Climate Anxiety – Specialty Crops

The consequences of global warming affect farmers more than almost any other profession. And it’s the combination of practical and existential threats that makes climate anxiety uniquely difficult to deal with. So join us as we explore the ways you can regain control and find local solutions to a global problem.

Show Notes

The consequences of global warming affect farmers more than almost any other profession. A warming climate means increased droughts, heavy rain, unpredictable storms, and a fluctuating growing season, all of which can threaten a farmer’s bottom line. But climate change also poses big, existential questions: What kind of world am I leaving behind? Can we respond fast enough as a society? Am I doing enough?

These connected worries all fall under the umbrella of “climate anxiety.” And it’s the combination of practical and existential threats that makes climate anxiety uniquely difficult to deal with. But it also means there are a lot of ways to approach it. Today, we talk to Wichie Artu (Magnetic Fields Farm – Athens, VT) and Dr. Nadine Burton (Tallawah Farms – Princess Anne, MD) two farmers who are using “specialty crops” to address a variety of issues presented by climate change. Together, we’ll cover how to mitigate storm damage, protect from crop loss, and adapt your practices to minimize your environmental impact and feed a changing world.

Join us as we explore the ways you can regain control and find local solutions to a global problem.

Resources & Links:

·      Magnetic Fields Farm

·      Tallawah Farms

·      University of Maryland-Eastern Shore

·      Dr. Monica Marie White - Founder, Office of Environmental Justice & Engagement – University of Wisconsin-Madison

·      Collective Agency and Community Resilience: A Theoretical Framework to Understand Agricultural Resistance – Monica Marie White, Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, & Community Development

·      USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture – Climate Change Programs

·      Northeast Organic Farming Association

·      Farm Bureau - Farmers for a Sustainable Future

·      Farmers.gov – Specialty Crops

·      Climate Resilient Farming Grant (NY Only)

Feedback:

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A podcast from Cultivemos (FRSAN-NE)

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If you’re a farmer, you know the joy of working the land: the cadence of the seasons, the understanding of the natural world, the tangible results of your hard work. But you probably also know how stressful it can be. From family and finance pressures, to isolation and an exhausting job that has no days off.

In fact, agricultural workers experience suicide rates 50% higher than the national average, and that number is rising.
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