Future of Agriculture – Soil Health and Public Health with Nave Strauss of NYC Parks
Nave Strauss is an arborist and the Director of Street Tree Planting for NYC Parks. His primary function is to make sure New York City and its surrounding areas are equipped with the right combination of trees and plants that can help sustain both public and environmental health. He obtained a degree in Environmental Studies with an emphasis in Forestry from St. Lawrence University in Canton, NY in 2008 and has worked with NYC Parks since 2009. He and his team aim to become the best tree planting program in the world.
Nave joins me today to share his passion for trees and environmental sustainability. He explains what an arborist is, what they do, and how they participate in various programs involving nature and trees. He also discusses the considerations made when assessing locations and trees to be planted and explains how they aim to improve soil health by way of enhancing soil microbiome as well as how they make use of biochar.
“Trees are are investments that will outlive all of us.” -Nave Strauss
This Week on The Future of Agriculture Podcast:
- What an arborist is and the responsibilities that come with this title.
- Why it’s not odd to be an arborist in New York City.
- The amount of resources New York City should put into its parks.
- How trees factor into the public and environmental health in cities.
- Assessing the number of trees as well as the kind of trees needed per area.
- What soil science says about soil health and how they address it.
- Short and long-term solutions to improving soil microbiome.
- Processes involved in basic tree health.
- What made Nave choose to work in New York City.
Key Takeaways:
- Governments shouldn’t hesitate to put more resources on tree planting because the benefits trees provide are in the interest of public health.
- An arborist’s main job is to speak for the trees.
Resources Mentioned:
Connect with Nave Strauss:
2019 AgGrad 30 Under 30
Help us celebrate the top 30 future leaders of agriculture! Nominate your favorite up-and-coming, future executives, innovators, and influencers in the following agriculture categories:
- Agribusiness
- Production Agriculture
- Research & Technology
- Entrepreneurship
- Education & Advocacy
Nominations for the 2019 AgGrad 30 Under 30 list are now open and are scheduled to close Thursday, January 31, 2019, at 11:59 PM. Self-nominations are accepted.
Winners will be announced March 2019.
To learn more about the eligibility requirements, announcement date and location, and to nominate for the 2019 AgGrad 30 Under 30 list, visit: 30Under30.ag
We Are a Part of a Bigger Family!
The Future of Agriculture Podcast is now part of the Farm and Rural Ag Network. Listen to more ag-related podcasts by subscribing on iTunes or on the Farm and Rural Ag Network Website today.
Share the Ag-Love!
Thanks for joining us on the Future of Agriculture Podcast – your spot for valuable information, content, and interviews with industry leaders throughout the agricultural space! If you enjoyed this week’s episode, please subscribe on iTunes and leave your honest feedback. Don’t forget to share it with your friends on your favorite social media spots!
Learn more about AgGrad by visiting:
AgGrad on Twitter
AgGrad on Facebook
AgGrad on LinkedIn
AgGrad on Instagram
Shark Farmer Podcast – Lacey Rhea Owens, empowering chicks
Lacey Rhea Owens, empowering chicks
What the Farm Podcast – John Cote spirits maker
John Cote tells how he has ended up making spirits
Idle Chatter Podcast – Hot Rod Farmer: Don’t get snookered in to the NAME GAME!!
Let Ray Bohacz explain why you need to know the difference between rebuilt, remanufactured and new.
Rock and Roll Farming Podcast – Pure Kent
Tonight I’m delighted to be heading down to the far south East of England, to Kent, to talk to Guy & Claire Eckley @No1FarmerGuy @PureKent
We talk about their backgrounds growing up on farms in Kent & Mid-Wales respectively, and how after University Claire moved down to Kent and got involved with the local YFC where Guy was a member (Still not entirely clear who chatted up who initially..).
We also talk all about their diversification into Oilseed Rape Oil production and how it’s developed over the years, and the various ways they market and sell it, from wholesale to farmer’s markets.
We discuss the farm itself, and the crops they grow there, as well as the two different tillage systems they use, and the pros and cons of both.
We go into their continued involvement in YFC over the years, from being members themselves, to Claire forming a new club where their boys now both attend.
And we also talk about Claire’s breast cancer that she contracted in 2012, the difficulties it caused, and how that ultimately changed her perspective on life.
All this and much, much more.
Guy and Claire are great people, and great farmers, and it was an absolute pleasure to talk to them tonight and find out more about what they do.
Check it out folks..
Future of Agriculture – Digitizing Ag Retail with Alexander Reichert of AgVend
Alexander Reichert is the Co-Founder & CEO of AgVend, an eCommerce platform that partners with various ag retailers to adapt to the evolving needs of American farmers. Their platform allows farmers to connect with retailers and purchase their products and/or services anywhere and at any time. Alex practices the Build-Measure-Learn philosophy in his life and believes customer satisfaction isn’t an option, but a critical part of success in any industry.
