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Recombination Nation

Recombination Nation

by Shane Simonsen

Home and Garden Life Sciences

Season 2

The Race to Save Crop Diversity with Stefan Schmitz from Crop Trust

Stefan Schmitz is the executive director of Crop Trust, an international non-profit working to preserve crop genetic diversity and support food security across the globe. The organisation was a key contributor to the Svalbard seed vault along with countless similar organisations in less dramatic locations. We discussed the potential for amateur crop breeders to collaborate with large institutions. Learn more about Crop Trust on their website and YouTube channel. Sign up to Recombination Nation on Substack for free weekly articles. Read Shane's book, Taming the Apocalypse, about the future of post industrial biological technology.

Spinning Silk from Shells with Emily Robison

Emily Robison turned her lifelong passion for textile arts into a journey across the planet learning about diverse spinning and weaving traditions from Micronesia to the remote corners of the Mediterranean. We talk in depth about her experience exploring the dying craft of sea silk (spun from the holdfast threads of clams) and her efforts to adapt these techniques to new species in North America. Check out an array of beautiful creations on Emily's Instagram. Read more about the Sea Silk Project. Check out the new short documentary film about my experimental farm. Sign up to Recombination Nation on Substack for free weekly articles. Read Shane's book, Taming the Apocalypse, about the future of post industrial biological technology.

A Lifetime of Potato and Tomato Breeding with Tom Wagner

Tom Wagner is a legendary tomato and potato breeder who is eager to pass on his knowledge and material to other folks keen to carry on the tradition. If you have some crop breeding experience and would like to take your practice to the next level, Tom is looking for serious collaborators to pass the torch onto. He is also interested in creating podcasts or video documentaries to capture his expertise and vision for the future. Tom is hoping to take on an assistant in Washington State and other locations he visits to facilitate this work. If this opportunity sounds interesting get in touch with Tom at thoswagner at yahoo dot com. Check out Tom's potato forum at Tatermater And the sister forum on Tomatoville Check out the new short documentary film about Shane's experimental farm. Sign up to Recombination Nation on Substack for free weekly articles. A paid subscription opens the archive, including the audiobook of Taming the Apocalypse. You can also read Shane's book, Taming the Apocalypse, about the future of post industrial biological technology.

Architecture and Agriculture in Burma and Nepal with Damien Zumbroegel

Damon Zumbroegel left behind a successful career in architecture in the USA to find the living roots of civilisation in rural Burma and the mountains of Nepal. We discuss how he inspired the locals to revive an exhausted piece of land on the banks of the mighty Irrawaddy river, the design principles behind monasteries and high end hotels, and the diverging fates of Nepal (which westernised) and Burma (which sustained its traditions). Follow Damon's many adventures on X. Check out the new short documentary film about my experimental farm. Sign up to Recombination Nation on Substack for free weekly articles. Read Shane's book, Taming the Apocalypse, about the future of post industrial biological technology.

Three Floating Staple Crops

In my second solo episode I explore the potential for floating aquatic plants to produce staple carbohydrates, fat and protein in a way that could create a new kind of integrated agricultural package. I also had fun imagining the impact these crops could have in a warm and watery corner of the world in the not too distant future. What novel domestications should I explore in future episodes? If you enjoy this kind of content, then you will love Taming the Apocalypse- an exploration of the entire tree of life for untapped potential domestication. Grab a copy of the ebook on Amazon, the audiobook on Kobo, or a paid subscription to my substack where the audiobook is in the archived posts.

Experimental Farming for the Win with Tanja Eskildsen

Tanja Eskildsen fell in love with plants in chilly Denmark but unleashed their potential through low-input experimental farming on the sunny island of Majorca. We retrace her path learning to trial, select and breed crops for her challenging soil and extreme climate. Check out Tanja's Substack. And lots of gorgeous photos on Instagram. Sign up to Recombination Nation on Substack for free weekly articles. Read Shane's book, Taming the Apocalypse, about the future of post industrial biological technology.

Evolving Beyond Hope with Sci-Fi Author Peter Watts

Peter Watts is a notorious science fiction author with a fascination of the outer edges of biology, fractured minds and a taste for the dark and confronting. We dive into the lessons the living world and our own nature can teach us when contemplating the destiny of this civilisation, our species and the fate of the planet. Check out Peter's insightful blog and backlist (including many complete novels, free to read) Sign up to Recombination Nation on Substack for free weekly articles. Read Shane's book, Taming the Apocalypse, about the future of post industrial biological technology.

Applying Ethnobotany to Regen Ag with Ryan Huish

Associate Professor Ryan Huish is an experienced ethnobotanist with experience in both North America and the South Pacific, who also runs his own experimental low input farm in the mountains of Appalachia. We explore the lessons from historical and traditional cultures' relationships to plants and landscapes and how that has influenced his own efforts to develop a truly sustainable local agriculture. Learn more about his farm, book a tour or buy some seed. Read more about his extensive research and teaching. Sign up to Recombination Nation on Substack for free weekly articles. Read Shane's book, Taming the Apocalypse, about the future of post industrial biological technology.

New Zealand, Energy Limits and Resilience with Nathan Surendran

Nathan Surendran is an Engineer who moved from the UK to New Zealand in response to the terrible creaking sound coming from the heart of the world's industrial systems. There he has worked consistently to help local government prepare for the unfolding shocks and stresses in our planetary supply chain, which New Zealand sits on the very end of. You can read Nathan's work at Energy and Resilience Sign up to Recombination Nation on Substack for free weekly articles: Read Shane's book, Taming the Apocalypse, about the future of post industrial biological technology.

A Route to Beaver Domestication

In Shane's first solo episode, we explore the possible route to the domestication of the beaver and the potential benefits of developing a close relationship with this powerful ecosystem engineer. Check out more novel domestications in my ebook Taming the Apocalypse Audiobook available on Kobo Audiobook also available via a paid subscription to the Recombination Nation Substack

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