read more

In this episode I interview Starhawk, author, activist, and permaculture teacher, about the crisis of climate change, the promise of regeneration, and her inspiring new Regenerative Land Management Program. Resources from this episode Starhawk’s websiteEarth Activist Training – sign up here for their trainings including the Regenerative Land Management Program (under schedule)Permaculture Climate Change StatementThe featured image (above) is from the Earth Activist Training website. The host engaging in some earth regeneration ..read more

In this episode I talk about struggles for excellent and free public transit and for the creation of walkable, bikeable neighbourhoods. I argue that we simply cannot create socially just, ecologically regenerative cities without both of those things. Resources from this episode My editorial about why working people need bus rapid transit Free Transit Toronto campaignLos Angeles Bus Rider Union documentaryBikes vs Cars documentary (trailer)What is stopping women from cycling? Right to the City by David Harvey ..read more