Alex joins me today to describe AgVend, what inspired him to start the company, how it works, and how it seeks to help farmers. He explains the need to have an online presence in the ag industry and why farmers today are more open to online retail stores. He discusses the various ways AgVend can help both farmers and ag retailers in as transparent a manner as possible. He also shares the values and culture he promotes in his company.
“The ones who start and get on track early are the ones who will be most successful.” – Alexander Reichert
This Week on The Future of Agriculture Podcast:
- What AgVend is and what it is designed to do.
- The story that inspired him to start AgVend.
- The reason behind the surge of online eCommerce platforms in the ag space.
- How they develop their business strategies and project ideas.
- How they guarantee a healthy and profitable platform.
- Fixing constantly fluctuating quotations on online items.
- Why customers would be inclined to use their platform.
- The company values he instills in AgVend.
Manager Minute
- Retrofitting a culture to a company is nearly impossible.
Key Takeaways:
- Growers appreciate if they can work with retailers within their community.
- Technological solutions that combine with the human element are the ones that stick.
- Farmers today are more comfortable in obtaining information and buying ag products online.
Connect with Alexander Reichert:
- AgVend
- Email: [email protected]
- Direct Email: [email protected]
2019 AgGrad 30 Under 30
Help us celebrate the top 30 future leaders of agriculture! Nominate your favorite up-and-coming, future executives, innovators, and influencers in the following agriculture categories:
- Agribusiness
- Production Agriculture
- Research & Technology
- Entrepreneurship
- Education & Advocacy
Nominations for the 2019 AgGrad 30 Under 30 list are now open and are scheduled to close Thursday, January 31, 2019, at 11:59 PM. Self-nominations are accepted.
Winners will be announced March 2019.
To learn more about the eligibility requirements, announcement date and location, and to nominate for the 2019 AgGrad 30 Under 30 list, visit: 30Under30.ag
We Are a Part of a Bigger Family!
The Future of Agriculture Podcast is now part of the Farm and Rural Ag Network. Listen to more ag-related podcasts by subscribing on iTunes or on the Farm and Rural Ag Network Website today.
Share the Ag-Love!
Thanks for joining us on the Future of Agriculture Podcast – your spot for valuable information, content, and interviews with industry leaders throughout the agricultural space! If you enjoyed this week’s episode, please subscribe on iTunes and leave your honest feedback. Don’t forget to share it with your friends on your favorite social media spots!
Learn more about AgGrad by visiting:
AgGrad on Twitter
AgGrad on Facebook
AgGrad on LinkedIn
AgGrad on Instagram
What the Farm Podcast – Talkin Turkey with Tye Rinner
Tye Rinner takes us through the ins and outs of raising turkeys
Idle Chatter Podcast – Hot Rod Farmer: Don’t Box Me In!!!!!
The Hot Rod Farmer, Ray Bohacz, discusses the need to “think outside of the box” if you want your farm to prosper. It is not what you make…it is what you keep!
Visit www.farmmachinerydigest.com for more
Ontario AgCast – Victoria Berry, Grain Farmers of Ontario
What do the Canadian telecom and grain industries have in common? They can both be a roller coaster of ups and downs and both have benefited from Victoria Berry’s passion for telling their stories. As the new Manager, Communications with Grain Farmers of Ontario, she has embraced the farming community as her own.
#agriculture #farming #rural #grain #corn #wheat #communications #careers #gfo
Rock and Roll Farming Podcast – Farming in the City
Tonight I’m delighted to be heading down to London to talk to the CEO of Kentish Town City Farm, Gus Alston @GusAlston @KTCityFarm
We talk about his early life growing up very close to the farm, and how getting involved with Forest School Camps as a child eventually led him becoming a volunteer with the organisation at the age of 18, before going on to hear about how he got first got into the charity sector almost by accident, when helping to build an adventure playground he ended up as a deputy coordinator in charge of 120 children!
We discuss the various different jobs he’s done, including a spell at the Pirate Castle, a community boating charity, where he achieved his highest ever fundraising success, (an incredible £234k!) before going on to talk about his eventually working with Kentish town city farm as a consultant, and then gaining the job of CEO in December 2016.
We talk about the farm in detail, from the different animals they have there, to the regular events they hold, and the incredible role it plays in the community. We discuss the different ways they have to make money to keep going, with funding cuts making things increasingly difficult for small charities, as well as the different ways the farm helps all ages of people, either educationally or therapeutically.
All this and lots more.
I’m always humbled when I speak to individuals who dedicate their lives to helping others, and bringing people together, and Gus is definitely one of them. It was fantastic to learn more about what they do at Kentish Town City Farm.
Check it out folks..
Episode Sponsor:
NFU Cymru – for more information please visit www.nfu-cymru.org.uk
Podcast Partners:
Farmer’s Guardian. For the biggest range of news and features from across the Ag industry, please visit www.fginsight.com
Rock & Roll Farming is proud to be a part of the Farm & Rural Ag Network. To find more great podcasts and vlogs, please visit www.farmruralag.com
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