For What It's Earth

To end this season 1 of For What It's Earth with a bang, I am joined by season 1 guests, Samantha Rebuck, Zack Jacobs, and Molly Bell-Higgins for a crazy bizarre, way-out-there nature trivia gameshow! In this episode, we all learn a bit about plant poaching, what defines plankton, State Soils, and reaffirm the fact that scientific names are way more important and less confusing than common names....

As we get into the winter season, certain plants start to stand out in the landscape a little more than before: Evergreens! Learn about these plants, their role in the ecosystem, and how to add more color, wildlife value, and nutritional benefits to your community.

As winter comes upon us, we start to think of how plants might adapt to the cold weather and think of the waning days. Learn about plants that also get their nutrients from something other than the sun - through eating meat! Carnivorous plants are amazing creatures and while they still need to get a majority of their energy from sunshine, they have some other crazy adaptations too. Links: Venus Fl...

Join Marissa of The Art of Ecology and Molly Bell-Higgins for a discussion about how herps (reptiles and amphibians) adapt to the coming cold weather! We'll learn about brumation vs. hibernation, how reptiles store fat deposits, and some really unique adaptations that these animals have, like butt breathing, cryogenics and more! Links: Fairy Tale Cresties

Let's take a look at how this small, tiny songbirds adapt to be able to survive as winter approaches - it's incredible! We'll look at transitioning diets, changes in feathers, and how to use plants to protect themselves from wind.

Discover the many vulture species as well as some that could be local to your area! Also, we will learn more about their important role in the ecosystem and how to protect these incredible birds.

If you love to garden, then this time of year can be a bummer. We are getting ready to put the gardens to bed and not even touch them until spring comes, but, there is some good news! By using some different techniques to overwinter your plants and keep them thriving can help to extend the garden season. Discover some overwintering techniques as well as how to bring some green inside to keep your...

Explore ocean ecosystems and take a deep dive into some incredible adventures with guest, Sean Francis! We'll discuss a wide variety of reasons why anyone, regardless of location, should love the ocean, along with ways to protect it! Links: Blue Ventures and Skype a Scientist

Take a mini vacation as you explore the warmth and sunshine of the American Southwest, focusing on climates and ecosystems of New Mexico! We'll take a look at how plants and animals have adapted to survive and thrive in hot, arid conditions.

Celebrate Squirrel Awareness Month by learning about the various species of squirrels found in North America as well as a bit about their unique adaptations to avoid predation! We'll also examine ways to support squirrel populations and create thriving, healthy ecosystems.

As autumn continues, the fall raptor migration starts up again along the Atlantic Flyway! We'll take a look at some of the other flyways located around the world, discuss some helpful tips for identifying the raptors we see flying above, as well as how to care for and protect these amazing birds as they continue on their migration south. Links: National Audubon Society's Raptor ID Quiz

With Autumn coming, and colder days and longer nights approaching, we notice the shift in greens in the landscape to reds, oranges, and yellows! Why is this, what makes this shift happen, and how can we add more fall color to the landscape? We'll find out in this week's episode. Links: www. TheArtofEcology.com

Let's debunk the myth that Goldenrod causes fall allergies (also known as hay fever)! Goldenrod has many ecological and health benefits and definitely looks suspicious with it's pollen-laden flowers, yet there is another flower that is causing our allergies. We'll examine the differences between them, how to identify them, and how to mitigate your allergies this fall! We'll also talk about how imp...

From providing oxygen and habitat for numerous wild animals, to appreciating the shade and cooling of the large canopies, to being in awe of their general beauty, there are so many reasons to love the trees in your yard, community, and all over the world! This week, I am joined by arborist  Zack Jacobs, to help educate us about the field of arboriculture and why he loves trees, which is diffe...

Discover the wonderful world of fungi as we celebrate National Mushroom Month (September)! We'll take a look at what makes fungi different from plants and animals, how to identify some fungi categories, and learn more about their role in the ecosystem.

As teachers, students, and parents gear up for the school year, I thought I'd take the opportunity to shout out the National Geographic Educator Certification! This free certification is a great way for any educator to get some more professional development hours, deepen their understanding of the world, and improve their lesson plans/curriculum by incorporating the National Geographic learning fr...

To celebrate that my new book, "trails-to-Tasting" Foraging guide & cocktail recipe book is now available for pre-order, I wanted to share more about foraging etiquette and how to be sure that what you're foraging for is actually edible! Learn more about the Universal Edibility Test, some good rules of thumb for foragers to follow, and some seasonal wild edibles to harvest whenever you're list...

As autumn approaches and we get ready for our fall gardens and backyards, learn the importance of keeping the weeds, dead stems, and fallen leaves in creating vital habitat for many animals. Not only will this save you money, but it will also save you hours and hours of yard work and maintenance!

Happy August, or Water Quality Month! We all know that clean water is important, but do you know how much actual water is even available on the planet for humans to use? We'll examine the little water available, as well as the plants and habitats that are vital to the cleaning and filtering of that water. We'll also discuss some ways to conserve what little water is available to us and how our act...

Joined by guest, Samantha Rebuck, we take an in depth look at the many differences between moths, butterflies, and skippers, as well as investigating some of the incredible adaptations that they have! Sam answers my questions and teaches us all about butterfly wings, their anatomy, and how coloration helps these animals to survive.  

We see so much red, purple, green, yellow, and orange in the natural world, yet we don't often see the color blue. When we DO see it, it's often just in the sky or at the beach. Why is that? We'll examine what's up with the color blue, and how a majority of plants and animals (except for one cool creature that we'll examine), even the ones that we THINK are blue, are just tricking our brains into...

Celebrate the middle of the summer season by discovering the wonderful world of beaches! Explore the embryo, fore, and back dunes, and the unique plants, like sedges, and animal, like Piping Plovers, that call those dunes home. 

Happy July to all my listeners! Did you know that this month is "Plastic Free July"? Throughout this month, we celebrate by reducing our plastic consumption in a variety of ways, but sometimes it's hard to think of what to do besides skip the straw and bring reusable bags to the grocery store. Let's take a look at why reducing our plastic use is so important and some creative ways to inspire you t...

Many who follow my blog, but don't get to join me for my in-person programs don't know who is actually behind the Art of Ecology! Let me introduce myself in the first episode (well, not really an actual episode quite yet!) of my new audio blog podcast. I am Marissa Jacobs, an informal environmental educator who blends the arts with the sciences. This trailer will let you know who I am, why I am so...