π§ Sacred Plants with Dr. Gary Nabhan
Discover the incredible adaptations of desert plants, innovative water management techniques, and the sacred role of plants across various cultures. π
Join Dr. Quave in conversation with MacArthur Fellow and James Beard award-winning author of βAgave Spiritsβ, Dr. Gary Paul Nabhan as they discuss the incredible adaptations of desert plants, innovative water management techniques, and the sacred role of plants across various cultures. Dr. Nabhan is globally known for building cross-cultural teams for the collaborative conservation of biocultural landscapes and rare foods, medicines and sacred plants. An author or editor of over thirty books and 120 scientific articles published in the likes of Nature, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, American Anthropologist, Ethnobiology, and the Ecology of Food and Nutrition, he has also written for the New York Times, LA Times, Smithsonian, Food Tank and Huffington Post. He is a pioneer in the Slow Food, Sustainable Agriculture, Plant/Pollinator Conservation and Ecological Restoration movements. In this episode, Dr. Nabhan shares his personal and professional journey, detailing his work in desert plant conservation, indigenous collaborations, and the Sacred Plant Biocultural Recovery Initiative. The discussion underscores the deep connection between plants, spirituality, and human culture, offering insights into how ancient practices can inform modern sustainability efforts. Learn more about his work at https://www.garynabhan.com/
About Gary
Gary Paul Nabhan, Ph.D. is a Lebanese American ethnobotanist, conservation biologist and Ecumenical Franciscan Brother living on the US/Mexico border. He is globally known for building cross-cultural teams for the collaborative conservation of biocultural landscapes and rare foods, medicines and sacred plants. Gary is a pioneer in the Slow Food, Sustainable Agriculture, Plant/Pollinator Conservation and Ecological Restoration movements. He recently launched the Sacred Plant Biocultural Recovery Initiative. His work has been honored by the McArthur and Takreem Foundations, Chefs Collaborative, Societies for Conservation Biology, Ethnobiology, and Ethnobotany and Utne Reader named him as one of there innovators making the world a better place.
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Yours in health, Dr. Quave
Cassandra L. Quave, Ph.D. is a Guggenheim Fellow, CNN Champion for Change, Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors, recipient of The National Academies Award for Excellence in Science Communication, and award-winning author of The Plant Hunter. Her day job is as professor and herbarium curator at Emory University School of Medicine, where she leads a group of research scientists studying medicinal plants to find new life-saving drugs from nature. She hosts the Foodie Pharmacology podcast and writes the Natureβs Pharmacy newsletter to share the science behind natural medicines. To support her effort, consider a paid or founding subscription or donation to her lab research.