Book of Leaves

Rachel Dempsey has been clued into the environmental crisis since way before it was ‘cool’. She has a fascinating wealth of knowledge she has picked up and shared all across the world and I’m honoured to have been given her time for this interview. She was also the original creator of the Zero Waste Ireland Facebook group that has been mentioned on the podcast so many times before thanks to its helpfulness! Be sure to check out her website and give a follow on Instagram @full_circle_change or Facebook.[04:30] What it means to be a good ancestor.[06:35] The Zero Waste Ireland Facebook group[08:00] The work Rachel does[11:00] How singing helps with healing.[15:05] What climate anxiety looks like.[17:00] How our health system is set up to deal with climate anxiety in people.[23:30] Tips on becoming resilient.[28:00] How change happens? Positive stories.[32:00] Watching for climate anxiety warning signs[35:20] What workshops & services Rachel provides now[38:20] A song from RachelMentioned:The Good Ancestor PodcastTimi’s interview / Sorcha's interviewZero Waste Ireland Facebook GroupCapacitar https://capacitar.org/Climate cafèsBritt Wray: Ted Talk / Generation Dread bookLaura Hartley for workshops on burnoutSongs for the Great TurningActive Hope book by Joanna MacyA Field Guide To Climate Anxiety by Sarah Jaquette RayAs always, don't forget to follow Book of Leaves on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook, leave us a review, and share with a friend xPatreon / Buy Me A Coffee

Patrick began an initiative with VOICE Ireland called Picker Pals that started with an unfortunate incident that turned into magic... Make sure to check out www.pickerpalsworld.org to request a pack or check out their resources. They also have a YouTube and can be followed on Facebook, Instagram @pickerpals and Twitter @pickerpalsworld[04:10] Intro to Patrick.[06:20] How Picker Pals came about.[14:50] Why this work is worth doing.[17:25] What are the most common things you find on cleans, and what are the most unusual?[18:45] What schoolkids are told about waste and how they react.[24:20] How people can request a picker pack to their school.[27:25] The magic of litter picking.[29:50] Random Questions!Mentioned:Ecolution kid's podcastThe Tidy TownsClean CoastsGreen SchoolsFlossie & The Beach CleanersCrumlin Clean Up GroupClient Earth book.Elements of Change festival with CultivateAs always, don't forget to follow Book of Leaves on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook, leave us a review, and share with a friend xPatreon / Buy Me A Coffee

For episode 65 I chatted to Amy O'Brien whom you may know from The Sustainable Sleepover Podcast (which I definitely recommend checking out if you haven't already!) about her experience as an activism campaigning for social justice from climate issues to women's rights. You can keep up to date with her on Instagram @b_amyo or find her other socials and projects here.[03.35] Who Amy is![06:00]] What instilled a love of nature in Amy.[10:35] The Sustainable Sleepover Club podcast.[14:05] Stand out moment of the podast: Episode 4 with Mitsy[16:45] What it means to listen more.[20:05] What Amy thinks needs to be done on a systemic as well as individual level to solve the climate crisis.[23:05] Amy’s experience of being treated differently as a young female activist.[27:15] What is the National Youth Assembly?[30:15] Amy’s tips for self care and preventing burn-out.[34:05] Amy’s favourite protest memory.[40:05] Random questions!Also mentioned in the episode:Comhairle na nÓg.Spun Out.Ombudsman for Children Youth Advisory PanelFridays for FutureThe Future Generations Project by National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI)I Am Malala bookFeminists Don’t Wear Pink (and Other Lies) by Scarlett Curtis13th DocumentaryAbolition. Feminism. Now. Book by Angela Y. Davis, Gina Dent, Erica R. Meiners, Beth E. RichieAs always, don't forget to follow Book of Leaves on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook, leave us a review, and share with a friend xPatreon / Buy Me A Coffee

There’s no better timeto give as much help to our pollinators than now. Úna is a wealth of knowledge and the work of theNational Biodiversity Data Centre, including theAll Ireland Pollinator Plan, is crucial. Stay up to date with their work by signing up to their newsletter or following them on Twitter@BioDataCentre@PollinatorPlan, Instagram@biodatacentre@allirelandpollinatorplan&Facebook.[04:30] Getting to know Úna.[06:30] When she realised ecology protection was moving in the wrong direction.[10:10] How the NBDC works & what kind of data can be collected.[13:10] What the All Ireland Pollinator Plan is.[15:30] What pollinators are.[16:50] The 3 main reasons we need to protect pollinators.[19:15] The main threats to pollinators.[20:45] How the changing weather affects them.[23:10] Solutions! How to help.[33:00] The issue with honeybees.Also mentioned:Explore Your Shore data collection.A Thousand Morningsby Mary Oliver.Book of Leaves event on the 18th May 2022.As always, don't forget to follow Book of Leaves on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook, leave us a review, and share with a friend xPatreon / Buy Me A Coffee

For the longest time I've wanted to learn about the hemp industry in Ireland, so I reached out to the Hemp Cooperative who suggested I chat to Freya Bartels, a hemp farmer based in Mayo. This is an area I know nothingabout so I hope you'll enjoy learning with me! If you're interested in staying up to date with all things hemp farming, you can follow the co-op on Twitter @hempcooperative , Facebook or Instagram @hemp_cooperative_ireland, or support by becoming a member.[03:40] Getting to know Freya.[07:00] Permaculture, food forests, & community box schemes.[12:55] What hemp is.[15:15] How it’s grown.[18:25] How the carbon sequestration of hemp works.[21:55] The various uses of the varying types of hemp plants.[26:25] What kind of land the crop needs to grow on.[29:45] Uses for hemp in our food industry.[31:05] What is the hemp industry like in Ireland including challenges.[35:00] First thing you’d say to someone interested in farming hemp.[37:00] How can people who aren’t farmers help get hemp onto more acres here?[39:00] How the ‘Misuse of Drugs Act’ is affecting the industry.[45:45] Random Questions!Also mentioned:WWOOFers – a volunteer networkCommunity Box SchemesAs always, don't forget to follow Book of Leaves on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook, leave us a review, and share with a friend xPatreon / Buy Me A Coffee

For the first episode after the break, I want to introduce you to a secondary school teacher, Patrick Kirwan (thank you Codie for the recommendation!). His story is such an inspirational one that I hope you'll be as encouraged as I am by him and share this with as many students and teachers as possible! You can follow Patrick on Twitter @GrowGardeners or the Irish Schools Sustainability Network at @IrishSchSusty.We covered:[05:05] When Patrick was inspired to get active.[10:30] The earliest climate action he incorporated into his work.[28:05] The role the education system plays in tackling climate change.[41:50] Irish Schools Sustainability Network (ISSN) & Climate & Nature Summit.[48:50] The recent IPCC report reactions.[51:40] Random questions!Also mentioned:Kevin O’Sullivan - Irish Times Environmental EditorEdmund Rice Schools Trust (ERST)Climate & Nature Summit participants: WWF, Voice, Ecounesco, Concern, Green Schools, Clover Hogan, SEAIEoin Dalton - Irish RainforestsRachel O’Connor - PrincipalAs always, don't forget to follow Book of Leaves on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook, leave us a review, and share with a friend xPatreon / Buy Me A Coffee