Common Ground: A Prairie Podcast

Episode 12: Grassroots Community-Building with Art and Science

In this episode of Common Ground: A Prairie Podcast, we talk with Dr. Alison Wallace, a biologist and ecologist from Minnesota State University, Moorhead, and a researcher who worked on the climate science team during the Biden Administration. We also talk with acclaimed artist Corinne Teed, a professor at Temple University who teamed up with Dr. Wallace and their students titled "Fragile Preservation: A Tallgrass Community," which is a permanent art installation at the Plains Art Museum in Fargo. Listen to the episode to hear how collaborations between science and art can drive policy and grow community across the prairie. Thank you to Crista Fiala for producing the episode and Matthew Connolly for the theme music. Special thanks to the North Dakota Natural Resources Trust for the generous grant funding that supports Common Ground: A Prairie Podcast.

Episode 11: The Next Generation of Farmers and Ranchers

In this episode of Common Ground: A Prairie Podcast, we speak with two North Dakota farmers who represent the future of agriculture. Jake Callander is a farmer raised on a 3,000 acre conventional farm who now runs his own market garden farm with sales of delicious fruits and vegetables direct to customers. Jake is also the facilitator of the Farm Beginnings program with FARRMS (Foundation for Agricultural and Rural Resources Management and Sustainability) [https://www.farrms.org/about-us]. Luke Rotunda is a self-described "city kid" who has joined his uncle to take on the family farm and ranch. We spoke with Luke at his ranch on a windy day in Nelson County, North Dakota, where he was joined by Robert Ford of Ducks Unlimited to discuss their partnership in conservation working lands management. Special thanks to Crista Fiala for producing this episode and to Matthew Connolly for our theme music. Thanks also to the North Dakota Natural Resources Trust for providing the grant funds that support our efforts here at Common Ground: A Prairie Podcast. We hope you enjoy today's episode.

Episode 10: How To Restore Soil Health with Jon Stika

In today's episode, we speak with soil health expert Jon Stika about lessons from his career and his influential book A Soil Owner's Manual: How to Restore and Maintain Soil Health. Listen to the episode to learn how to apply the principles of soil health to any farm, ranch, or garden. Listen to deepen your understanding of how healthy soil is supposed to function, and how healthy soil has many cost benefits to a farmer's bottom line. Listen to learn why Jon says that the most important step to restoring soil health begins with changing our attitudes and our mindsets toward the soil. Thank you to Crista Fiala for producing today's episode and to Matthew Connolly for providing our theme music. Special thanks to the North Dakota Natural Resources Trust for providing a generous grant to support our work here at Common Ground: A Prairie Podcast.

Episode 9: Sh*t Talk and Deadstock: Livestock Composting with Mary Keena

In this episode of Common Ground: A Prairie Podcast, we talk with Mary Keena of NDSU Research Extension Center about how to compost dead livestock and manure. Listen to the episode to discover how Mary became North Dakota's go-to expert on manure and mortality management, and to learn the 4 steps for composting livestock that dies before making it to market. This episode was produced by Crista Fiala, with theme music provided by Matthew Connolly. Thanks to the North Dakota Natural Resources Trust for the generous grant that makes Common Ground: A Prairie Podcast possible.

Episode 8: Wetlands, Waterfowl, and Working Lands with Ducks Unlimited

In this episode of Common Ground: A Prairie Podcast, we talk with folks from Ducks Unlimited about how wetlands and grasslands are not only good for ducks, but for soil health and working farms and ranches. Join us for our conversation with Robert Ford, a biologist for Ducks Unlimited, and Emily Schwartz, an agronomist. We speak with Robert and Emily out on a protected wetland site, during the spring migration season. In this episode, you'll learn why small wetlands are a big deal for migratory birds. And how wetlands and grasslands contribute to soil health. Thanks to the ND Natural Resources Trust for the grant funding that made today's episode possible. Thanks also to Crista Fiala, our sound editor, and Matthew Connolly, who produced our theme music. We hope you enjoy the show!