Ecological Succession: Moving Toward Regeneration with Linda Gibbs

Permaculture Educator Linda Gibbs from Woodshed Gardens speaks with EcoJustice Radio on Ecological Succession, Fire Resiliency, and Soil Regeneration Principles.

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In 2014, The United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reported that global soils were degrading at an alarming rate and predicted that there might only be 60 harvests left before the world’s topsoil and soil fertility was basically eradicated. While there is some disagreement around this assessment, most will concur that continuing soil degradation at current rates will further exacerbate climate change and exhaust our global capacity to grow food for the world’s burgeoning 7 billion plus population.

We are losing the world’s topsoil at an alarming rate of 30 football fields of soil per minute, which can largely be attributed to modern farming practices, especially the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, as well as widespread deforestation. This episode explores ecological succession as a means to foster our deeper understanding of the cycle of & purpose behind regenerating soil. Given the state of our planet, understanding succession, can aid us in becoming more attuned and aware stewards, and more effective participants in restoring ecosystems, increasing biodiversity, balancing the hydrological cycle, and nourishing the soil food web.

Linda Gibbs is owner and principal land manager of The Gardens at the world famous Woodshed Recording Studio in Malibu. Linda’s depth of knowledge and experience in using the six regenerative soil principles, is applied to her practice and teaching of Permaculture, Biodynamics, and the Wise Woman Tradition of Healing. She is an ardent soil advocate for Kiss the Ground, a founding member of the grassroots soil restoration group, Soil Sponge Collective, and a former teacher of the Gaia School of Healing in California.

She serves as a presenter and speaker on ecosystem restoration and offers a weekly Zoom Q & A on soil. Her home burned down in the Woolsey fire of 2018, however, the gardens and studio survived. Following this event, Linda dedicated herself to teaching others about fire resilience in ecosystems and buildings, and how Woodshed Gardens and Woodshed Recording Studio remain a green oasis due to the Soil Carbon Sponge.

Website: http://woodshedgardens.com

Linda on EJR: https://wilderutopia.com/sustainability/regenerative-responses-growing-the-soil-carbon-sponge/
More: https://gardenerd.com/blog/field-trip-permaculture-biodynamic-garden/

Podcast Website: http://ecojusticeradio.org/
Podcast Blog: https://wilderutopia.com/category/ecojustice-radio/
Support the Podcast: https://socal350.org/contribute-to-socal-350-climate-action/

Interview by Carry Kim
Intro by Jessica Aldridge
Engineer: Blake Lampkin
Executive Producer: Jack Eidt
Show Created by Mark and JP Morris
Music: Javier Kadry
Episode 90
Photo courtesy of Linda Gibbs

Updated 13 February 2021