The Poor Prole’s Almanac

We chat with Elena Kanagy-Loux & Kara Quinteros of the Brooklyn Lace Guild to discuss the return of artisan crafts, the terminology and culture surrounding those crafts, and their place in an industrialized world.   Learn more about the Brooklyn Lace Guild: https://www.brooklynlaceguild.com/ https://www.instagram.com/brooklynlaceguild/     Support this podcast by becoming a Patron at: https://www....

In this episode, we chat with Alex Langlands, former star of the BBC Historic Farms Series', including Wartime Farms, Victorian Farms, Medieval Farms, Edwardian Farms, and Tales from the Green Valley. Alex is also the author of Craeft; An Inquiry Into the Origins and True Meaning of Traditional Crafts. We talk about the role of Crafts as a method to reintegrate humanity into nature and to build be...

In this episode, we chat with Ramesh, an administrator from the Facebook group 'Ask for PDFs from People with Institutional Access' and we discuss self-organization, the academic research model, and 21st century colonialism.   Check out the group at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/850609558335839     Support this podcast by becoming a Patron at: https://www.patreon.com/PoorProlesAlmanac   Hosted...

In this episode, we chat with Executive Director of Project Gutenberg, Dr. Greg Newby. We talk about the role of open access to knowledge and how copyright has played into a complicated mess that inhibits artistic development. To learn more, check out Project Gutenberg at https://www.gutenberg.org/ The Distributed Proofreaders volunteer page can be found at https://www.pgdp.net/c/     Support this...

We chat with Dr. Greg Susla of the Pry Civil War Garden at the National Museum of Civil War Medicine about the role of plants in medicine, as well as the history of plant-based medicine, and the challenges that come from it.   The National Museum of Civil War Medicine's Pry Garden website can be found at https://www.civilwarmed.org/pry-garden/   To see Greg's work, check out https://www.civilwarme...

In this episode we talk about invasive species and their relationship with climate change, globalism, and ecology. We also talk about our favorite edible invasives.   For more of Jackson's work, check out his two books "Eating Aliens" and "The Beginners Guide to Hunting Deer for Food"     Support this podcast by becoming a Patron at: https://www.patreon.com/PoorProlesAlmanac   Hosted by Simplecast...

We chat with Princeton's Dr. Dan Rubenstein and we talk about the science behind holistic grazing and the role of horizontal, cooperative-models can provide a resilient framework for food systems as climate change further tests our global food systems.   You can support this project at patreon.com/poorprolesalmanac or visit us at poorproles.com     Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm...

  Podcast Summary Discover the transformative world of food justice and climate-resilient farming with Nathan Kleinman, co-founder of the Experimental Farm Network. Nathan shares his vision of empowering local growers to cultivate plants tailored to their unique climates, challenging the corporate dominance in agriculture. Our conversation illuminates the potential of perennial crops like sorghum...

In this episode, we chat with author, activist, organizer, speaker, and producer scott crow about building dual power and developing a sense of community. We discuss the challenges of the activist community, creating spaces, and the role of politics in prepping.   Check out his work: https://www.scottcrow.org/ https://www.emergencyhearts.com/   Support this podcast by becoming a Patreon at https:/...

This is the intro to our new interview series, where we tie all of the components of the series together and some of our thoughts about the series after wrapping it up! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In the final episode of the series, we reflect on how indigenous agriculture reflects and doesn't reflect the framework of permaculture. How have we seen in previous episodes examples of new foodways that can show us a path forward from where we currently exist? This episode of "The Poor Proles Almanac" serves as a concluding discussion for the podcast's mini-series on indigenous foodway...

This episode of "The Poor Proles Almanac" explores the deep connection between the Anishinaabe people and manoomin (wild rice), a staple food and cultural cornerstone of their identity. The hosts, Elliott and Andy, discuss how this connection goes far beyond mere sustenance, encompassing history, spirituality, ecological knowledge, and the ongoing struggle for food sovereignty in the fac...

