With Ian Allan of the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden Mount Tomah
What are some common misconceptions about trees? How can we foster meaningful experiences with them? In which situations does anthropomorphizing work and not work? Arborist Ian Allan spends most of his time among trees in the 200 hectares of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Wilderness Area that he manages in New South Wales, Australia. He has amassed a treasure trove of stories and insights about the woody giants that surround us and provide so many ecosystems services. Ian joined us to discuss how to connect trees with people — both the initiated and the uninitiated. He also shared some details about a new project being conducted in partnership with a local First Nation.
Guest:
Ian Allan achieved his dream in 2016 by becoming the Supervisor of Natural Areas, Arboriculture, and Open Space at the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden Mount Tomah. With over 20 years of experience, he now looks after one of the best cool climate tree collections in Australia, manages hundreds of hectares of World Heritage quality wilderness, helps present incredible lawns and gardens whilst conserving vulnerable species like the Wollemi Pine (Wollemia nobilis) and Dwarf Mountain Pine (Pherosphaera fitzgeraldii). He still remembers planting his first tree on Arbor Day as part of Australia’s bicentennial celebrations. The joy he felt at watching the tree grow, and his curious pondering over its blue-grey compound leaves, would lead him into a lifelong love of the natural world and plants.
Episode 42: Food forest gardening
Episode 41: Farm to school
Episode 40: Placed-based education and life cycles
Episode 39: Managing eco-anxiety and ecological grief
Episode 38: Gamification for EE
Episode 37: Student-powered learning and mentorship
Episode 36: Nature-based healing
Episode 35: Watershed education
Episode 34: Inside New Jersey’s climate change ed. breakthrough
Episode 33: Unpacking environmental racism with Green Ummah
Episode 32: Teaching music and drama outside in all seasons (in Winnipeg)
Episode 31: Equity in environmental education
Episode 30: Gen Zs talk climate change, sustainability, and reciprocity in education
Episode 29: Biomimicry: Taking design lessons from nature
Episode 28: Bringing rocks and geology to life in land-based learning
Episode 27: Bananas in the classroom (and other fair-trade matters)
Episode 26: Bringing science to special ed. classrooms with PBELL
Episode 25: The future of energy, transportation, food, materials, and information
Episode 24: Green jobs for youths roundtable, Part 2
Episode 23: Green jobs for youths roundtable, Part 1
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Navigating Life After 40
Teaching Learning Leading K-12
Regenerative Skills
The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast
The Mel Robbins Podcast