311: Urban Forests—Creating Educational and Healing Spaces for Communities
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Guest
Ethan Bryson is the Founder of Natural Urban Forests. Natural Urban Forests is an afforestation company focused on addressing the urgent need to restore native forest ecosystems.
Based in Seattle, Washington, he creates forests utilizing the Miyawaki method of forest planting with heightened attention to transforming life in the soil. This innovative method enables forests to grow 10x faster at 30x the density of standard afforestation methods.
He and his team work to honor and involve local indigenous communities in these forests' planting and ongoing care. When possible, they begin each planting with a blessing to reset the land and nurture the plants, animals, and people.
Installing a forest on Roosevelt Island, Manhattan - April 2024
Summary
Ethan and his organization are on a mission to restore harmony between nature and urban life through forestation. Their efforts encompass three main aspects:
Firstly, they focus on designing forests with intentionality, incorporating elements like circular plots and symbolic features to create healing and transformational spaces. This includes projects in New York City and collaborations with Indigenous communities.
Secondly, they emphasize the importance of community involvement in planting and maintaining urban forests, with volunteers playing a key role in ensuring the long-term survival of these green spaces.
Lastly, Ethan stresses the educational aspect of their work, highlighting the environmental benefits of urban forests and the potential for experiential learning through a forest-based curriculum. We discussed topics ranging from soil health to the symbiotic relationships within old-growth forests, all aimed at fostering a deeper connection between people and nature.
In summary, Ethan's organization is dedicated to planting forests as a means of restoring ecological balance, engaging communities, and providing educational opportunities.
Social Media
ethan@naturalurbanforest.com
Referenced
Kyle Lybarger: https://www.nativehabitatproject.com/
Manhattan forest project:
https://www.instagram.com/p/C5-v1GKMnc4/?igsh=MTg5YzB5dTAxd2M2NQ==
Miyawaki planting method: https://urban-forests.com/miyawaki-method/
Sugi Project: https://www.sugiproject.com/
Ida Nason Aronica Forest: https://www.sugiproject.com/forests/Ida-Nason-Aronica-Forest
About Jeff
Jeff Ikler is the Director of Quetico Leadership and Career Coaching. “Quetico” (KWEH-teh-co). He works with leaders in all aspects of life to identify and overcome obstacles in their desired future. He came to the field of coaching after a 35-year career in educational publishing. Prior to his career in educational publishing, Jeff taught high school U.S. history and government.
Jeff has hosted the “Getting Unstuck—Cultivating Curiosity” podcast for 5 years. The guests and topics he explores are designed to help listeners think differently about the familiar and welcome the new as something to consider. He is also the co-host of the Cultivating Resilience – A Whole Community Approach to Alleviating Trauma in Schools, which promotes mental health and overall wellness.
Jeff co-authored Shifting: How School Leaders Can Create a Culture of Change. Shifting integrates leadership development and change mechanics in a three-part change framework to help guide school leaders and their teams toward productive change.
Show Credits
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