This episode of "The Poor Proles Almanac" focuses on the Turkana people of northwestern Kenya and their remarkable ability to adapt to the challenges of a changing environment. The hosts, Elliott and Andy, explore the history of the Turkana people and their transition from a resource-rich, semi-nomadic lifestyle to their present-day existence in an arid region surrounding Lake Turkana. F...

This episode of "The Poor Proles Almanac" explores agroforestry practices in the Western Ghats of India, highlighting the region's unique biodiversity and the long history of human interaction with the landscape. The hosts, Andy and Elliot, examine how indigenous farming practices, particularly the integration of trees into agricultural systems, have shaped this ecologically rich area. T...

How did ancient Japanese communities thrive in harmony with their natural environment? Join us on a fascinating journey through time as we uncover the secrets of sustainable farming practices in Japan. We'll explore how topography, geology, and hydrology shaped traditional agricultural methods, and how these practices compare to Norway's unique infield-outfield landscape. From the intricate Sataya...

This episode of "The Poor Proles Almanac," hosted by Andy and Elliott, explores the unique farming practices of indigenous Norwegians, highlighting their integration of hunter-gathering techniques with sustainable agricultural methods. The hosts emphasize the interconnectedness of these practices with the challenging Norwegian landscape and the importance of preserving this fading knowle...

In this episode, we review a quick history of urban farming in Detroit and interview Malik Yakini, the Executive Director of the Detroit Black Community Food Security Network & D-Town Farms. We chat about the role of dual power systems to challenge capitalism and the role of self-determination in making meaningful change in communities. Interview starts around 22 minutes! Hosted by Simplecast, an...

What happens when a nation loses its primary source of energy and agricultural inputs overnight? Join us on Poor Proles Almanac as we explore the incredible story of Cuba's resilience during the Special Period following the Soviet bloc's collapse. We reveal how Cuba's foresight, strategic planning, and innovative urban farming transformed a crisis into a model of food security that holds powerful...

This episode of "The Poor Proles Almanac" takes a critical look at permaculture, a system of agricultural and social design principles aimed at creating sustainable human settlements. While acknowledging its potential benefits, the hosts, Andy and Elliott, express concerns about its evolution, particularly its appropriation of indigenous knowledge and its susceptibility to right-wing ide...

This episode focuses on the "scale of permanence," a concept from P.A. Yeomans that emphasizes considering the long-term impacts of design choices when planning a site for ecological production. The Scale of Permanence The scale of permanence highlights the elements of a site that are most difficult to change once established. The article outlines these elements and offers guidance on pl...

We're taking a look at the Irish civil war and the conditions that led up to it and its conclusion with comedian and historian, Nash Flynn. What parallels do we see playing out here in the United States, and what can we learn from the efforts of the IRA? Note: Michael Collins died in a shootout stemming from a car ambush, not a car bomb. This episode of "The Poor Proles Almanac" examines...

This episode of "The Poor Proles Almanac" focuses on "reading the landscape," a skill that involves interpreting the subtle clues and patterns within a natural environment to understand its history and ecological processes. The episode emphasizes that this ability is crucial for effective land management and stewardship, particularly in a post-collapse scenario where reliance on conventional techn...

This episode of "The Poor Proles Almanac" uses the Syrian Civil War as a model to explore the potential for a similar societal collapse in the United States. The hosts, Elliott and Andy, acknowledge that history doesn't repeat itself verbatim but argue that examining historical parallels can provide valuable insights into potential future scenarios. The episode focuses on the interplay o...

Welcome back to the Poor Proles Almanac, where we’re exploring how anarchist principles can help us build a better future, through the lens of the book "Make Rojava Green Again". This episode is going deep into one of the most inspiring and challenging revolutionary projects happening right now - Rojava, a Kurdish-led autonomous region in northern Syria. Hold on tight because Rojava is f...

Today, we're diving into some ideas about technology and ecology, inspired by the anarchist philosopher Murray Bookchin. This episode really gets you thinking about the relationship between technology and society. We're exploring Bookchin's critique of how technology has been used under capitalism, not to benefit humanity, but to control and exploit both people and the planet. Get ready for a mind...